What does a family doctor do?
Check what a family doctor in Poznań does and which diagnostic tests they can refer you for. Learn more on our website.
What does a family doctor do?
The role of a family doctor is often equated by many patients with a physician practicing at a primary healthcare clinic. However, this function can also be performed by an internist or a pediatrician. In this article, we explain exactly what a family doctor does, what diseases they treat, and which diagnostic tests they can refer us for.
Who is a family doctor?
Family medicine is a much broader field than internal medicine or pediatrics because the main task of a family doctor is to provide medical care for both children and adults. A doctor in this specialty handles the diagnosis and comprehensive treatment of all family members. Their role also includes disease prevention and the promotion of a healthy lifestyle. A family medicine physician can provide advice at a clinic, via telephone consultations, and visit patients during home visits. Unlike other specialists, they should assess the patient holistically and take into account their environment and family when evaluating their health status.
Family doctor vs. POZ doctor
It is worth remembering that a family medicine physician can work as a primary healthcare (POZ) doctor, but these terms are not synonymous. A family doctor refers to a specialty, whereas a POZ doctor is merely the name of the function performed at the clinic. Many patients searching for a POZ clinic for themselves type phrases into search engines such as: lekarz rodzinny Poznań while not realizing that search results will not always mean doctors practicing at a POZ clinic.
What diseases does a family medicine physician treat?
A family doctor diagnoses and treats diseases that statistically occur most frequently but do not require specialist consultation. They possess knowledge in internal medicine, pediatrics, dermatology, neurology, ophthalmology, gynecology, and psychiatry. Diagnostics are based on the collected medical history, physical examinations conducted during the consultation, and ordered additional tests. If a patient requires a visit to a doctor of another specialty or immediate hospitalization, the family doctor issues the appropriate referral.
Which tests can a family doctor refer you for?
A family medicine physician issues referrals for tests that will help them establish a diagnosis. Among the tests they can order are:
- laboratory blood tests,
- stool tests,
- urine tests,
- chest X-ray,
- abdominal ultrasound.
In the event that the obtained test results are not sufficient to make a diagnosis, the family doctor then issues a skierowanie do specjalisty Poznań.
Where do family doctors practice?
Family medicine physicians can see patients under a contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ) or privately. Many of them have private practices where they provide paid consultations. Doctors of this specialty often practice in POZ clinics and work in hospitals.
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