The medical industry is undoubtedly vast. The different titles and specializations can be difficult to understand. One such issue often arises when patients are looking to find the right doctor for what ails them. An example of this is the difference between a family physician and primary care physician. Let’s look at what separates these in this article.

Primary Care Physicians

The term primary care physician refers to the following medical professionals:

  • Family medicine practitioners
  • Nurse practitioners
  • Physician assistants
  • Internists
  • Pediatricians
  • Geriatricians

These professionals treat an array of illnesses and can help align patients with specialists if the need arises.

What Do Primary Care Physicians Do?

You may need to visit a primary care physician in case you catch a cold or come down with something serious. Primary care physicians are skilled at treating patients of all ages suffering from various illnesses. They can also help with disease prevention and maintenance. If a condition aggravates beyond their scope, they refer the patient to a specialist. The specialist then becomes responsible for the treatment, but the primary care doctor continues to oversee the progress.

Family Physicians

A family physician can provide care for anyone. In most cases, a family physician can provide care for all family members of all ages.

What Do Family Physicians Do?

Family physicians received training to treat patients from infancy to old age. Generally, patients see a family physician to receive care for minor illnesses such as bronchitis and major issues such as high blood pressure. These doctors advocate for their patients and encourage them to adopt a healthy lifestyle to avoid chronic diseases.

If the physician provides care of other family members, they can also help the patient identify potential genetic diseases such as high cholesterol, heart illnesses, and obesity. For most patients, having a family physician who is acutely aware of their personal and family history can be comforting. Just as with primary care physicians, a family physician will also recommend seeing a specialist if the patient’s condition becomes serious.