A general medicine doctor, also known as a family doctor or a GP, is a medical professional who is trained in a variety of healthcare practices and procedures and is capable of providing competent medical care to a wide range of people. The general medicine doctor does not specialize in any one type of medicine, but has enough knowledge of different health issues and treatments to assess a patient’s basic needs and provide effective care in a variety of situations. Typically, this type of physician will be able to determine whether a patient requires specialist care for a specific condition and can arrange for that patient to be referred for more specialized treatment.
A general medicine doctor’s main goal is to provide patients with basic health care. Regular physical examinations, treatment of minor illnesses, and care in the event of common injuries are all part of this. Doctors of this type will frequently use a variety of treatment techniques to help alleviate pain and promote healing, such as providing medication prescriptions, assisting patients in developing workable diets and exercise plans, and in general providing the tools needed to help patients live a more equitable quality of life during convalescence or even in the management of a long-term condition.
Because a general medicine doctor does not specialize in a specific field of medicine, he or she will be familiar with a wide range of symptoms and treatments for a variety of health problems. Depending on the nature and severity of the problem, a general medicine physician may be able to treat the patient without referring them to a specialist. At other times, a good general practitioner will recognize when a patient’s health problem requires more specialized attention and will refer them to someone who specializes in that type of problem.
The amount of training required to become a general medicine doctor varies depending on the country. In many countries, acceptance into a medical school requires completion of general coursework at an accredited college or university. The time it takes to earn a degree and eventually be licensed to practice medicine varies by country, but in many countries, a total of eight years of formal medical training combined with time spent in residency at an approved medical institution such as a hospital is the norm. Depending on his or her personal career goals, a general medicine doctor may choose to start a private practice or join a medical group that includes a mix of specialists and GPs.