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Why Do You Need a Family Doctor?

Why Do You Need a Family Doctor?

A family doctor provides comprehensive health care for all members of your household, including older adults and young children. They’re there to help when you face illness or injury but also to help you manage chronic conditions and important preventive screenings.

At South Plains Rural Health Services, we provide comprehensive family medical care to anyone in the areas of Levelland, Lamesa, and Big Spring, Texas. 

Here’s why you should invest in a relationship with our family doctor team.

Family doctors know your medical history

A family doctor treats you from childhood. They also treat other members of your family. This gives them an in-depth understanding of your medical history, including trends, vaccinations, and lifestyle habits. Because your family doctor sees multiple generations of your family, they know what health risks you face and thus can help you prevent chronic disease. 

A family doctor is someone with whom you can build a relationship. You can trust them to give you the best preventive and acute care. 

Family doctors look out for your long-term health

When you visit the ER or urgent care, they treat the immediate problem that brought you into the clinic – whether it’s a deep cut, high fever, or itchy rash. Once you get treatment, you are sent on your way to manage your long-term health on your own.

A family doctor looks out for your overall health, not just your immediate symptoms. They recommend and manage health screenings, like Pap smears for cervical cancer or colonoscopies for colon cancer These screenings detect serious health problems early, when they’re most treatable and haven’t caused severe complications. 

A family doctor helps you manage your lifestyle habits to promote health. This includes recommendations for diet and exercise, help with quitting smoking, and support for mental health. This type of support can help boost your overall well-being.

Family doctors offer a wide variety of care

Family doctors are there for well-child checks, management of chronic conditions like diabetes and heart disease, prenatal care, and acute concerns like sinus infections or the flu. 

Your family doctor can also perform minor procedures, like removing a wart or stitching up a cut. 

You don’t have to think about who to call when illness or injury strikes anyone in your family; you know you can rely on your family physician. 

Family doctors help you find a specialist

If you have a complex medical problem, such as cancer or glaucoma, our team can refer you to a trusted provider that fits your specific needs. You don’t have to guess whether you’re getting the best care; you can be sure you are. 

Family doctors help you save money 

The average emergency room visit in Texas costs more than $2,300. The preventive care you get at a family doctor helps you avoid this cost. We also offer acute care services at a much more affordable rate. 

Of course, there are times you need the ER, such as after a severe car wreck or when you’re having heart attack symptoms, but the family medicine team at South Plains Rural Health Services can offer acute care for severe illness, suspected broken bones, and other urgent issues. 

Get the family medical care you need from the team at South Plains Rural Health Services. Call our nearest location today, or use the online tool to set up an appointment.

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