Because of the specificities of their clinical practice and the unique and close relationship they develop with the patient and his or her family, the family doctor is in a privileged position to act and is an important health system resource. What is the importance of the family doctor to your health? These days, the importance of having a family doctor cannot be overstated. Their more comprehensive “overview” of the patient enables them both to obtain an integrated view of the multiplicity of conditions affecting the patient and to relate clinical characteristics to specific psychological and sociological aspects. What are the functions of a family doctor? Your family doctor will work together with you to implement preventive care in a timely manner, so as to prevent the onset of diseases. In particular, this prevention plan should include: Vaccination; Compliance with screening campaigns established by national cancer monitoring programmes. The promotion of health and well-being is passed on through recommendations in terms of: Physical exercise; Combating sedentary lifestyle; Diet; Sleep hygiene; Harmful habits (alcohol and tobacco); Sun protection. All of these factors will be touched upon in the consultation process in an individualised way. Monitoring chronic diseases is also part of the work of your family doctor; these include: High blood pressure; High cholesterol; Excess weight (obesity); Diabetes. In this way, your family doctor will be able to help control them and prevent them from progressing to more serious complications. The benefits of having a family doctor It also makes life easier for you if you require treatment for an acute illness , because your doctor will have all of your personal history , in particular: Information on known diseases; Medication; Allergies. This knowledge helps reduce medical error. This permanent “sharing” means the relationship between the family doctor and the patient is unique. It goes without saying that the social lifestyle and cultural and religious context of the patient and their family will always be respected. Finally, your family doctor is always the first person you can call when you need to speak to someone. When faced with a problem, they will gather all the information available and use it to provide guidance to other specialists, where necessary. If collaboration with other specialities is needed, your doctor will guide you through the process . This means there will be far less stress inherent in the new situation. Author : Daniel Beirão Meet the General and Family Medicine team of Hospital da Luz network . The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
