family medicine provider in Wellington FL

The Essential Guide to Becoming a Family Medicine Provider

July 7, 2023

Family medicine providers are some of the best family medicine providers who can take care of you and your family. They can treat acute and chronic illnesses, provide preventive care, coordinate care with specialists, and even perform minor procedures. Becoming a provider of family medicine is no small feat, but it is incredibly rewarding.

Curious how family medicine providers pursue this specialization? Considering embarking on a journey to become a family medicine provider? Here’s a comprehensive guide to get you started:

1. 4-Year Undergraduate Degree

Most medical schools require applicants to have completed an accredited four-year college degree program. An aspiring family medicine provider’s coursework should include biology, chemistry, physics, and biochemistry. These courses help grasp the fundamentals of medical science. They also increase a person’s chances of being accepted into a medical school.

2. Medical College Admission Test (MCAT)

MCAT is a comprehensive standardized exam that assesses academic competency in several areas, including:

Biological and biochemical foundations of living systems
Chemical and physical foundations of biological systems
Psychological, social, and biological foundations of behavior
Critical analysis and reasoning skills

The results of this exam are used as part of the application process for medical school. It is important to note that scores must be competitive to get accepted into a top-tier medical school.

3. Medical School

Aspiring family medicine providers must complete four years of medical school. During this time, future providers learn the fundamentals of medicine and gain hands-on experience through clinical rotations.

With the clinical rotations, providers-in-training can specialize in family medicine and get a closer look at the field. They use this time by networking and learning from more experienced family providers, whom they get to see practice medicine firsthand.

4. United States Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE)

USMLE is a three-step examination. It evaluates whether the provider-in-training has the knowledge and skills to practice medicine safely and competently according to set standards. The USMLE is a necessary step for anyone who wishes to become a family medicine provider in the United States.

5. Residency Training

After completing medical school and the USMLE, aspiring family medicine providers must complete residency training in a hospital or clinic. A family medicine residency usually takes three years. It includes completing rotations in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine, and obstetrics/gynecology.

During this time, future providers gain hands-on experience in treating patients and managing their care. Residency is excellent practice and ensures future family medicine providers are fully prepared to practice medicine independently.

6. Board Certification

The next step to becoming a family medicine provider is taking and passing the American Board of Family Medicine certification exam. Passing this exam allows providers to become board-certified in family medicine and practice independently. It also shows that family medicine providers have attained a high level of knowledge and experience in the field.

7. State Medical Licensure

Once the board exam is complete, family medicine providers must pass a state medical licensing exam to practice medicine legally. Different states have different requirements for licensure.

These requirements may include the following:

Taking additional exams
Completing an ethics course
Attending a certain number of continuing medical education (CME) courses
Providing proof of good moral character

What Does a Family Medicine Provider Do?

Family medicine providers provide comprehensive care for the entire family, from infants to elderly patients. They manage a wide range of health problems and can also provide preventive care. This includes immunizations, physical exams, health screenings, and more.

Additionally, family medicine providers often coordinate with other healthcare professionals to ensure their patients receive the best healthcare.

Some of the services that family medicine providers offer are:

Diagnosing and treating acute illnesses, like colds or the flu
Managing chronic health issues such as diabetes, asthma, and hypertension
Performing physical examinations for school, work, or sports
Prescribing medications when needed and providing patient education
Referring patients to specialists for further care, when necessary
Performing minor surgical procedures, such as circumcision, wart removals, and stitches
Caring for the emotional and mental health of patients

Family Medicine Near You in Wellington & Royal Palm Beach, FL

Becoming a family medicine provider is no easy feat. It requires dedication, hard work, and passion for the well-being of others. Family medicine providers complete four years of medical school, residency training, board certification exams, and state licensure. They provide comprehensive care for the entire family and refer patients to specialists when needed. It is a fulfilling and rewarding career for those who choose to pursue it.

Looking for family medicine near you in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach? You can depend on the best Wellington family practice, Advanced Medical. Our trusted, experienced, and compassionate family medicine providers are excited to care for you and your family. Call our friendly staff today at (561) 434-1935. You can also submit a secure appointment request form to book a visit with the best family providers in Wellington.

A Checklist in Choosing the Best Family Provider

May 13, 2022

It’s important to find the best family medicine provider, whether for routine checkups or a major surgery. By doing so, you can be confident in the care you receive every time.

After all, your health largely hinges on the treatment they recommend and administer for you. Let’s talk about the key factors in finding an excellent family medicine provider, and where you can go in Wellington for top-notch medical care for you and your family.

How to Find an Outstanding Family Medicine Provider

Here’s what you should consider when choosing the best family medicine provider:

Get Referrals and Recommendations

Your family medicine provider will be your primary care provider, so you can start looking by asking the people you trust. Talk to your family, friends, or colleagues about family providers they recommend. You can even ask other providers you’ve worked with for referrals, such as your endocrinologist or your eye family medicine provider.

You can go online and read the provider’s patient reviews posted on various websites to get a feel for what they’re like. There may also be testimonials from some of their current and previous patients.

