If you take the time to find a competent primary care physician, you can improve your health significantly. Considering all of your options can be very stressful. We created this primary care physician guide to help narrow down your options as you look for a doctor. 

What do you need in a general practitioner? This article will take a quick look at the five primary care physician specialized fields and discuss some factors that might make you lean toward one over another.

1. Physicians Who Practice Family Medicine

Primary care physicians stand out because they treat multiple members of the same family. They see newborns, toddlers, teens, and seniors. Every member of your family can get in touch with one person who is familiar with their medical history and can tailor their treatment accordingly.

If you have a family doctor, you can see them for anything from the common cold to cancer. Because of the variety of people they treat, family doctors have to be well-rounded experts in many fields. They can communicate well with people of all ages, from infants to the elderly.

2. Specialists in Internal Medicine

Specialists in internal medicine are distinct from other family physicians in that they treat only adult patients. These physicians, also known as internists, are equipped to handle a wide range of cases, from those affecting young adults to those affecting the elderly.

Seek out an internal medicine specialist if you need a general practitioner. Specialists in internal medicine have the education and experience to care for adults in all their medical needs, from the most basic preventative measures to the most complex conditions. They have a profound understanding of diseases that typically do not appear until middle age or later, such as hypertension and type 2 diabetes.

3. Pediatricians

Pediatricians are medical professionals who specialize in caring for infants, toddlers, adolescents, and young adults. They can provide excellent care for patients with a wide range of medical needs. Compared to family doctors, pediatricians have a specific focus: the health of children.

To put it simply, pediatricians are medical experts who can identify and treat various conditions affecting kids. A pediatrician can help calm your nervous child’s fears about the doctor’s office. A pediatrician might be the best option if you’re looking for a doctor who focuses exclusively on children’s health.

4. Internal Medicine-Pediatrics Doctors

Pediatricians are doctors who have studied and passed pediatrics and general medical exams. They see patients of all ages and help with disease diagnosis, prevention, and treatment. “Med-peds” is sometimes used to describe pediatricians.

The medical specialty of an internal medicine-pediatrician requires dual board certification in both pediatrics and internal medicine. Because of their extensive training, med-peds are frequently the families’ first point of contact for medical needs.

5. OB-GYNs

Pap smears and pelvic exams are just two of the standard diagnostic and therapeutic procedures they provide for women. Just two of the many services OB-GYNs are family planning and help to select from a range of contraceptive options. 

Due to the unique focus of OB/GYNs on the female reproductive system, it is recommended that women see both an OB/GYN and a general practitioner, such as an internist, family practitioner, or pediatrician. 

Your primary care physician is the one to see when you’re sick or have questions about your health in general. At the same time, your obstetrician-gynecologist (OB-GYN) can handle anything related to your reproductive system and offer general preventive services like flu shots.

Conclusion

Regular visits to a doctor, regardless of who you choose as your primary care physician, will help you keep your health in check. Always schedule and attend all recommended checkups, screenings, and immunizations. Plus, even with a high deductible, most health insurance policies will pay for your preventive care, so there’s no reason not to capitalize on it.

Primary and urgent care are both available at Aspen Medical Center. We are locally-owned and operated in both Santa Fe and Espanola, New Mexico. Our outpatient medical center provides cutting-edge primary care and urgent care services. Contact us ASAP if you’re looking for a primary care physician in Santa Fe.