Do you find any difference between a GP and a medical doctor? Well, there is a little difference that runs a line between a general physician and a medical doctor. A general physical is a doctor who primarily checks their patients who may range from a child to an adult and an elderly. He is the first point of contact with whom a person reaches for common ailments. Even when there is an emergency, first a general physician can be way helpful to diagnose your disease.

General physicals are not specialist doctors, but they trace your family history to get into the real problem you are going through. When a GP denotes a medical condition to be serious, or if he thinks it needs expert help, he will then refer you to a specialist. 

It may happen you are about to visit a general physician for the first time and you don’t know what to expect from your first visit. So to understand the matter it is first important to understand the reason for your appointment. As we already mentioned that a general physician can be approached for any member of your family without any age restriction. The reason for your visit may be:

• Common infections
• Vaccination
• Symptoms of a disease
• Physical discomfort 
• Or to gain knowledge on your current physical condition

Here is what you can expect from your first appointment with a GP

• He may ask you about your condition in detail- While you visit a medical clinic near you, the GP can enquire about your history or medical records if any. Be handy with your medical reports from the past, or explain your medical issue in detail. He might ask you about any history of similar physical discomfort and will then do a thorough medical checkup.

• He can prescribe preliminary tests- If your general practitioner thinks it is necessary to perform preliminary tests before sending you to a specialist, then he might prescribe you to perform tests such as blood tests, X-Ray, scans, etc. A general practitioner may also ask you to come back to him with the detailed reports. 

• He will prescribe you medicine- A general practitioner is the first person you reach out for medical help. He is well accustomed to the symptoms and diseases which are most common. A general physician looks into a matter from a different perspective and prescribes you medicines that are appropriate for you.

• He may refer you to a specialist doctor- Once your general physician understands that your condition requires specialist help, he will refer you to a specialist. He might write a letter to you stating your early diagnosis and refer you to a specialist doctor. This will serve as a detailed analysis of your medical condition when your approach to a specialist doctor. This process is time-saving and in detail.

• He might suggest what you should do under your current situation- Many medical factors come regularly into our life which we are unsure of. If you think such things need professional assistance, you may consult a general practitioner. 

So, a general practitioner can advise you on your health, provide you preliminary medical facilities and at times he may solve conditions that do not require specialist intervention. While you plan to visit your general physician, make sure to book an appointment with the medical clinic.