Family medicine

When you or a loved one needs health care, your family physician can be your first point of contact. At Advocate Health Care, our family medicine doctors have the broad training and experience needed to take care of people of all ages. 

What is family medicine?

Family physicians, also known as family practitioners or family medicine doctors, provide primary care. Primary care involves the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of a wide range of illnesses, diseases and injuries. 

Family physicians care for people throughout their lives – from the newborn stage through adulthood. Your family medicine doctor may see several members of your family, and you might be cared for by this physician for years.

Our family physicians get to know you, your medical history and the health challenges you face. They take a holistic approach, monitoring your health through every life stage. This approach helps them find and manage health issues early – when they are the most treatable. Your family physician becomes your trusted partner for wellness and care. 

Family physicians at Advocate are board certified in family medicine and focus on wellness, disease prevention and chronic (long-term) disease management. They have advanced education and training in several medical fields, including: 

• Community medicine (public health)
• Internal medicine
• Obstetrics and gynecology (OB-GYN)
• Pediatric medicine
• Psychiatry and neurology
• Surgery

Treatments and health services for the entire family

Our family physicians tailor care for people of all ages, genders and health backgrounds. We offer a wide variety of services and treatments, including:

• Preventive care: We provide annual physical exams and education about wellness and disease prevention to help you stay healthy. Health screening tests, vaccines and health risk assessments can find problems early and reduce your risk of disease. Find out more about preventive care at Advocate.
• Diagnosis of new conditions: Your family physician can help if you notice new or unusual symptoms. You’ll have a thorough evaluation with your provider to find the cause, including any needed imaging and tests. With an accurate diagnosis, we then develop your personalized treatment plan.
• Management of chronic diseases: Chronic conditions, such as diabetes and heart disease, require ongoing treatment and care. Your family physician is familiar with your health history and can quickly address any changes by adjusting your treatment plan.
• Treatment for sudden health issues: Your doctor can prescribe effective treatment, such as medications or physical therapy, for sudden, short-term problems such as flu, bladder infections or back pain. You can also see your family physician for urgent care for minor issues such as rashes and deep cuts.
• In-office procedures: Your doctor can perform many minor procedures in the office, including joint injections and skin biopsies. That means you receive care conveniently close to home, school or work, without needing to see a specialist.
• Referrals for advanced care: Your family physician can refer you to the right specialist if you need treatment for more serious conditions. Advocate offers access to experts in every specialty who deliver high-quality care. And all your Advocate care providers use the same electronic health record system, so your family provider can easily monitor your progress.

Family medicine: Conditions we treat 

Your family physician can diagnose and treat a wide range of health issues, including injuries, illnesses and chronic conditions. Our family medicine providers are experienced in evaluating all kinds of symptoms, distinguishing between them and providing accurate diagnoses.

Some conditions family physicians commonly manage and treat include:

• Arthritis, lupus and other rheumatologic conditions
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and other chronic lung diseases
• Endocrine (gland and hormone) disorders, such as thyroid disease and diabetes
• Infections, such as pneumonia, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and urinary tract infections (UTIs)
• Injuries, such as sprains, burns and broken bones
• Skin conditions, such as growths, rashes and skin cancers
• Vascular (blood vessel) diseases, such as heart disease and stroke