What Does a Family Doctor Treat? Common Conditions Your Primary Care Provider Can Help With
When you think about visiting a family doctor, you might picture an annual physical or a routine checkup. But family doctors can do much more than provide preventive care. They can diagnose and treat many common illnesses and injuries, help manage ongoing health conditions, provide screenings and immunizations, and help you stay healthy at every stage of life.
At Burnett Medical Center, our Family Practice Clinic in Grantsburg provides comprehensive care for individuals and families. Whether you need treatment for a new health concern or ongoing support for a chronic condition, a family doctor can be an important part of your healthcare team.
What Does a Family Doctor Do?
A family doctor provides primary care for people of all ages. Rather than focusing on just one type of illness or one part of the body, family medicine takes a broader approach to your overall health.
Your family doctor can help with everything from routine preventive care to diagnosing new symptoms and managing chronic conditions. Because primary care providers can get to know you and your health history over time, they can also help identify changes that may deserve further attention.
At Burnett Medical Center, family practice services include diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic health conditions, chronic disease management, health assessments, preventive screenings, immunizations, wellness exams, and routine laboratory testing.
Common Conditions a Family Doctor Can Treat
Colds, Flu and Other Common Illnesses
You don’t necessarily need to visit a specialist every time you aren’t feeling well. Family doctors can evaluate many common illnesses and determine the appropriate treatment.
Depending on your symptoms, your primary care provider may help with concerns such as:
- Colds and respiratory illnesses
- Flu-like symptoms
- Ear, nose and throat infections
- Minor infections
- Cough and congestion
- Fever
- Rashes
- Other common acute illnesses
If your symptoms require a higher level of care or specialized treatment, your family doctor can also help determine the next appropriate step.
High Blood Pressure and Other Chronic Conditions
Family doctors play an important role in managing chronic health conditions. Conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and other ongoing health concerns often require regular monitoring and long-term management.
Rather than treating each appointment as an isolated event, primary care helps you develop an ongoing plan for managing your health.
At Burnett Medical Center, chronic disease management and diabetes education are among the services provided through the Family Practice Clinic.
Diabetes
If you have diabetes, regular primary care can help you monitor your health and manage the condition over time.
Your family doctor may help monitor your condition, review medications, discuss lifestyle factors and coordinate additional care when necessary. Diabetes education is also available through Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic.
Minor Injuries
Family doctors can also evaluate certain injuries and determine whether additional treatment is needed.
Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic provides services including fracture care and foot and nail care.
If an injury is severe or requires emergency attention, however, you may need to seek emergency care rather than scheduling a routine family practice appointment.
Preventive Care and Wellness
One of the most important things a family doctor does is help you stay healthy—not just treat you when you’re sick.
Preventive and wellness services may include:
- Annual wellness visits
- Physical exams
- Well-child exams
- Immunizations
- Health status assessments
- Routine laboratory testing
- Preventive screenings
- Women’s health services
- Men’s health services
Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic offers a variety of preventive exams, including physicals, well-child exams, pre-operative exams, DOT physicals, Pap and pelvic exams, and Medicare wellness visits.
When Should You See a Family Doctor?
You don’t have to wait until something is seriously wrong to make an appointment with your family doctor.
Consider scheduling a visit when you:
- Need an annual physical or wellness exam
- Have a health concern that isn’t going away
- Need help managing a chronic condition
- Have questions about medications
- Need recommended screenings or immunizations
- Notice a change in your health
- Need care for a minor illness or injury
- Haven’t had a routine checkup in some time
A family doctor can also help you determine whether you need additional testing, treatment or care from a specialist.
Why Establish a Relationship With a Family Doctor?
Having an established primary care provider gives you a consistent place to turn when health questions or concerns arise.
Over time, your family doctor can become familiar with your medical history, medications, risk factors and overall health goals. That ongoing relationship can make it easier to monitor changes, manage chronic conditions and stay current with preventive care.
At Burnett Medical Center, patients can choose from physicians, nurse practitioners and a certified nurse midwife for their family healthcare needs. The Family Practice Clinic is located in the same building as the hospital, nursing home and other outpatient departments, making it convenient to access multiple healthcare services in one location.
Family Medicine in Grantsburg, WI
Finding a family doctor you trust is an important part of taking care of your health. Whether you need treatment for an illness, help managing a chronic condition, preventive care or a routine wellness visit, primary care can provide a foundation for your long-term health.
Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic provides comprehensive healthcare for individuals and families in Grantsburg and the surrounding area. To schedule an appointment with a family practice provider, call 715-463-5353.
Frequently Asked Questions About Family Doctors
What is a family doctor?
A family doctor is a primary care provider who provides healthcare for people of different ages and can address a wide range of health concerns. Family medicine includes preventive care, treatment of acute illnesses and management of chronic conditions.
What conditions can a family doctor treat?
Family doctors can diagnose and treat many common illnesses and health concerns, including respiratory illnesses, infections, minor injuries and chronic conditions. They also provide preventive care, wellness exams, immunizations and health screenings.
Can a family doctor help manage diabetes?
Yes. Diabetes is a chronic condition that often requires ongoing monitoring and management. Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic offers chronic disease management and diabetes education.
Should I see a family doctor for a chronic condition?
Yes. A family doctor can help monitor and manage many chronic health conditions over time. Your provider can also determine whether you need additional testing, treatment or care from a specialist.
Can a family doctor provide physicals and wellness exams?
Yes. Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic provides physicals, well-child exams, pre-operative exams, DOT physicals and wellness exams, including Welcome to Medicare and Annual Wellness Visits.
How do I find a family doctor in Grantsburg, WI?
Burnett Medical Center’s Family Practice Clinic has physicians, nurse practitioners and a certified nurse midwife available for family healthcare needs. To learn more or schedule an appointment, call 715-463-5353.
When should I go to a family doctor instead of the emergency room?
Family doctors are generally appropriate for routine care, preventive care, chronic condition management and many common illnesses and minor injuries. Serious or potentially life-threatening symptoms should be evaluated through emergency care. If you’re unsure which type of care you need, contact your healthcare provider for guidance.