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Dr. Dawne Pierce grew up in Victoria, BC where she received her BSc. in Biology at U.Vic. She went on to attend UBC Medical School and graduated with her MD in 1996. She spent part of her residency training in the interior of B.C., but quickly realized Saskatchewan would be her forever home. Dr. Pierce is married with two sons and two stepsons ...
- Overview
- Primary care practitioner (PCP)
- Family doctor
- Internist
- Do you need one?
- How do I find one?
- Tips for choosing a doctor
Many types of medical practitioners can treat you and your family. But with so many types, it may be hard to decide which to see. Here’s how to differentiate between primary care practitioners, family doctors, and internists.
The medical field is vast and filled with titles and names that may be tricky to understand. For example, take primary care practitioners (PCPs), family doctors, and internists.
The term “primary care practitioner (PCP)” refers to any of the following types of medical professionals:
•family medicine practitioner
•nurse practitioner
•physician assistant
•internist
•pediatrician
What do they do and whom do they treat?
A family doctor is trained to care for a person from infancy to advanced age. They are often the doctor you will see to treat minor problems, like bronchitis, and major problems, like high blood pressure. Family doctors will often advocate for you. They encourage healthy lifestyle changes for chronic problems. If the doctor also treats other members of the family, they may be able to help you get ahead of potential genetic issues, like obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol. For many people, having a doctor who is intimately aware of both your personal and family history can be helpful and comforting. And if your condition goes beyond the scope of your family doctor’s training, they may refer you to a specialist.
What is their training?
Family doctors have completed 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency. They can treat people of all ages. Their residency training includes a variety of specialties, from gynecology to mental health.
When should you see a family doctor?
A visit to the family doctor is typically the first step in the treatment process. For example, you might go because you have poison ivy and need a prescription. Or you might go because you’ve been having unexplained dizziness and need some help figuring out why.
What do they do and whom do they treat?
An internist is a doctor only for adults. A family medicine doctor can treat people of all ages, but an internist only treats older adolescents and adults. Like a family medicine doctor, an internist treats most common medical issues, from sprains and strains to diabetes. If your condition is beyond their scope, they may refer you to a specialist.
What is their training?
Internists also completed 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency. Their residency training includes a variety of specialties in adult medicine from cardiology to endocrinology to palliative care.
When should you see an internist?
An internist is a first-line source of treatment. If you are in need of medical treatment or supervision and are an adult, you may turn to an internist first. Your internist is trained to treat almost any condition you may develop throughout your adult life. Internists can treat minor issues like a sinus infection or broken wrist. They can also treat and supervise treatment for more serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol.
All individuals need a home base for medical purposes. Having an office where you are known and a doctor you can trust to provide you with care is of utmost importance. If you have a medical emergency, you’ll save a lot of time by knowing exactly where to turn.
In addition, some insurance companies won’t cover visits to specialists without a referral from a PCP, such as a family doctor or internist. Protect yourself against high medical bills by establishing yourself as a member of a practice that you like and trust.
If you have insurance, start with the insurance company’s list of preferred doctors. This guarantees your family doctor will accept your insurance.
Next, ask your friends and family for recommendations. If you’re new to the area, seek out recommendations from unbiased online resources, such as our Heathline FindCare tool, Healthgrades, and the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
An in-person visit is the best way to decide if a doctor is right for you. Make an appointment and bring a list of questions that may help you be prepared for that talk.
Here are some questions you might want to ask:
•Do you reserve appointments for emergencies? Getting in to see your doctor when you’re sick and can’t wait is important.
•How can I ask you questions? Some doctors answer emails. Some even make video calls if you’re too sick to come into the office.
•What’s your treatment philosophy? If you are interested in alternative treatments, you need to find a doctor who supports that.
•What hospitals are you affiliated with? If your doctor doesn’t have admitting privileges at your preferred hospital, you may want to find one who does, or consider switching hospital allegiances.
Jul 16, 2023 · 3 min read. Family practice doctors provide care to people of all ages. These generalists treat chronic conditions, evaluate symptoms, offer preventative care, and let people know when they need ...
Oct 1, 2018 · Objective To determine the range of services and procedures offered by family physicians who define themselves as comprehensive practitioners and compare responses across 3 generations of alumni of a single family practice program. Design Cross-sectional survey. Setting Western University in London, Ont. Participants All graduates of the family medicine program between 1985 and 2012. Main ...
- Thomas R Freeman, Leslie Boisvert, Eric Wong, Stephen Wetmore, Heather Maddocks
- 2018
practice or family medicine, members are classified into the four categories described in . Table 1. It should be noted that the CMPA does not distinguish . between general practice and family medicine in its . categories. It does not ask whether the member is certified by the CFPC or the Collège des médecins du Quebec.
Four Principles of Family Medicine. The family physician is a skilled clinician. Family physicians demonstrate competence in the patient-centred clinical method; they integrate a sensitive, skillful, and appropriate search for disease. They demonstrate an understanding of patients' experience of illness (particularly their ideas, feelings, and ...
People also ask
When did Dr Pierce become a CCFP?
What does a family physician do?
Who is Dr Dawne Pierce?
Where did Dr Pierce go to medical school?
Do family physicians practice full-service family medicine?
What do family physicians have in common?
The Four Principles of Family Medicine in Canada (developed in 1986) echo some of the definitions mentioned in this article: a family physician is a skilled clinician, a family physician is a resource to a defined practice population, and the patient-physician relationship is at family medicine’s core. 6 The fourth principle—family physicians are based in the community—speaks to family ...
