This post was written by Megan Lemon, MD, PPG – Family Medicine.
Since my inception with PPG – Family Medicine last year, I’ve had the opportunity to see many new patients. Understandably, during any new patient appointment, there are a lot of questions, but one that always surprises me is, “What exactly does a family doctor do?” I’m never quite sure how to answer, but my first thought is, “What don’t we do?”
The majority of the population isn’t familiar with the broad scope of practice that is possible within Family Medicine. Most people understand they can see their family doctor for colds or aches and pains, but there are so many additional things your family doctor can do. Granted, not all practitioners perform these services after completing their training, but Family Medicine can encompass any of the following services:
Procedures
While we are certainly not surgeons, our training does include time in the OR and emergency department (ED), learning how to do minor office procedures. We can perform biopsies and drain abscesses. If you cut yourself and need stitches on a small wound, we can do that, too. We can also perform procedures for ingrown toenails and a variety of joint and trigger point injections for pain. Some family doctors are even qualified to do more complex procedures such as vasectomies or colonoscopies.
Hospital or urgent care practice
A vast majority of Family Medicine doctors only see patients in their offices, away from the hospital, but some practitioners do take care of their patients during hospitalization. Another, less common, practice is Family Medicine physicians taking care of babies in the hospital once they’ve been born. Additionally, Family Medicine doctors may only work in the ED or urgent care setting. In fact, there’s an Emergency Medicine fellowship at Parkview that gives doctors extra training in the ED after they’ve completed their residency, allowing them to practice in an ED setting.
Obstetrics and gynecology
One of the most common gynecological procedures that a family doctor performs is a Pap smear. While many women see their OB/GYN for their annual Pap smear, others choose to see their family practitioner. Additionally, if a Pap test is abnormal, some family doctors can do the follow-up procedure, called a colposcopy. Some Family Medicine doctors even deliver babies and choose to go to additional training after their residency to learn more about advanced obstetric care.
Pediatrics
Many of my new patients are surprised to find out that family doctors also take care of children. We perform many well-child checks, sports physicals and immunizations on a regular basis. In fact, being able to see both parents and their children is one of my favorite things about being a family doctor.
Mental health
Much of what I see in the office day-to-day revolves around mental health. Normally, I will refer to psychiatry for complex conditions such as bipolar disorder and schizophrenia, but I do prescribe medications for more common conditions such as anxiety and depressive disorders. While medications can be a part of managing these conditions, I also recommend patients see a licensed family therapist as part of their treatment plan.
Chronic disease
Many people visit their family doctor for chronic conditions like high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but did you also know we see many patients with chronic diseases like asthma, COPD, thyroid disease, diabetes, skin conditions, migraines, osteoporosis and wound care? In fact, most of my appointments with patients are for chronic problems rather than acute issues such as colds or the flu.
Same-day visits
Most family practitioners have several times blocked off throughout the day specifically reserved for same-day visits. This means they won’t schedule anyone in that time slot until that day or a few days prior. This allows more patients to be seen by their own doctor when they have an illness or acute issue rather than having to go to urgent care or the ED.
Also, because the scope of Family Medicine is so broad, each doctor tends to tailor their practice specifically to their interests, training and comfort level. Most family doctors don’t practice in all of these areas, but many will practice in quite a few. If you’re wondering whether your doctor provides a specific service, it’s always best to ask them. While family practitioners can take care of a variety of problems. there’s a point of complexity within each field that we would refer to a specialist, as they have much more in-depth training. This is especially true with eye or tooth problems in which case we would refer you back to your ophthalmologist or dentist.
For more information about Family Medicine services or to schedule an appointment with one of our providers, please visit the PPG – Family Medicine page.
