Why Is it Important to have a Family Doctor?

Family doctors play an important role in managing ongoing medical conditions (such as high blood pressure and diabetes) for most people. However, it can be difficult for fit and healthy people to realize the importance of having a family physician, especially if they rarely become ill or do not have a family history of significant illness. It’s important to remember that your family doctor’s role extends far beyond treating you when you’re sick.

An important feature of walk-in clinics or emergency rooms is the lack of continuity of care. Your doctor is better equipped to detect what’s not normal for you if he or she knows what’s normal for you. If you establish a relationship with your doctor, you won’t have to repeat the same details every time you schedule an appointment, and your doctor will follow up with you regularly to ensure everything is going smoothly. It is often necessary for patients to recount their medical history at walk-in clinics and in the emergency room when a new doctor is unfamiliar with their case.

The goal of a family doctor is to treat the whole patient, not just their physical symptoms. The care provided can be tailored to your needs, your lifestyle, and your values, taking into account your physical, psychosocial, and emotional well-being.

Preventative medicine is the best tool a family doctor has, regardless of the patient’s age. Providing preventative health care is the primary responsibility of family doctors.

Family doctors offer a wide range of preventative care and treatment options. They can manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and arthritis, as well as acute conditions and injuries, such as the flu or sinus infections. A family physician has the ability to perform a variety of procedures, including colposcopy/LEEP, colonoscopy, endoscopy, early pregnancy evaluation, family planning, musculoskeletal injections, skin procedures (such as wart removal or abscess draining), spirometry, ultrasound imaging, stitching lacerations, and vasectomies.

You also go to family doctors if you are experiencing mild to moderate flu or cold symptoms, or if you are traveling abroad and need routine vaccinations or additional ones. Furthermore, they are capable of treating a wide range of mild to moderate health conditions as well.

Primary care should be available to everyone in your family. Consistent checkups and physical appointments allow for comprehensive and preventative care regardless of health status. All stages of life are treated by family doctors. The benefits of seeing one doctor are available to your whole family with one provider. There are many advantages to seeing a family practitioner, including convenience, continuity of care, and getting to know your family. While individuals may wish for their family members to see age-specific care providers such as pediatricians for children or geriatricians for older adults, and these are effective options, it is also important to know that a primary care provider and family physician can provide care to patients of all ages.

For preventative, acute, and chronic health needs, a family doctor should be the first point of contact. In addition to basic testing and assessments, family doctors provide ear, nose, and throat care, bone and joint care, eye care, lifestyle counseling, and mental and behavioral health services. Immunizations and non-urgent emergency care may also be provided by family physicians. Besides routine checkups, sports and camp physicals, well-woman care, elder care, and infant care, are also available.

It’s important for everyone to find a family doctor they trust and feel comfortable working with, and that they can rely on for long-term care. Your family doctor can play a critical role in your physical, emotional, and mental health. In Los Banos, CA, patients can find trusted family doctors at Los Banos Primary Care. For more information, contact us today or book an appointment online. We are conveniently located at 1120 West I St Suite B, Los Banos, CA 93635. We serve patients from Los Banos CA, Volta CA, Santa Nella CA, Trent CA, and surrounding areas.