The Benefits of Having a Family Physician
Dr. Anees Ahmad is an internist practicing in Buffalo, NY. Dr. Ahmad specializes in the medical treatment of adults. Internists can act as a primary physician or a consultant to a primary physician. They manage both common and rare diseases. Dr. Ahmad provides comprehensive care and manages treatment with surgeons as well.... more
A primary care doctor plays an important role in the health of a person because it allows us to carry out continuous medical control through the prevention and early diagnosis of diseases to establish a timely treatment. According to the World Health Organization, primary health care is essential care accessible to all individuals and families. It should be the closest contact to the population to solve the basic and most frequent care needs.
Primary care is where patients should go for their routine care or when they have to receive medical attention in non-emergency situations, obtaining better health results, including continuous medical education for the early detection of different diseases. The family care physician is a family medicine specialist, who serves as the patient's first point of contact. Research has shown that people who follow up with a family care physician have better health outcomes, including fewer deaths from cancer, heart disease, or stroke.
Benefits of having a Family care physician include:
Continuity in medical care
According to the American Academy of Family Physicians, routine checkups with the same doctor form a beneficial relationship for the patient. Over time, the family care physician develops a complete picture of the patient's health which helps to diagnose diseases with more certainty.
Specialized health monitoring
A family care physician also collaborates with other physicians and healthcare professionals to be aware of any type of specialized care the patient receives.
Proper drug management
When undergoing treatment without a medical prescription, a high possibility of significant health alterations is assumed. A family care physician can help regulate the medications the patient takes, noting any changes in dosage or frequency that may cause negative effects.
Time-saving
The more medical history of a patient that is known, the more effective is the indication of the treatment or routine check-ups that they need.
Prevention
The more a doctor is aware of a patient's general health, the better he or she can identify or prevent health problems. Having your overall health profile allows your family care physician to recommend tests that can determine your risk for developing certain diseases such as diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. Also, they can recommend lifestyle changes that you can make to help reduce that risk and stay healthy.
Behavioral health
Comprehensive health care is a part of the family care physician approach. This includes monitoring the health of the patient's behavior. The current recommendation is to evaluate adults and children 12 years and older to identify signs of depression in the consultation.
