Family Practice Doctor Vs. A Pediatrician

You may have probably heard of both a family practice doctor and pediatrician but what exactly is the difference? They both treat children, teens and young adults but what makes a family practice doctor different?

A family practice doctor will specialize in various areas of medicine where a pediatrician will be very specialized in one area. Think of it this way, a family practice doctor could see your whole family and are trained in general medicine. A pediatrician will only see kids and should be seen if your child is severely ill. A pediatric doctor has the specialized training for children.

A family doctor can work in pediatrics but typically sees other types of patients other than children. A pediatrician will only see children.

I hope this clears up any confusion you may have had and for a Frisco, TX family doctor, visit the friendly docs at Hillcrest Family Medicine.

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What Does a Family Practice Physician Mean?

You may have heard the term, family practice physician before but what exactly does a family practice physician do?

A family practice doctor must successfully complete an accredited three-year family medicine residency in the United States in addition to their medical degree. The benefit to using a family practice doctor is that they deliver a wide range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services, as well as, diagnosing and treating illness. One of the biggest jobs of a family doctor is to provide preventive care in the form of routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening tests. Many physicians will offer guidance on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Family physicians also manage chronic illness and often coordinate their health care plans with other specialists.

One such chronic illness that requires the care of a family practice doctor is diabetic care. Diabetes is an affliction that requires monitoring of your insulin levels and may require a special diet.