family medicine

the practice of treating a wide variety of illnesses and disorders in individuals and family members of all ages. Physicians now specializing in this area (called family practice doctors) must first undergo special training and become certified or board-eligible in family medicine in order to practice; such requirements did not apply until the 1970s. Family physicians trained before family medicine became a certifiable specialty are usually called general practitioners or GPs (labels sometimes also used by osteopaths). Both types of family physician are considered primary care providers.