Family Medicine: What Makes This Field Special for Aspiring Physicians?
Choosing a career can be difficult for many reasons. Perhaps you are on the young side and you have no idea what you want to do for the next 10, 20, or even 40 years of your life. Maybe you have already been working for a long time and you are searching for something new, but your experience does not line up with what you hope to do next.
Becoming a physician is a great career path if you are willing to dedicate years to your education. There are many types of physicians, so even choosing a specific specialty can be overwhelming in this field. One focus that is a great option is a physician who specializes in family medicine.
A family physician is a medical professional who does not have one focus or specialty. In fact, they have the broadest range of healthcare knowledge so they can help people of all ages, genders, and body types. They are able to diagnose and treat conditions for all parts of the body as well. Let’s talk about what makes family medicine physicians so special.
The Ability to Help Everyone
There is clearly a place for specialists in the world of medicine. When a patient is struggling with a nervous system disorder, they probably want to be seen by a neurologist who has spent years learning only about the human nervous system. This is why family medicine physician jobs are necessary. However, being a jack-of-all-trades is also immensely important in the healthcare sector. Family doctors can serve patients from all walks of life, from young children to aging adults. That means a whole family could all be seeing the same doctor, and that doctor is you. You are just as equipped to help a baby be healthy as you are a fully grown adult. This means that your background allows you to help more people. To some, that is an incredibly fulfilling career option.
Working With Kids
There is something special about children. They are innocent of many of the issues in the world, but that does not mean they are immune to health challenges. A family physician can help parents understand how to care for their children better. From newborns to teenagers, family doctors have the privilege of working with kids as they grow incredibly fast and discover the world around them. You will play an important role in the life of that child as well as their parents. For example, you can talk about the importance of exercise for children and offer ideas to motivate kids to stay active to the parents. As a family physician, you have a responsibility to care for the next generation.
Supporting Parents
Although every kid is unique and comes with their own set of health challenges, new parents are especially hungry for information about caring for their first kids. The unfortunate reality is that new parents tend to get advice from a lot of people, most of them not being doctors. You are one of the few people in these parents’ lives who actually know about best practices for child health. Part of your job is supporting parents as they learn how to care for their first child, develop them, and teach them about healthy living. This makes you an important resource in the lives of those parents, so don’t take that responsibility for granted.
Building Trust With Patients
When people have a specific health condition, they may see a specialist. That specialist will work with them until the condition is fixed or the patient chooses to find a new specialist. This makes it difficult for specialists to develop a lot of trust with patients. Family physicians do have the opportunity to build trust over the course of time. Since you can provide care for people of all ages, you could have many long-time patients who have learned to trust you after years of helpful health guidance. You can do everything from diagnosing their health concerns to offering ideas for self-care and they will trust you simply because of the length of your doctor-patient relationship. The opportunity to build trust with patients can be incredibly rewarding as a physician.
Is Family Medicine the Right Fit For You?
Becoming a physician in any field is a worthy calling, but there is something special about being able to serve patients from all walks of life. You are their first line of defense against many health issues, and the longer you provide care for them, the more they will trust you. Plus, you have the great privilege of caring for patients who are only a few years old and supporting their parents through a confusing time when all they have are questions. Consider if a family physician is the right role for you, knowing that it can be truly fulfilling for the right person.
