What does a family medicine practitioner do?
Family medicine doctors are skilled at addressing a wide range of issues affecting patients of different ages, enabling patients to enjoy a continuum of care throughout their lives. Doctors perform in-depth physical exams, treat acute and chronic illnesses and injuries, provide preventive services like health screenings and vaccinations, and offer lifestyle guidance to help patients enjoy better health and prevent disease.
What is an osteopathic physician?
Osteopathic doctors (D.O.s) have years of training in developing an in-depth understanding of the musculoskeletal, circulatory and lymphatic systems that helps them understand the causes of pain and other symptoms. Like M.D., D.O.s go through many years of schooling to receive advanced training in the care and treatment of medical issues so they can offer patients comprehensive, safe and effective care to ensure optimal health and well-being.
How is an osteopathic family practitioner different from other family doctors?
In addition to providing all the care an M.D. family practitioner would provide, a D.O. family doctor uses a “hands-on” approach to evaluate muscles and soft tissues to gain a first-person perspective of problems through a tactile examination of the joints and other structures. They also have significant experience treating musculoskeletal issues that can occur at different stages of life.
How often should I see my family physician for a checkup?
Annual checkups are the best way to screen for diseases so treatment and preventive care can be initiated early. Plus, seeing your family doctor every year ensures you have a consistent record of health issues and care that can help ensure early warning signs of disease can be caught right away. Regular annual visits also enable you to ask questions about your health and to make sure vaccinations, health screenings and other preventive care treatments are up to date.
