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We hope the information below will help to answer some of your questions. If not, please contact us today. We will continue to post the most frequently asked questions, so please bookmark this page and check back often.
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What do you mean by Board Certified? Does it matter?
Family Physicians have been recognized as specialists by the American Medical Association and the American Board of Medical Specialty since 1969. Members of the American Academy of Family Physicians and those certified by the American Board of Family Practice must now complete a three year residency program after medical school which includes training in internal medicine, pediatrics, surgery, obstetrics, gynecology, psychiatry, community medicine and geriatrics. This extra training gives the family physician the capability to treat the vast majority of your health problems. To remain Board Certified, Family Physicians must participate in a recertification process every six years. Family practice is one of the few specialties which require a recertification exam to remain Board Certified. The recertification process is not merely an examination, but a process consisting of four major elements. One is documenting 300 hours of continuing medical education since their last exam. Two, review of office records. Three, maintaining active licensure. Four, passing a written examination covering all disciplines of family practice. In addition, every three years the doctor must accumulate 150 hours of continuing medical education to remain a member of the American Academy of Family Physicians.
Should I see an internist or a family physician?
Internists generally do not see children and the scope of their practice
is more limited to heart and lung diseases, rheumatology and endocrinology.
Our elderly patients with multiple complex medical problems who require
frequent hospitalization often prefer to see an internist who also
sees them in the hospital. The physicians at Family Physicians of Carmel
are experts in the diagnosis and treatment of outpatient disorders.
When a patient has such a serious medical problem that requires hospitalization,
they will be referred to subspecialists who specialize in the condition
that requires hospitalization. Patients who have a family physician
as their primary care doctor usually require fewer subspecialists to
take care of their routine health concerns... However, Family Physicians
of Carmel is committed to working side by side with the subspecialists
who also care for our patients. We happily relay information to and
from our subspecialists to ensure seamless health care.
Shouldn’t I go to a convenience clinic for acute care of emergencies?
Many patients do not realize that Family Physicians of Carmel keep open acute care appointments throughout the day and even extra during cold and flu season. This allows us to give same-day service for acute care and helps prevent our patients from waiting hours in line at a convenience clinic. The medical expertise at these facilities varies widely from clinic to clinic and from physician to physician. Whenever possible we try to meet the needs of all of our patients. Our clients often voice concern that they do not want to take up our valuable time with minor illnesses. Since we already have a complete medical history and background on each of our patients, we feel we are much more efficient and capable of taking care of acute problems for patients we already know.
Can a family doctor take care of female problems and pap smear?
Family physicians all have special training in gynecology. When performing annual exams, we review a complete history and physical on the patient, not limiting our scope to female problems. We understand the long-term ramifications of perimenopause and menopause and abnormal pap smears. We are trained to treat hormone imbalances, menopause, abnormal breast lumps, suspicious pap smears and other medical concerns that arise during the annual exam.
Should my child see a pediatrician or a family physician?
This is a personal decision that a family needs to make. Our doctors are well-trained in infant and child care. Family physicians are more likely to refer complicated pediatric health problems to a subspecialist, however, we are well qualified to treat acute respiratory tract infections, asthma, sinusitis, perform routine physicals and immunizations, and screening for developmental and orthopedic abnormalities. Since we often treat the parents we have a wider knowledge of the whole family situation than a pediatrician might.
Why do I have to make a follow-up visit for my chronic health problems?
We feel that each patient is the captain of their health and we are simply navigators. We make recommendations based upon sound medical information. We recommend patients with diabetes see their physician every three to four months, controlled hypertension every four to six months, uncontrolled monthly. Patients with cholesterol problems are followed every six months. Follow-up visits are necessary so we can provide the best medical care for your health problems, including assessment of effectiveness of therapy, monitoring or side effects and watching for the development of new problems.
Why can’t the physician do a medication check when I am in for an acute illness?
Some short time slots throughout the day are reserved and intended to be used for acute illnesses only. When we use these reserved slots to work in patients with acute problems and then also see them for their chronic illnesses, the physicians will most frequently get behind in his schedule. We feel this is not fair to the subsequent patients who have appropriately booked their routine appointments. Acute illnesses usually will alter a patient’s vital signs such as heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure and can adversely effect blood tests such a thyroid studies, white blood cell count and cholesterol levels. We appreciate patients keeping their medicine check appointments scheduled at regular intervals. When an acute illness arises, we prefer to only address that illness on that particular day.
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