The term “family doctors” is evolving and can refer to general practitioners, DOs, or those who have completed additional training. They provide routine care and preventative care for patients of all ages, but may refer to specialists for complex cases. There is a shortage of family doctors in the US due to low pay and extensive training.
Defining the term “family doctors” is a bit difficult because the term is undergoing changes. Generally people think of “family doctors” as general practitioners, and anyone who completes medical school and then immediately gets a license after a year of training is generally a general practitioner. Yet family doctors can now complete additional training, lasting around four years, which enables them to define themselves as family doctors. Another route is training to become a Doctor of Osteopathy (DO) and this can qualify people to work in general practice.
So wondering what a family doctor is can be tricky. Some are general practitioners or DOs, and others are family doctors. Most work in general offices where they can see people for routine care and minor illnesses from birth onwards. Some GPs or general practitioners will specialize and may be uniquely equipped to care for children or for childbirth. Many general practitioners undergo training in midwifery so they can give birth, although women may prefer to see an obstetrician for birthing needs. Likewise, many types of family physicians are well equipped to administer baby checkups and exams for healthy children, but parents may prefer to take their children to pediatricians.
There is perhaps an easier way to view the work of family doctors. They can see patients of all ages for most underlying diseases and preventative care. When care becomes complex, these doctors usually refer the patient to a specialist who is better able to handle difficult medical issues. Family doctors can continue to coordinate care and the specialist usually keeps this doctor informed of any medical procedures or choices made.
Patients seeking a GP may wonder if there would be a huge difference between choosing a GP and a general practitioner. There might actually be. Given the extensive additional training of the family physician, it would be reasonable to assume that most of these physicians are better equipped to manage patients of different age groups through the most common diseases and for the most preventive care. This does not mean that a qualified general practitioner is in any way incapable of caring for patients, but the “family doctor” certainly has more training.
Different countries may define family doctors in various ways and may construct training programs which are widely varied. Within each country, people seeking a doctor can assess the criteria by which a person is judged as a family doctor or general practitioner. When doctors decide to practice in a country other than the one in which they were trained, they may need to meet additional requirements before being licensed.
One thing noticed in the United States is a growing shortage of available family doctors or the standard “family doctors.” Because the training for this specialty is extensive and because this is one of the least glamorous and lowest paid medical specialties, it can fail to attract new physicians. Employment prospects for these doctors are excellent due to the shortage, but pay still remains relatively low and in their first few years of practice these doctors can easily earn less than $100,000 US Dollars (USD). They will make even less because many have to carry their own fault insurance and have to repay large student loans.
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