General Medicine & Pediatrics—What to Expect from Your Visit
Sponsored by Turó Park Clinics.
The scope of general medicine covers many disciplines and pathologies and you can consult a general practitioner (GP) about practically any of them. A GP can provide patients of all ages with a diagnosis, confidential consultation and treatments.
We understand that when tackling issues with health, or simply looking for a check-up, it is important that you feel comfortable and well-informed. An important aspect often overlooked is receiving these services in your native language; that is why the GPs and specialists at Turó Park Medical Center all offer their services in an extensive range of languages.
Let us outline the role, treatments and current information about GPs and Pediatricians.
What Are the Differences between GPs and Pediatricians?
Most likely, you have seen a General Practitioner many times in your life. The GP, often called the “family doctor,” treats patients of all ages and genders in cases of illness or basic injuries. They are able to diagnose and treat a large range of health problems, referring patients to specialists when needed.
Pediatricians have a similar role but theirs is focused exclusively on children from birth through adolescence. Pediatricians face the challenge of adapting their diagnosis, treatments and consultations to each stage in the child’s growth. As a very specialized doctor, it is most important that they sensitively adapt to parent’s cultural preferences, taking account of different medical systems and doctors’ advice.
To ensure that diagnosis and treatments are correct, accurate and well-informed, our general medicine doctors and pediatric experts stay up-to-date on the latest public health and international findings of screening, vaccination and pediatric care recommendations. Part of this includes their capacity to review alternative treatment plans at the patient’s request.
In both cases, they are highly qualified doctors that support the sustainable monitoring, well-being and primary health care of the community. These doctors will treat the entire family from birth all the way through their lifetime. This may sound like a challenging role, but it is not without reward; they both tend to form a close relationship with each patient.
What Will Usually Happen in Appointments with My GP or Pediatrician?
First of all, your GP will ask you a range of simple questions about your general health background and your symptoms. At Turó Park, our multilingual team of doctors make sure that this stage is made as comfortable as possible, in your own language.
The rest of the consultation will usually follow these steps:
- Inspection: basic physical examination of eardrums, eyes, mouth, skin, etc.
- Measurement of your constants: temperature, heart rate, blood pressure.
- Palpation (further physical examination).
- Auscultation: listening with the stethoscope to heart, lung and abdominal sounds.
- Percussion: abdominal, thoracic, evaluation of neurological reflexes.
- Then, if necessary, the doctor can add laboratory or radiology tests for a more exact diagnosis.
- For pediatric services, they will also give any required vaccinations.
Based on the information gathered, the doctor will establish a diagnosis, prescribe medication or refer to other specialists. Throughout this process, the GP or pediatrician are informative: listening to your experiences, sharing their knowledge and answering any questions that you may have.
When Do I Need to See My GP?
Patients see their GP often. Regarding general health check-ups, there is no set time, but it can be recommended to have routine physical exams once every few years, and annually when over 50 years old. If you have a chronic disease or ongoing health issues, it is recommended to see your GP more often.
If you are suffering symptoms of any kind, it is best to get in contact with your GP as soon as possible, rather than waiting or approaching a specialist directly.
When Does My Child Need to See Our Pediatrician?
During early childhood, rapid growth and development demand frequent visits to the pediatrician. It is possible that your pediatrician will first see your child in the hours following birth. The frequency varies depending on the child and the recommended schedules of different countries. In the Spanish healthcare system, children must see their pediatrician six times during their first year, two in their second year and five times proceeding until they are 14 years old. After which they will transition from seeing a pediatrician to seeing a GP.
There are exceptions: if your child has a chronic illness, the pediatric team may continue direct contact until your child is 18-20 years old. In the case that your child is mentally handicapped, pediatricians may care for them until they are 20 years old.
Where Are the Consultations? Can I See My GP or My Child’s Pediatrician Safely in the Pandemic?
Typically, consultations of this sort are conducted in person so that a full physical check can be made as well as facilitating the communication of any concerns.
However, the pandemic has required us to adapt so now, at Turó Park, we offer video consultations as well as in-clinic appointments. This way, you can consult one of our GPs or specialists without stepping out of the comfort of your home. We hope that the adaptability of our services allows flexibility and the reduction of any pandemic-induced anxiety while maintaining a close relationship with your GP or pediatrician.
How Do I Consult My GP or My Child’s Pediatrician?
You can call Turó Park Clinics to book an appointment with one of our highly qualified GPs and pediatricians today.
You can find out more about all the clinic’s services and book an appointment via the website at turoparkmedical.com and follow on Twitter: @park_turo, Facebook: @turoparkmedical, Instagram @turoparkmedical and LinkedIn.
Sponsored by Turó Park Clinics.
