Family doctors have broad medical educations that allow them to treat patients of all ages and genders, from infants to the elderly.
One of the benefits of working in the area of family medicine is that, in contrast to the practice of other specialties of medicine, its practitioners are not restricted to the treatment of a particular disease or to the care of a certain category of patients.
Today we will discuss how family medicine fits into the medical field. Let’s get started!
What Family Medicine Is and How It Fits Into the Medical Field?
Those who wish to pursue a career in medicine are often required to specialize in a certain area.
Some physicians specialize in dealing with issues pertaining to a certain organ, such as the eye, heart, or brain, while others handle just young people, adults, or the elderly.
As an example, some physicians only see male or female patients, while others specialize in hand surgery or something similar.
Some doctors focus on a specific group, including those who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, or queer (LGBTQ), while others tackle diseases like diabetes or cancer.
What sets family medicine apart from other fields of medicine is that its practitioners can help any patient with any condition.
Ideally, a family doctor, who sees patients of all ages and both sexes, would be able to help every member of the family. They have been schooled to identify the signs of many different diseases and injuries.
This type of doctor may undertake a wide range of treatments, from delivering a baby to giving an injection or setting a bone, though they may opt to send patients to specialists for more complex procedures. Doctors specializing in family medicine not only can counsel people, but also can diagnose and cure illnesses.
How to Determine whether Family Medicine Is the Right Career Path for You?
Amofah argues that empathy is crucial for aspiring family doctors, stressing that one must be “warm” to establish trusting, long-lasting connections with patients.
According to Amofah, a person who is a good fit for family medicine is someone who is interested in many different areas of medicine and enjoys the concept of working with people of all ages and backgrounds.
He cites family medicine’s more flexible work hours as a major draw, arguing that it’s more in line with a healthy work-life balance than other specialties. He continues by saying that for some, this is a defining feature of family medicine.
Family medicine, according to experts, often places more of an emphasis on preventative medicine and outpatient treatment than it does on emergency medicine and hospitalization.
For this reason, patients who have strong feelings for or against delivering emergency treatment should be informed that family doctors rarely take on such cases.
However, Pacala warns that those who tend to be single-minded and obsessive may be better suited to an area that is less diversified and more particular, as this is part of what makes family medicine enjoyable and engaging.
Medical students may feel overwhelmed by the breadth of family medicine and question if they have the abilities necessary to practice effectively, but Pacala contends that this is a misperception about what a family doctor actually accomplishes.
You needn’t be more brilliant than every other physician out there, he advises.
Final Words
Do you need pieces of advice about family medicine or the service of a family doctor? Then contact Florida Sport’s and Family Health Center.
