Family medicine


Family medicine: Also called family practice. The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family. It is the specialty in breadth which integrates the biological, clinical, and behavioral sciences. The scope of family practice encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease entity. (From the American Academy of Family Physicians)

Read Also:

  • Family physician

    Family physician: A physician who is educated and trained in family practice. “Family physicians possess unique attitudes, skills, and knowledge which qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventive services to each member of the family regardless of sex, age or type of problem, be it biological, behavioral, or social. […]

  • Family planning, natural

    Family planning, natural: Also known as fertility awareness, periodic abstinence and the rhythm method, this approach entails not having sexual intercourse on the days of a woman’s menstrual cycle when she is most likely to become pregnant or using a barrier method (such as a condom, the diaphragm or a cervical cap) for birth control […]

  • Family practice

    Family practice: The medical specialty which provides continuing and comprehensive health care for the individual and family. It is the specialty in breadth which integrates the biological, clinical, and behavioral sciences. The scope of family practice encompasses all ages, both sexes, each organ system, and every disease entity. (From the American Academy of Family Physicians)

  • Family therapy

    Family therapy: A type of psychotherapy designed to identify family patterns that contribute to a behavior disorder or mental illness and help family members break those habits. Family therapy involves discussion and problem-solving sessions with the family. Some of these sessions may be as a group, in couples, or one on one. In family therapy, […]

  • Family, gene

    Family, gene: A group of genes related in structure and often in function. The genes belonging to a gene family are descended from an ancestral gene. For example, the hemoglobin genes of critical importance to red blood cells belong to one gene family created by gene duplication (making extra copies of a gene) and divergence […]


Disclaimer: Family medicine definition / meaning should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional. All content on this website is for informational purposes only.