Definitions of Primary Care Providers

Posted: June 1, 2004

Generalists include both medical doctors (M.D.s) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.s). These professionals can specialize in internal medicine or family practice (see below). A physician assistant (PA) is trained in the family practice model for a primary care role.

Internal medicine physicians specialize in the branch of medicine concerned with the study of physiology and pathology of the internal organs, and medical diagnosis and treatment of disorders of these organs.

Pediatricians are doctors who specialize in medicine that deals with the development, care and diseases of children.

Other specialists who are frequently sought out directly by women for general primary care needs include the following:

• OB/GYNs are physicians who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, including well women's health care and prenatal care.
• Nurse practitioners (NPs) may be prepared in varying programs sometimes specific to women's health care including common gynecological concerns, routine health maintenance and screenings (such as a Pap smear), and family planning. NPs are registered nurses with graduate training in primary care. The profession includes family (FNP), pediatric (PNP), adult (ANP) and geriatric (GNP) specialties.

What is a Family Practice Physician?
Family practice physicians are dedicated to treating the whole person and their well-being. Family medicine's cornerstone is an ongoing, personal, patient-physician relationship focusing on integrated care.

Unlike other specialties that are limited to a particular organ, disease, age or sex, family medicine integrates care for patients of both genders across the full spectrum of ages within the context of community and advocates for the patient in an increasingly complex health care system.

The nation's nearly 70,000 practicing family physicians are key providers of primary care in the United States.

Like other medical specialists, family physicians complete a three-year residency program after graduating from medical school. As part of their residency, they participate in integrated inpatient and outpatient learning and receive training in six major medical areas: pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, psychiatry and neurology, surgery and community medicine. They also receive instruction in many other areas.

Source: American Academy of Family Physicians

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