While they are often used as interchangeable terms, family medicine and primary care practices are in fact, quite different.
Admittedly, the two fields of medicine do have some overlap, hence the common confusion. For instance – family nurse practitioners, and primary care nurse practitioners who have completed the requisite AGPCNP programs, can both provide treatment and care for a range of different medical conditions.
But what are the main differences between the two practices?
Just keep reading to find out.
Debunking the Ins and Outs of Family Medicine
As the name would suggest, the specialty of family medicine is a medical practice that involves treating and caring for each member of the family unit – regardless of their age or health condition.
Family medicine practitioners – such as FNPs, for example – develop long-lasting relationships with their patients. This can be considerably rewarding – both for the families they treat and for the healthcare practitioners themselves. Developing a bond with family patients as medical professionals can help doctors feel more connected to their communities. The positive impact doctors can have on the families they treat can also often be seen and felt right away – which can lead to additional job satisfaction, and bring doctors a sense of genuine fulfillment in their careers.
In addition to this, becoming a family medicine practitioner allows doctors to treat patients from all walks of life – helping them build a well-rounded experience as a healthcare professional.
Demystifying Primary Care
Primary care, on the other hand, is a medical service individuals can access if they just need fast, easy, and convenient medical care.
As an entry point into the healthcare system, primary healthcare clinics are locations where patients can access quick, efficient, basic health checkups – sometimes for a more affordable cost than other healthcare services. The relative affordability and accessibility of primary care are thanks to the fact that primary care practitioners are predominantly tasked with performing quick and easy health checks and tests. Primary health practitioners can also be consulted if a patient requires a prescription for a common pharmaceutical medication.
Often the first port of call for any health condition, primary care practitioners will also screen patients and refer them to specialist medical professionals if a presenting health condition requires further treatment. Primary care is often an effective service to identify and intercept any health issues or concerns that may become more serious. If this is the case, the primary healthcare practitioner will point presenting patients in the direction of the additional medical treatment services they may require from a specialist.
What Are the Differences Between the Two?
The main difference between family medicine and primary care, ultimately, is the bond developed between the patients and their healthcare practitioners.
In the case of family care, there is a heavy focus on building positive and long-lasting relationships with presenting patients, and following them – and their health conditions – through life. Often a family will stay with the same family doctor for years. As adults, individuals will likely continue to see the same family doctor their parents took them to see as children.
On the other hand, if you’re just looking for quick, easy, accessible healthcare, primary care is most likely for you. While you may see a different medical practitioner each time, this is not as important if all you’re after is a quick script, test, or checkup. Going to see a primary care practitioner may even save you money (depending on your health condition), as it can be more affordable than visiting another type of doctor.
When it comes to family medicine and primary care, it can be easy to confuse the two. They are, after all, two commonly used forms of healthcare, and both types of services can be accessed if you’re feeling unwell and need to see a doctor.
The difference comes down to what you want from your healthcare service. Do you care about building a bond with your doctor, and having a medical professional follow your family’s health history? If so, a family care practitioner is for you. If this is not essential, but instead, you just need quick, easy, affordable treatment, see a primary care practitioner as your first port of call.
Hi, I’m the Founder and Developer of Paramedics World, a blog truly devoted to Paramedics. I am a Medical Lab Tech, a Web Developer and Bibliophiliac. My greatest hobby is to teach and motivate other peoples to do whatever they wanna do in life.