Premier Medical Group’s Internal Medicine division provides comprehensive care to patients of all ages, including adult, adolescents, and children.
Patient services focus on the total person and offers complete primary care services to the entire family. Services include treatment of common medical conditions and prevention and early detection of major illnesses.
Family practice doctors are generalists who provide care for children and adults. They may treat patients who are experiencing chronic conditions and will also evaluate symptoms and offer any preventative care measures. A family practice doctor will inform you if your symptoms require a specialist to get involved with your care.
Patients visit family practice doctors in private office settings or sometimes with a group of other family practice doctors. You may also encounter these professionals when you visit community medicine clinics or the hospital. They are a common resource to underserved communities who may live in areas or regions with limited access to medical care or social resources.
Family practice doctors provide a full range of comprehensive services, including:
There are specializations that a family practice doctor can obtain. The areas may be in:
There are a handful of different reasons why it might be time for you to visit a family practice doctor. You may go to your primary care physician for:
Routine Exams
A family practice doctor performs:
Chronic Disease Management
Family practice doctors treat and monitor specific chronic diseases and conditions, such as:
You may also seek the services of a family practice doctor to have them prescribe or refill your medications that treat a chronic condition.
Referrals to Medical Specialists
Visiting your family practice doctor is a good starting point if you have a condition that may require you to see a specialist. The doctor can recommend or suggest qualified specialists based on your needs and preferences. The doctors will coordinate with each other to closely monitor your condition and keep up-to-date with any prescription changes.
You may find that going to your family practice doctor first is necessary. There are insurance policies that require you to get a referral to a specialist from a family physician.
Care for an Illness or Injury
Specialist intervention may not be necessary for certain illnesses or injuries. A family practice may be the place to visit for:
There is always a threshold for when an illness can cross into a more serious category. If you are unsure whether you should make an appointment with your doctor or go to the emergency room, it is best to call their office for further guidance.
Making an appointment at a family practice will have different outcomes based on your reason for visiting the office. The doctor may spend time asking about any lifestyle habits, medications, your mental wellness, and additional health-related concerns.
Your answers may also be taken via an in-take form to save time. The actual appointment may focus instead on:
Seeking the insight of a medical specialist is necessary if your primary care physician (PCP) expresses that your symptoms or condition require specialized knowledge. A specialist may provide a more accurate or thorough diagnosis than a family practice doctor in some cases. Complex or serious health issues (like cancer or heart conditions) require their expert care. Specialists can also pinpoint the root of unexplained symptoms with more thorough testing.
It may not feel or even be straightforward where you should go for medical evaluation and care. A good way to determine where you can seek the appropriate healthcare is talking with a family practice doctor. If you experience any serious or life-threatening medical problems, you should seek emergency care.
The three scenarios for where you may seek medical treatment are:
Hospital Emergency Department
Serious or life-threatening medical situations require immediate trips to the emergency room. A few examples can include cases of:
Do not put off going to the hospital if your health takes a sudden and/or unexpected turn.
Urgent Care Facility or Urgent Family Practice Appointment
If you do not believe your condition warrants a trip to the hospital, visit an urgent care or schedule an urgent family practice appointment for:
Non-Urgent Family Practice Appointment
A non-urgent medical appointment is precisely when you should see a family practice doctor. A few reasons why you may schedule an appointment is if you experience or suspect signs of:
Depending how your local hospital functions or what type of insurance you have, it may make sense to go first to a family practice. The next steps that you take can be determined after you have a discussion about your symptoms with your family practice doctor.