Medical doctor

A medical doctor is a term used to describe a doctor who specializes in general medicine and provides medical primary care. Medical doctor is usually the first contact of the patient with the doctor and in many cases is able to provide effective help, diagnose the problem and start the treatment.

We can visit the medical doctor when we are sick, but also when we need a referral for tests, specialist treatment, prescription for drugs or when we seek general medical advice.

Physician deals with the treatment of adults and children. You should see them in the event of sudden disease symptoms which are not a life-threatening condition. You should also book a consultation if you’re experiencing long-term pains of unknown cause, constant fatigue, fever, vomiting, diarrhoea, feeling unwell and other symptoms suggesting a disease. You should also seek the help of a medical doctor in case of recurring infections.

Medical doctor’s knowledge is very extensive and covers both medical and non-medical fields (pharmacology, toxicology, laboratory diagnostics, emergency medicine, oncology and palliative care, health promotion). Medical doctor, apart from theoretical knowledge of anatomy and physiology, has extensive practical skills. Based on the symptoms, they will diagnose the disease, determine its course and prognosis. This specialist carries out full physical examination of the patient, and also performs additional tests which can help with diagnosis - blood pressure and heart rate, interpretation of the lab test results, ECG, ultrasound scan or X-ray.

• general examination of adults and children

• disease diagnosis and treatment

• tests and examinations for various professional groups, including drivers

• prevention of developmental diseases

• prevention of cardiovascular and heart diseases

• state of health statement

• referral to specialists

• referral for a hospital treatment or rehabilitation

• issuing certificates concerning the patient's health condition

• prescriptions

• sick leaves

We go to a medical doctor with various problems, which usually don’t require immediate intervention. This could be anything from seasonal viral infections, through bacterial and fungal infections, and more serious diseases.

First step during consultation is conversation with the patient about symptoms and general health, as well as about all circumstances that may affect their health. You should expect questions about the type of work, possible addictions, past and inherited diseases. In case of a chronic disease, it is worth bringing full medical documentation to the consultation. Previous test results also help the doctor. All the information that the doctor obtains during the interview makes their work easier and helps making a diagnosis.

After the interview doctor performs physical examination, which often includes palpation, auscultation, otoscopy, blood pressure and pulse measurement, sensory examination, or skin inspection. You may be referred for additional tests such as laboratory or imaging tests or to a specialist.

An important part of the medical doctor’s professional activity is carrying out preventive measures aimed at identifying and reducing or eliminating health risks. It also includes health promotion, health education and shaping a healthy lifestyle among various social and age groups covered by health care.

This doctor is also the first point of contact if an elderly requires long-term therapy, hospital stay, rehabilitation or palliative care.

Medical doctor is usually the first doctor patients go to.

You may be referred for the following tests:

• urine tests (general, protein, glucose, amylase)
• haematological blood tests (FBC, ESR, HbA1c)
• biochemical and immunochemical (sodium, calcium, potassium, iron, urea, creatinine, glucose, cholesterol and triglycerides (TG), TSH, alkaline phosphatase (ALP), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), amylase and others)
• stool tests (general, for parasites, for occult blood)
• microbiological (urine, stool culture, throat swab)
• additional tests (PSA, FT3, FT4)

All the additional tests are done to help with the diagnosis and with choosing the right treatment for the patient. In more complicated cases, medical doctor will refer the patient to a specialist for consultation or for continuation of their treatment.