Consider Your Insurance

Once you have names of provider’s to consider, check your health insurance coverage to make sure they’re covered by your insurance policy. If you’re interested in a family medicine provider who is not on your list, then call that provider’s office and ask them whether they do indeed accept your particular insurance – and be sure to write down the name of the staff person you spoke to.

Check the Family Provider’s Qualifications and Experience

When looking for a healthcare provider, the lead family medicine provider in the practice should ideally be board-certified. Board certification means that a family medicine provider is staying on top of the latest in medical technologies and methods, and this involves continuing education at medical conferences and seminars.

Being board-certified indicates career-long learning, so you can rest assured that the provider continues to hone their skills. You do not want a family medicine provider who continues to perform the same tests and methods they learned in medical school if provider’s today are actually using much more advanced methods and technologies for more accurate and beneficial results.

Experience is also crucial. Your ideal family medicine provider will have spent much of their time caring for patients with similar conditions as you have, because family medicine provider by nature deal with patients who have myriad health conditions on a constant basis.

If you want to be sure, call the practice and ask them whether the family medicine provider handles patients who have chronic conditions like yours – whether it be arthritis, diabetes, heart disease, and so on. Do not hesitate to make that call.

Think About Convenience

Choose a healthcare provider who has a convenient location and has office hours that work with your schedule. You do not want inconvenience to become an excuse not to go to the family medicine provider for a checkup.

Family Medicine Provider for Arthritis in Wellington, FL

It’s important to find a primary care provider in whom you can place your full confidence, especially if you have a chronic condition such as arthritis, osteoporosis, diabetes, a neurological condition, or anything else. If you’re looking for a trusted family medicine provider whose office is conveniently located in Wellington, look no further than Advanced Medical Clinic. We have a team of highly experienced, board-certified providers who can give you the comprehensive care you deserve.

Advanced Medical Clinic is located in the Palomino Park medical complex on the west side of Highway 441, between Forest Hill Boulevard and Lake Worth Road in Wellington. If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, call our friendly staff today at (561) 434-1935 or complete our secure online appointment request form now. We look forward to serving you!

What Is Unique About Family Medicine?

January 28, 2022

There are so many primary care providers today who specialize in specific areas of medicine – such as orthopedics (the musculoskeletal system), neurology (the brain, spinal cord, and peripheral nervous system), endocrinology (secretions, especially of hormones, such as insulin), and ophthalmology (the eyes). However, you will ideally have a general practitioner who will not only keep track of all your reports from your various specialists, but also administer vaccinations and perform bloodwork and a urinalysis to check for any new infections or diseases at your annual checkup.

General practitioners (GPs) for adults are called internists, and GPs for children are called pediatricians. Bringing it all together are family medicine practitioners, who can treat health issues of all kinds and in people of all ages.

The broad scope of family medicine is what makes it unique, and you don’t have to have a family to see a family medicine provider. Let’s talk about what is involved in family medicine, what sets it apart from other medical specialties, and where you can go in Wellington to see an outstanding family practitioner who can help you stay healthy.

Primary Care for All Ages

Family medicine providers can care for every member of the family, from infants to the elderly. They administer annual checkups, monitor chronic illnesses, and make sure that a patient doesn’t have new medications that have contraindications with each other – meaning that they counteract, rendering them unhelpful or even harmful to your body.

Comprehensive and Preventive Care

With their breadth of experience, family medicine practitioners are able to provide comprehensive care to patients throughout their lifetime. They are able to tailor each patient’s treatment plan according to the patient’s unique needs and preferences.

Family practitioners address various aspects of a patient’s overall health, such as:

Sleep
Energy levels
Nutrition
Blood pressure
Weight
Mental health
Mobility
Chronic conditions
Injury prevention
Pain relief
Memory

Family medicine practitioners provide preventive care, which includes health screenings, immunizations, and wellness checks. The healthcare provider will spend time with you and listen to what you have to say about health and wellness concerns.

Baseline Healthcare Practitioner

Medical specialists focus on their specialty alone, they don’t administer flu shots and check all of your vitals for other health conditions. However, primary care providers such as family practitioners act as coordinators of your overall care, making sure you get the treatment you need, and may refer you to specialists if necessary in order for you to reach optimal health and wellness.

Family Medicine Practitioner in Wellington, FL

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, our staff is highly experienced and provides exceptional, compassionate primary care for the whole family. Our family medicine practitioner is Shariffa Gunawardene, and she treats patients with a preventive approach and a treatment approach – including helping you manage injuries and illnesses. She is known in Palm Beach County for her compassionate nature and her commitment to your health.

For any questions or to schedule an appointment with Nurse Practitioner Gunawardene, call our Wellington primary care clinic today at (561) 434-1935 or fill out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your family healthcare provider!

Tips on Choosing the Best Provider for Your Erectile Dysfunction

December 10, 2021

Erectile dysfunction, or ED, is nothing to be ignored. In fact, if you are having difficulty achieving and/or maintaining an erection that is sufficient enough for sex, you should consult a family medicine providers who specializes in men’s health.

The family medicine provider you’re looking for will be able to diagnose and treat your ED promptly and without making you feel embarrassed. Let’s talk about how to find the best family medicine provider for you in treating your erectile dysfunction, and where you can go in Wellington for world-class internal medicine.

