Family medicine

When you or a loved one needs health care, your family medicine doctor can be your first point of contact. At Advocate Health Care, our family medicine doctors have the broad training and experience needed to take care of people of all ages.

What is a family medicine doctor?

Family physicians, also known as family practitioners or family medicine doctors, provide primary care. Primary care involves the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a wide range of illnesses, diseases and injuries.

Family medicine doctors care for people throughout their lives – from the newborn stage through adulthood. Your family medicine doctor may see several members of your family, and you might be cared for by this physician for years.

Is family medicine the same as primary care?

Primary care is the broad umbrella term for first-contact health care, and family medicine is a specialty that falls within that umbrella. Primary care contains other specialties like obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine and pediatrics.

Family medicine doctors work to provide care for the whole family as well as patients of all ages, from infants to seniors. All family medicine doctors are primary care providers, but not all primary care providers are family medicine doctors.

Both types of providers specialize in preventive care, general wellness, management of chronic (long-term) illnesses, treatment of sudden health issues and diagnosis of new health conditions. They also provide referrals to specialists for advanced care. Family medicine doctors are perfect if you’re looking for a provider for everyone in your home, if you want a provider who can handle a wide mix of health conditions or if you live in an area that has limited access to specific specialists.

Are family medicine doctors just regular doctors?

Family medicine doctors are more than just a regular doctor. Our family physicians get to know you, your medical history and the health challenges you face. They take a holistic approach, monitoring your health through every life stage. This approach helps them find and manage health issues early – when they are the most treatable. Your family medicine doctor becomes your trusted partner for wellness and care.

Family medicine doctors at Advocate are board certified in family medicine and focus on wellness, disease prevention and chronic disease management. They have advanced education and training in several medical fields:

• Community medicine (public health) focuses on helping the health of communities while prioritizing disease prevention and healthy living initiatives.
• Internal medicine provides comprehensive primary care for adults only.
• Obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN) are similar fields of primary care, with obstetrics focusing on pregnancy and childbirth and gynecology offering women’s reproductive health services.
• Pediatric medicine provides physical, mental and social health care for infants and children, typically from birth to age 21.
• Psychiatry and neurology focuses on treating neurological conditions. This can include working with pain management specialists, therapists, neurosurgeons or neurologists depending on your symptoms.
• Surgery, which can be used to repair injury or treat disease. Advocate provides a wide range of procedures, specializing in everything from 3D spine surgery to innovative cardiac surgeries.

Services and treatments provided by family medicine doctors

Our family physicians tailor care for people of all ages, genders and health backgrounds. We offer a wide variety of services and treatments, including:

• Preventive care: We provide annual physical exams and education about wellness and disease prevention to help you stay healthy. Health screening tests, vaccines and health risk assessments can find problems early and reduce your risk of disease. Find out more about preventive care at Advocate.
• Diagnosis of new conditions: Your family medicine specialist can help if you notice new or unusual symptoms. You’ll have a thorough evaluation with your family medicine doctor to find the cause, including any needed imaging and tests. With an accurate diagnosis, we then develop your personalized treatment plan.
• Management of chronic diseases: Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, require ongoing treatment and care. Your family medicine doctor is familiar with your health history and can quickly address any changes by adjusting your treatment plan.
• Treatment for sudden health issues: Your family medicine doctor can prescribe effective treatment, such as medications or physical therapy, for sudden, short-term problems such as flu, bladder infections or back pain. You can also see your family medicine specialist for urgent care for minor issues such as rashes or deep cuts.
• In-office procedures: Your family physician can perform many minor procedures in the office, including joint injections and skin biopsies. That means you receive care conveniently close to home, school or work, without needing to see a specialist.
• Referrals for advanced care: Your family medicine doctor can refer you to the right specialist if you need treatment for more serious conditions. Advocate offers access to experts in every specialty who deliver high-quality care, and all your Advocate care providers use the same electronic health record system, so your family physician can easily monitor your progress.

What conditions do family medicine doctors treat?

Your family medicine doctor can diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues, including injuries, illnesses and chronic conditions. Some conditions family medicine doctors commonly manage and treat include:

• Arthritis, lupus and other rheumatologic conditions
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and other chronic lung diseases
• Endocrine (gland and hormone) disorders, such as thyroid disease and diabetes
• Infections, such as pneumonia, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Injuries, such as sprains, burns and broken bones
• Skin conditions, such as growths, rashes and skin cancers
• Vascular (blood vessel) diseases, such as heart disease and stroke