Providing basic care for the whole family — from infants to grandparents — family medicine doctors are the modern version of the old fashioned general practitioner. People often choose a family medicine doctor because they like the idea of developing a relationship with a doctor who knows their entire family.
The medical staff in internal medicine provides primary care for adults 18 and older. Older people whose families are grown often see an internal medicine doctor.
Common Procedures
Annual physicals for children and adults, and treatment of all the common ailments associated with family life are daily occurrences in Family Medicine.
Most office visits consist of general physical examinations or follow up exams to see how the person is adjusting to a medication or treatment. Many procedures ordered by an internal medicine doctor are performed in another setting. Common procedures include MRIs and CT scans, barium enemas, and small surgeries.
Additional Information
If one member of a family gets a contagious virus, the doctor is able to prescribe medication for the entire family. Colds and viruses are common complaints in Family Medicine, and people often call in to find out whether their particular illness is going around.
Because people are so often referred out the internal medicine staff spends a lot of time educating people about their conditions and how certain procedures can be helpful.