When someone has a non-emergency health concern, they often see a family physician or primary care provider first. Because they focus on the “whole patient” and provide treatment over long time periods, family physicians are uniquely suited to providing preventive care and managing chronic and complex conditions. They might also screen for early signs of serious conditions, such as cancer.

Family medicine can also care for the family as a unit. Often illnesses or disease can affect an entire family. Genetic or infectious disease can make this a challenging and dynamic process, and we can help navigate the health care needs and management of the whole family.

Family physicians:

• Treat a wide range of medical issues
• Coordinate care with other medical professionals
• Care for the whole patient, including mental and emotional needs
• Strive to build long-term relationships with their patients
• Provide information and techniques to help patients take control of their health
• Focus on preventing illness as well as treating it
• Are often the first to learn about new symptoms and the first to diagnose emerging conditions