A general practitioner is a medical doctor that is educated and trained in the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illness, as well as providing preventative health care and general health education to their patients. The term general practitioner can mean different things in different countries, with the term being used in North American often being used interchangeably with family doctor or primary care physician. General practitioners focus on a holistic approach to health and wellness, focusing on not just the physical aspects of a patient’s care, but also looking at the psychological, social and biological factors that play a role in the treatment of their patients. They can treat patients of any age and can be found working in their own practice or in a clinic with multiple doctors such as a walk-in or urgent care clinic. This is due to their broad scope of training and education as they are able to diagnose and treat a wide range of health conditions.

A general medicine doctor’s responsibility can vary by country and by region within a country, depending on what other medical practitioners are available in that area. In the United States general medicine doctors, or general practitioners, are trained and experienced in a holistic approach to the overall health and wellbeing of their patients including the physical, biological, social and psychological factors that can influence their health. They are experienced in preventative health measures as well as health education to ensure their patients are well equipped to reduce their risk of illness or disease. They are also experienced in the diagnosis and treatment of many conditions that can affect the general public, such as chronic health conditions, acute non-life-threatening diseases and referral after early detection to specialists when needed for treatment of serious illnesses. With their knowledge in the general health of people, they can often be found in a primary care center as key member of a healthcare team or they can work in their own practice.

General medicine is named as such to encompass the broad spectrum of care that general practitioners provide to their patients. General practitioners have extensive knowledge and experience in preventative care and health education for patients to understand their health and what factors can positively or negatively impact it. The diagnosis and treatment of chronic and acute injuries and illnesses, as well as early detection of serious diseases fall under the umbrella of general medicine. Medical care for patients of all ages and genders is provided by doctors trained in general medicine on an ongoing basis through the doctor’s own practice or on a walk-in basis for doctors practicing out of a walk-in clinic or urgent care center. General medicine doctors are able to stitch lacerations, as well as stabilize and cast minor fractures through an urgent care center, in addition to providing general health care treatment.

You can seek treatment from a general practitioner for any non-life-threatening injury or illness that doesn’t require emergency medical attention. For those cases, you need to immediately call 911 or get yourself to the closest emergency room. Any other injuries or illnesses, as well as physical exams, can be seen and handled through the care of a general practitioner. Due to their extensive medical knowledge on a wide range of illnesses and injuries, they are well positioned to properly diagnose and treat most medical conditions. If they aren’t able to treat a particular case, they will do what they can to stabilize the patient before transferring them to an emergency room or provide what treatment they are able to while referring the patient to a specialist who has received specialized education and training in their chosen focus area.

If you have other questions to ask our doctors at Suburban HealthCare Associates, we welcome you to call us or schedule an appointment through our website! We serve patients from Naperville IL, Plainfield IL, Joliet IL, Romeoville IL, Shorewood IL, Crest Hill IL, and Aurora IL.