Family Medicine
American Board of Family Medicine
1648 McGrathiana Pkwy, Suite 550
Lexington, KY 40511
(859) 269-5626 or (888) 995-5700
www.theabfm.org
Family physicians deliver a range of acute, chronic and preventive medical care services. In addition to diagnosing and treating illness, they also provide preventive care, including routine checkups, health-risk assessments, immunization and screening tests, and personalized counseling on maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Family physicians also manage chronic illness, often coordinating care provided by other subspecialists.
Specialty training required prior to Board Certification: Three years
Subspecialties:
To become certified in a particular subspecialty, a physician must be Board Certified by the American Board of Family Medicine and complete additional training as specified by the Member Board.
Adolescent Medicine
A Family Physician who specializes in Adolescent Medicine is a multidisciplinary health care specialist trained in the unique physical, psychological and social characteristics of adolescents and their health care problems and needs.
Geriatric Medicine
A Family Physician with special knowledge of the aging process and special skills in the diagnostic, therapeutic, preventive and rehabilitative aspects of illness in the elderly. This specialist cares for geriatric patients in the patient’s home, the office, long-term care settings such as nursing homes, and the hospital.
Hospice and Palliative Medicine
A Family Physician with special knowledge and skills to prevent and relieve the suffering experienced by patients with life-limiting illnesses. This specialist works with an interdisciplinary hospice or palliative care team to maximize quality of life while addressing the physical, psychological, social and spiritual needs of both patient and family.
Sleep Medicine
A Family Physician with demonstrated expertise in the diagnosis and management of clinical conditions that occur during sleep, that disturb sleep, or that are affected by disturbances in the wake-sleep cycle. This specialist is skilled in the analysis and interpretation of comprehensive polysomnography, and well-versed in emerging research and management of a sleep laboratory.
Sports Medicine
A Family Physician who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating injuries related to participating in sports and/or exercise. In addition to the study of those fields that focus on prevention, diagnosis, treatment and management of injuries, Sports Medicine also deals with illnesses and diseases that might have effects on health and physical performance.