Definition of Family Doctor – Differences Between Family Medicine Doctors and General Practitioners
Family medicine doctors and general practitioners both provide primary healthcare services, but there are key differences between them.
Family doctors focus on continuous care and building long-term relationships with patients, offering comprehensive medical services that address a wide range of health issues in a one-stop approach. Their goal is holistic care. During consultations, family doctors consider the influence of a patient’s lifestyle and interpersonal relationships—such as religious beliefs, family structure, medical history, occupation, and social environment—to enhance disease management. They also pay attention to mental health, offer preventive healthcare advice, and coordinate with specialists or allied health professionals when necessary.
Why Do We Need Family Doctors?
Family doctors play a vital role in managing your health for several reasons:
- Holistic Care: They focus on your overall well-being, including physical, psychological, and social factors.
- Continuity: Building a long-term relationship with a family doctor helps them better understand your health history and provide personalized medical advice.
- Prevention-Oriented: Family doctors emphasize disease prevention, helping you stay healthy and reduce the risk of illness.
- Care Coordination: When specialist care is needed, family doctors can coordinate referrals to ensure continuity of medical services.
Family doctors are indispensable partners in your health journey, offering comprehensive care that supports your overall wellness.
Things to Consider Before Visiting a Family Medicine Clinic
You are encouraged to seek assistance from a family doctor under the following circumstances:
- General Health Issues: Such as colds, fevers, and other common illnesses.
- Chronic Disease Management: Ongoing care and monitoring for conditions like diabetes and hypertension.
- Preventive Care: Including health check-ups, vaccinations, and wellness screenings.
- Mental Health Concerns: Such as anxiety, depression, and emotional well-being.
Reference for Family Doctor Consultation Fees
In Hong Kong, consultation fees for family doctors vary depending on the medical institution, as well as the services and medications provided. For example, at the General Outpatient Family Medicine Clinic of Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road, consultation fees start from HK$450. Fees for medications and other related services can be found on the hospital’s consultation fee page.
Scope of Services Provided by Family Doctors
Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road offers a wide range of medical services designed to provide patients with comprehensive and one-stop healthcare. The scope of services includes:
- Specialist Outpatient Services: Covering various specialties such as cardiology, orthopedics, urology, surgery, ENT, and gynecology. These services combine advanced medical technologies with personalized care to deliver diverse diagnostic and treatment options.
- General Outpatient Family Medicine Clinic: Family doctors provide general medical services including health check-ups, chronic disease management, and preventive care.
- 24-Hour Emergency Services: Available around the clock to handle all types of urgent medical situations, ensuring timely medical support when needed.
In addition, the hospital offers other specialized services such as endoscopy, diagnostic imaging, and rehabilitation therapy to meet the diverse healthcare needs of patients.
How to Make an Outpatient Appointment
You can refer to the outpatient consultation schedule (Sunday to Friday) for the service hours of various specialties and doctors. Appointments can be made through the following methods:
- Phone Booking: Call (852) 3651 8808 to contact the hospital’s Appointment and Enquiry Department.
- Online Booking: Fill out and submit the online appointment form. The hospital will process your request and confirm your appointment via email or phone
- WhatsApp: Use WhatsApp to communicate with the hospital for outpatient bookings and to check real-time appointment availability.
- Real-Time Outpatient Waiting Time on Website: A new feature allows patients to view live outpatient waiting times on the hospital’s website, ensuring timely and high-quality medical services.
Does Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road Provide Emergency Services?
Yes, the hospital offers 24-hour emergency services, providing immediate medical support to patients in need at any time.
Does Hong Kong Adventist Hospital – Stubbs Road Offer Sunday Outpatient Services?
Yes, the hospital continues to provide both General Outpatient Family Medicine and Specialist Outpatient Services on Sundays. These include Family Medicine, Cardiology, Orthopedics, Urology, Surgery, ENT, Gynecology, and many other specialties.
*For the latest outpatient schedule, please refer to: https://mail.hkah.org.hk/online/hat/dr_schedule_all.jsp