Here in northern Idaho, we have a robust healthcare network available to residents. However, that advantage can cause confusion when identifying the doctor you may need to help you with your family’s healthcare needs. While it may be appropriate at times to see a specialist such as a pediatrician for your toddler, a gynecologist for Mom, or a geriatric care doctor for Grandpa, keeping up with multiple doctors, facilities, and specialists for all your family’s healthcare needs is difficult. Wouldn’t having one family doctor just like in “the old days” be easier?
Welcome to the field of family medicine.
What is Family Medicine?
As a specialty, family medicine is a field of medicine whose practitioners provide comprehensive and continuous outpatient care for individuals of all ages. The rigorous training that family practice residents undergo is designed to equip them with the skills to cater to the diverse healthcare needs of patients of all ages.
For example, family medicine practitioners are trained to be “the doctor” for rural communities where they may be the sole healthcare provider within a broad geographic area, offering not only regular checkups and responding to the occasional sickness or broken bone but also performing surgeries, managing critical care units, and even delivering babies. In more populous areas, family medicine practitioners may operate a general medical practice that works closely with specialists in other disciplines to make sure patients receive coordinated and comprehensive care.
However, one of the defining characteristics of family medicine is its emphasis on sustaining relationships with patients and their family members and providing comprehensive healthcare services to meet their medical needs on a consistent basis. It encompasses a holistic approach that considers immediate health concerns as well as the broader health concerns of patients’ families in the long term.
The Family Medicine Clinic at Northwest Specialty Hospital
Northwest Family Medicine is an integral clinic within the Northwest Specialty Hospital (NWSH) family of clinics, winner of a Five-Star Award for Patient Satisfaction. NWSH’s family care practice is committed to offering the highest quality of care tailored to individuals and families.
Family physicians’ unique role in the healthcare ecosystem may be the perfect fit for your family’s healthcare needs. Unlike specialists confined to specific organs or diseases, family physicians are uniquely qualified to address various health concerns across all ages, from newborns to seniors. Their commitment goes beyond merely treating ailments; it involves fostering enduring and trusting relationships, understanding community-level factors, and serving as the first point of contact for all your family’s health concerns.
Family physicians at NWSH are available to deliver a spectrum of acute, chronic, and preventive medical services to all of your family members on a regular basis. Beyond diagnosing and treating illnesses, they prioritize preventative care, conducting routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunizations, and screening tests. Their personalized counseling extends to maintaining a healthy lifestyle, exemplifying the holistic approach that defines family medicine practice.
Northwest Family Medicine’s dedication to family care embodies a philosophy that recognizes the interconnectedness of health and family, acknowledging that a patient’s well-being is intricately linked to their familial and community context. By offering personalized, comprehensive, and compassionate care, Northwest Family Medicine not only enriches the health of individuals but contributes to the well-being of families and the entire community it serves.
If you would like to develop a relationship with one of our dedicated family physicians to provide primary care for all your family members, contact the Family Medicine Clinic at NWSH today to schedule an appointment.