Family Medicine: A Personal Doctor for You and Your Whole Family
Having a doctor who knows you, knows your history and can talk about anything helps solve problems while they are still small. That is what family medicine is for.
Key points
- Family medicine is a specialty built on continuity, whole-person care, seeing people in the context of family and community, and coordinating care with other specialists.
- A family doctor handles acute and chronic illness, prevention and vaccines, mental health, older-adult care, palliative care, relationships and sexual health.
- Seeing the same doctor over time is linked with fewer hospital admissions, less emergency use and lower mortality.
I chose to train in family medicine because I like getting to know patients as "people", not just diseases. Sometimes a patient comes in about poor sleep, but once we really talk, it turns out to be stress in the family, or something in the bedroom they've never dared tell anyone. Having a doctor who knows you, knows your history and can talk with you about anything helps solve problems while they are still small.
What is family medicine?
Family medicine is a medical specialty trained to care for people of all ages and genders with a wide range of health problems, based on four key principles:
- Continuity of care, from when you are healthy, through illness and recovery, to the end of life
- Comprehensive care of body, mind, social life and spirit
- Seeing people in the context of family and community, because one person's health affects the whole household
- Coordination of care: knowing when to refer, to whom, and continuing to follow the patient after referral
In Thailand, family physicians are at the heart of the primary health care system under the Primary Health Care System Act B.E. 2562 (2019), which aims for every Thai person to have a family doctor.
Continuous care
Continuity
- From good health to the end of life
- No retelling your story each time
Whole-person care
Comprehensive
- Body, mind, social, spiritual
- Including sexual health
Seeing the family
Context
- One person's health affects the home
- Family and community
Coordinating care
Coordination
- Knowing when to refer
- Following up after referral
What can a family doctor help with?
- Common and acute illnesses, such as fever, colds, abdominal pain and rashes
- Chronic diseases: blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, asthma, and taking several medicines at once
- Preventive medicine, risk-based health checks and adult vaccines; see Wellness and preventive health
- Basic mental health: stress, anxiety, depression and sleep
- Older adults' health: falls, memory and advance care planning
- Palliative and end-of-life care; see Palliative care
- Relationship and family problems, together with family therapy
- Sexual health and family planning
Family medicine and sexual health
Many people don't know which department to go to with a sexual problem, and some are so embarrassed they leave it for years. Family physicians have real strengths here, because they:
- Listen without judging, creating a safe space to talk about premature ejaculation, erectile problems, pain during sex, mismatched desire or gender identity
- Connect sexual problems with the rest of your health, such as ED caused by diabetes, blood pressure medicine or depression; see Erectile dysfunction (ED)
- Provide continuous care: you can come back, adjust treatment and not have to tell your story from the beginning every time
- Consider your partner and family, because sexual problems often involve two people
Examples of the work I do in the clinic:
| Problem | How a family doctor can help |
|---|---|
| Middle-aged man with ED and a growing belly | Check heart, diabetes and hormone risks, treat ED and adjust lifestyle |
| A couple with mismatched desire | Assess physical and psychological factors, couples counseling; see Common couple problems |
| Someone at risk of HIV | PrEP/PEP and private STI testing |
| Transgender people | Gender-affirming hormones and general health care |
| Older adults who still want a sex life | Review medicines and conditions that affect it, and suggest approaches suited to their age |
I have additional training in sexual medicine and clinical sexology so I can look after these issues in more depth, and I refer to other specialists, such as urology, gynecology or psychiatry, when a problem goes beyond my scope. Read more in When to see a clinical sexologist.
Why having a regular doctor matters
Research from many countries has found that seeing the same doctor over time is linked with fewer hospital admissions, less use of emergency departments and lower death rates. The simple reason is that a doctor who knows you notices changes early, avoids unnecessary repeat tests and helps you make decisions that fit your real life.
When to see a family doctor
- You want a regular doctor who provides continuous care and helps coordinate when you need to see several departments
- You have several chronic diseases or take many medicines
- You have a problem and aren't sure which department to go to, including sexual issues
- You are caring for elderly parents or want to plan care in advance; see Living will
At Dr. Kris Clinic I practise family medicine both at the clinic in Surat Thani and online. English-speaking consultations are available, which many expats and visitors from Koh Samui, Koh Phangan and Koh Tao find helpful. In an emergency, such as chest pain, difficulty breathing or weakness on one side of the body, call 1669 (Thailand's medical emergency number) immediately.
Related case stories from Dr. Kris
Dr. Kris Case: My First Patient, a Man of 80, and Sex in Later LifeFully assess the heart, other conditions and medicines before low-dose erection medicine, and accept that closeness matters at every ageWant help with this? Three simple steps
Reading is a good start. When you are ready, check where you are, see how a consultation works, then book a time that suits you.
1Free 2-minute self-checkRelationship check (CSI-4) — see your result instantly and send it to the doctor if you like.Start the self-check →
2See the steps and feesIndividual from 990 THB · couple 1,590 THB · 30–60 minutes, at the clinic or online via MCS Telemedicine.How a consultation works →
3Book with the doctorPick a time online or message us on LINE. Come on your own or with your partner. Payment confirms the booking.Book online →Self-checks are a guide only and do not replace a doctor's assessment. Outcomes vary from person to person, depending on the severity of symptoms, the complexity of the problem and other factors.
See a family doctor
Care for the whole person and the whole family, including advance care planning and palliative care.
Every medicine and service requires a doctor's assessment first.
Frequently asked questions
How is a family physician different from a general doctor?
A family physician is a specialist with additional training in continuous, whole-person care in the context of the family, including preventive medicine, older-adult care and end-of-life care.
Can I talk to a family doctor about sexual issues?
Yes. Sexual health is part of health. A family doctor can assess and manage common problems and refer you to a specialist when needed.
Do I need to bring my whole family?
No, but if the problem involves people at home, such as caring for parents or relationship issues, talking together often helps a lot.
อ่านบทความนี้เป็นภาษาไทย
แพทย์เวชศาสตร์ครอบครัว หมอประจำตัวที่ดูแลทั้งคนและทั้งครอบครัว →
References
- World Organization of Family Doctors (WONCA Europe). The European Definition of General Practice/Family Medicine. 2023 edition.
- Pereira Gray DJ, et al. Continuity of care with doctors - a matter of life and death? A systematic review of continuity of care and mortality. BMJ Open. 2018;8:e021161.
- Primary Health Care System Act B.E. 2562 (2019). Royal Thai Government Gazette (in Thai).
- Starfield B, Shi L, Macinko J. Contribution of primary care to health systems and health. Milbank Q. 2005;83(3):457-502.
This article is for education and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor. If you have symptoms or concerns, please see a doctor.
