What is Family Practice?
Family Practice is 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.
The specialty of family practice is the result of the evolved and enhanced expression of general medical practice and is uniquely defined within the family context.

Why should I choose a Family Practice Physician?
The family physician is a physician who is educated and trained in family practice- a broadly encompassing medical specialty.
The family physician possess unique attitudes, skills, and knowledge which qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventative services to each member of the family regardless of sex, age or type of problem, it can be biological, behavioral, or social. These specialists, because of their background and interactions with the family, are best qualified to serve as each patient's advocate in all health-related matters, including the appropriate use of consultants, health services, and community resources.
Family Practice is a relatively new specialty of medicine. Family Practice is similar to what is called general practice and its ability to handle a variety of problems, but differs in significant ways. First, Family Practitioners are required to have three years of postgraduate training structured to cover the basics of all specialties (internal medicine, pediatrics, OB-GYN, surgery), and most subspecialties, compared to practitioners who are required to have only one year of postgraduate training. Secondly, there are only two specialties that require their "board certified" members to be recertified (testing to prove he/she is still up to date in medical practice and procedures) on a regular basis. Family Practice was the first specialty to impose this requirement. Whether or not you chose our practice for your medical care we urge you to seek Board Certified Family Physicians for this reason. This means the physician is up to date, and has proven it to a national committee. In addition, our philosophy is one that considers the patient and his/her family as a whole. Our goal is to keep you healthy and to prevent medical problems from arising. Although we realize that most people seek their first appointment for some acute illness, we encourage you to feel free to ask us about what is considered "good health maintenance".

Why should I choose Gulf Coast Physician Partners?
In keeping with this philosophy, patients may expect the physicians in our offices to provide pediatric, gynecologic, medical and minor surgical services within the scope of office practice. Routine pap smears, child care, and diagnostic procedures are included.