Family Medicine

Family Medicine Overview

Family medicine physicians receive training to care for both children and adults. Their training is broad based to include wellness checkups, disease management (like cholesterol, blood pressure, etc.) and routine illnesses or injuries. Some patients like to have the whole family treated by the same doctor, while others may transition to family medicine after they “outgrow” the pediatric age group. Family medicine physicians also have training in women’s health services. Just like other PCPs, as family medicine physicians get to know their patients over time, it allows them to better personalize care to each patient. It also helps physicians identify any issues or warning signs early and monitor changes in a patient’s health over the years.

What does a family medicine physician do?

A family medicine doctor is the first person a patient talks to about a health question or concern. Primary care physicians develop long-term relationships with their patients, getting to know them, their history and their health care preferences. Because a family medicine doctor practices general health care, they are trained in many areas and can address a wide variety of health concerns. Patients might ask their family doctor for:

Any medical questions that arise
Treatment of common illnesses
Preventative care (stopping illness before it happens), which includes screenings and vaccinations
Early detection of illnesses or conditions, such as cancer
Management of chronic or long-lasting conditions such as high-blood pressure, high cholesterol, or diabetes
Questions regarding family history
A referral to a specialist

What should you discuss with your physician?

Prior to your appointment, make a list of a questions or concerns that you would like to discuss with your doctor. A few examples of important topics to discuss are:

What wellness tests should I have done?

Can you help explain my test results and what it means?

How does my family history affect my risk for certain conditions?

How can I eat a more nutritious diet? What is the best exercise plan for me?

I’m concerned about “X.” What precautions should I take? How worried should I be?

How often should I schedule an appointment?

What is the difference between chronic and acute medical conditions?

It is important to talk about preventive care with your physician. A primary care physician serves as the key member of your overall health care team by providing routine and preventive screenings to prevent and monitor chronic conditions. A few examples of preventive screenings and care are immunizations, blood pressure screening, mental health assessments, diabetes screening and diet and exercise counseling.

All Hattiesburg Clinic family medicine practices provide comprehensive evaluation and care to meet the total health needs of each family member. Family physicians receive training in six broad areas of medicine: pediatrics, internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, surgery and community medicine.