What does a family medicine doctor do?

Pediatrics? Check.  Adult Medicine? Check.  Women’s Health? Check.  Sports Medicine? Check.  As Family Physicians, Family Medicine Doctors, or Family Docs, we do it all - well almost!  All doctors at Direct Doctors trained in Family Medicine at Brown where we learned all of the above.  We take care of patients from newborn to geriatric and everyone in between.  A Family Doctor can give immunizations to your baby, discuss your 4 year old’s cough, refill your antidepressant medication, inject your spouse’s knee after an injury, and do a check up for your grandmother.  ​

​Family doctors are trained in Pediatrics.  Brown Family Doctors train at Hasbro in Pediatrics.  While our training is not as extensive on the inpatient-pediatric-hospital side of things as a pediatrician, we are well-trained on outpatient medical issues that may be relevant to your child.  We do well-newborn and well-child care, vaccines, sick visits, and chronic illness care.  We often work alongside Pediatric specialists for more complicated issues.  If your child has a cold, isn’t acting quite right, has a rash, is having constipation, or has an injury that concerns you - we can handle that.  

Family doctors are trained in Adult Medicine.  Just like an “Internist,” we have extensive training in adult medicine and are well-equipped to handle acute issues, chronic medical problems, sick visits, and complex conditions.  We can care for you when you are well and when you are sick.  We have a strong focus on preventative wellness, helping you identify issues that can be remedied before they become chronic illnesses.   We will be sure your preventative screenings are up to date.  For example, we care for patients with Diabetes, Depression, Crohn’s Disease, Irritable Bowel Syndrome, Acne, Rheumatoid Arthritis and Erectile Dysfunction….to name a few. 

Family doctors are trained in Sports Medicine.  We learn from Orthopedists and Sports Doctors to be able to identify sports and musculoskeletal injuries on the front lines.  We are able to treat our patients from initial injury to joint injections to referral to orthopedists.  We don’t do surgery but, we can often help with the many steps and treatments leading up to (and sometimes preventing) surgery - examples include rotator cuff injuries, carpal tunnel, knee injuries, and osteoarthritis.

Family doctors are trained in Gynecology & Women’s Health.  If you are worried you see too many doctors, we can help with that too.  Family doctors are trained to perform routine health screenings for women - including PAP smears and ordering mammograms.  We also have extensive training in birth control options and can help you pick the right one, insert your IUD or place your nexplanon for you.

Family doctors are trained in Dermatology.  Part of our training also involves working with dermatologists to be able to care for patients’ skin needs in our offices.  While some patients still need the care of a dermatologist, many patients’ needs are handled here.  For example, we can biopsy moles, freeze warts, send moles to pathology for concerns for skin cancer, treat acne, rosacea, psoriasis, and prescribe options for acute skin issues such as poison ivy and allergies.

Family doctors are trained in Geriatrics, Home Visits and Nursing Home care.  We train alongside Geriatricians to learn the best care for older adults, whether they are living at home, in a community setting or in an assisted living facility.  We perform home visits when necessary, a skill that many doctors learn but few still participate in.  We are able to manage chronic illnesses, acute visits, and wellness care for all adults, regardless of age.  We also follow our patients if they transition to hospice and continue to be their primary doctors.  On top of all of the above, we also can do stitches or use dermabond skin glue for minor injuries. 

In essence, Family Doctors will see you from birth to death and every medical moment across your life.  If you aren’t sure if we can handle something, we are happy to talk more about it.  We also have a wonderful network of specialists who we work with as needed.  Many families choose to switch to our practice so that everyone can be cared for in one place.  If you’re sick of multiple doctors and multiple offices, check out how finding your medical home at our Family Medicine office Direct Doctors could be the best fit for you!