A family medicine doctor for the whole household

How family medicine differs from a walk-in GP visit

The American Academy of Family Physicians describes family doctors as a first point of contact who care for patients regardless of age or condition, and who guide them through the health system, including visits to other specialists and hospital care. They also consider the family, community and social factors that affect a patient’s health.

In the UAE you will see both general practitioners and family medicine doctors listed. Both can be a good first call. A family medicine doctor has usually completed specialist training in this field, which can be useful if you want someone to follow several people, or several conditions, over time.

Why families and long-term patients book

• Prevention: routine check-ups, health risk assessments, screening and advice on vaccination.
• Long-term conditions: high blood pressure, diabetes and asthma, often coordinated with other specialists.
• Everyday illness: the same coughs, fevers and upsets a GP sees, at any age.
• Navigation: working out which specialist to see, and making sense of what they said.

Mixing video and clinic visits

Long-term care is rarely all one or the other. The DHA telehealth standard says telehealth should be built into chronic disease care as a hybrid model, with some steps in person and some remote. A video visit can cover a review of your home readings, a conversation about side effects or a plan for the next test. A blood pressure that needs checking properly, a foot examination for someone with diabetes, a vaccination or a blood draw needs someone in the room with you.

High blood pressure is a good example of why regular reviews matter. WHO notes that many people with hypertension have no symptoms, and the only way to know is to have it measured.

What to bring together before the appointment

• Recent results and letters from other doctors, in one place.
• Your home readings, if you keep them, with dates.
• Each family member’s medicines, allergies and vaccination record.
• Illnesses that run in the family, such as heart disease or diabetes.
• If the appointment is for a child, make sure a parent or legal guardian is present to give consent.

When to skip the appointment

A regular doctor is not a substitute for emergency care. If anyone in the household has sudden chest pain, is struggling to breathe, has signs of a stroke or a severe allergic reaction, call 998.

Family medicine doctors on medicAI work at independent facilities licensed by DHA or DoH. medicAI does not treat patients. It lets you compare doctors, see each one’s specialty and fee, and book by video.