Talk with Your Family Medicine Provider

Your primary care provider (PCP) knows you better than any other healthcare provider. This family medicine provider keeps records of all of your medical treatments and diagnoses, updates your vaccinations, prescribes medications and other services (such as physical therapy), and performs your annual physical exam. This family medicine provider is therefore ideal for asking questions about your ED, and the family medicine provider may uncover underlying reasons behind it. Once your provider has determined the likely cause of your erectile dysfunction, it can be treated successfully.

For example, certain chronic health conditions – such as Parkinson’s disease, MS (multiple sclerosis), diabetes, and cardiovascular disease – can impact blood flow to the penis and proper nerve function. Additionally, some medications you take, such as antihistamines, antidepressants, or blood pressure medications, can impair penile function.

Consult with a Men’s Health Specialist

Your provider may already be well-versed in treating men’s health issues, so you may not need to look any further. A family medicine provider who specializes in men’s health will offer state-of-the-art diagnostics and treatments for ED. Testing may include penile ultrasound to evaluate structure and blood flow, a blood draw to check for low testosterone (low-T), and other assessments.

Ask Questions

The family medicine provider you ultimately choose to treat your erectile dysfunction should make you feel comfortable in asking personal but pertinent questions, such as:

What could be the cause of my ED?
Do I have to take oral medications, or do I have other treatment options?
Can I improve my sexual function in natural ways?

The right ED family medicine provider can explain all of today’s myriad ED treatment choices, and the family medicine provider will ask you certain questions as well, such as:

How long have you had ED symptoms?
When do they tend to occur?
Are you having issues with achieving an erection, or maintaining one?

These questions are highly personal and can seem embarrassing. However, your family medicine provider needs this information to hone in on the underlying causes of your ED so that the best treatment can be determined for you. Keep in mind that most medical issues are indeed highly personal, so this is nothing new for your family medicine provider.

Men’s Health Specialist in Wellington and Royal Palm Beach, FL

Here at Advanced Medical Clinic, our board-certified internist can diagnose and treat a wide range of adult health issues, including erectile dysfunction. Whereas pediatricians are family medicine providers who specialize in treating children, internists specialize in treating adults – and Dr. Ishan Gunawardene can address health issues of all kinds for both men and women.

Advanced Medical Clinic also offers family medicine for people of all ages, as Dr. Gunawardene’s wife, Shariffa, is a family nurse practitioner here at our practice. We are conveniently located in Wellington, and we are here for you for any non-emergency medical needs.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment, contact our friendly staff today by calling us at (561) 434-1935 or by filling out our appointment request form online now. We look forward to being your healthcare provider!

How Do I Find the Right Family Medicine Provider for Me?

June 4, 2021

Having a family medicine provider, as research shows, is linked to better health outcomes. But there’s one other great reason to have a family medicine provider, and that is the provider-patient relationship you can rely on for your and your family’s healthcare needs over the long term.

If you don’t have a family medicine provider or are not at ease with whom you’re currently seeing, now is the time to find a new one—one you can see yourself establishing a lifelong relationship with. Don’t wait till you or a family member gets ill. Pressure and illness can cause you to make a hasty, uninformed decision.

Here are some simple tips to help you streamline your search for the right family medicine provider for you.

Gather several recommendations.

The first step in finding the best family medicine provider is to get lots of referrals.

Ask your family, relatives, friends, and colleagues. Word-of-mouth recommendations are inherently reliable, as they come from people you personally know and trust.

You can also get referrals from other medical practitioners. Talk to your dentist or therapist. They possibly work with general practitioners, so they are in a position to recommend a family medicine provider who fits your family’s needs.

Do an internet search.

The World Wide Web is replete with resources that can help you find the right family medicine provider for you. You can find information about the practice’s business hours and the provider’s credentials on their website.

Additionally, the American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS) website has a helpful database that allows you to verify the practitioner’s board certification status, the number of years they have spent in practice, and whether they have any medical malpractice history.

Check their location.

Distance is one important factor that many tend to overlook. Twenty miles may only seem like a quick ride, but if you need to take time off work to drive there, then it can be inconvenient.

There are big advantages to having a family medicine provider whose office is located close to where you live or work. This lessens the burden of having to travel far and ensures you have fewer hindrances to showing up for your appointments.

Read reviews.

In this day and age, it is very easy to find out about a medical practitioner’s reputation. Online reviews, though not necessarily a deciding factor, can help you make an informed decision with greater confidence.

You can find the answers to your own questions about the attitude of the family medicine provider or the staff, quality of services, and wait times by reading reviews, which you can find either on the practice’s website and/or social media page.

Schedule a visit.

This is a great way to ascertain the family medicine provider’s bedside manner and communication style, both of which have a huge impact on your confidence in their care and expertise as well as your overall experience.

Talk to the family medicine providers you have on your list and observe whether they have a soothing bedside manner and communicate effectively.

Are they able to explain complex medical concepts? Do they answer all your questions politely? Do you feel comfortable talking to them? If you answer no to any of these questions, it might be a sign that they may not be the right one for you.