Dr. Family Practice Or Specialist - Which Is Right for You?

There are lots of patients who prefer going to Dr. Family Practice, whomever that doctor may actually be, rather than a physician who specializes. This is an individual preference that will depend on the person and what type of health need they have. Here are some pros and cons of each choice:

Doctor of Family Practice: A physician who is a family practitioner is one that takes care of every member of the family from the tiniest infant to the most elderly. They have a broad range of knowledge about the spectrum of human life from birth to death. Another name for this health care provider is a general practitioner of G.P.

One of the positive aspects of having a G.P. as a health care practitioner is that he or she will get to know each individual and their family members quite well. The family doc will perform everything from curing a sore throat to obstetric duties and may even deliver the patients that they care for. Having this range of experience will allow them to see patterns of wellness and illness in each individual patient as well as make comparisons with other family members. They won’t need to ask about a patient’s family history, they will see it firsthand. Rapport and camaraderie will likely develop between the family of patients and their general physician.

A negative aspect of the G.P. is that while their knowledge and skill is quite broad, it may not be as deep as specialists. If something highly complex arises in terms of disease or health conditions, a general doc may not have had the level of experience with diagnosing it as a specialist. When circumstances such as these arise, a G.P. will likely refer their patient to specialists with the necessary expertise.

A Specialist: A specialist is a medical doctor who has taken extra years of study to hone their expertise in their chosen focus. Some examples include dermatologists, oncologists, cardiologists and OB-GYNs. A dermatologist is a physician who treats the illnesses and conditions of a person’s skin. An oncologist focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of cancer. A cardiologist treats heart conditions, stroke victims and many illnesses stemming from cardiology. OB-GYNs deliver babies and tend to female health concerns.
Pros of having a specialist include their depth of knowledge. They will have had not only training but much experience with even the rarest of circumstances in their field. They will be abreast of the latest and greatest treatment techniques for keeping their patients well with highly refined diagnostic skills.

The cons of having a specialist include price tag, availability and lack of long term relationship possibilities. Specialists are likely to be more costly but most insurance companies take this into account when deciding upon customary payment schedules. Since there may be fewer of them, getting into an appointment may take longer than getting into see a G.P. Since specific ailments often require fewer visits, it’s harder to develop long term relationships with them.

Whether a patient prefers to be treated by Dr. Family Practice or a specialist, it is a personal choice and may change depending on the circumstances.