According to recent news reports, a shortage of primary care physicians exists in the U.S.  This is due, in part, to the sky-rocketing cost of education that has medical students choosing higher paid specialties instead of internal or family medicine.

But, a recent study published in the Journal of the American Medical Association shows that primary care physicians are contributing to the longevity of patients.  The study followed patients over age 65 living in areas with a large number of primary care physicians.  Not only did they have lower mortality rates, but they had fewer hospitalizations.  (click here to see the entire study)

MetroSouth Medical Center firmly believes in growing its network of primary care physicians in these south side communities: Alsip, Beverly, Blue Island, Morgan Park and South Holland.  The hospital sees its primary care physicians as its first line of defense in successfully serving patients in the community.

“I love being a family medicine doctor because I consider it a privilege to get to know an entire family,” explains Humaira Khan, MD, family medicine physician, MetroSouth Health Center at Alsip.  “Often, conditions run in families and I am able to both treat and prevent.”

A family medicine physician is actually a traditional concept that has been popular in this country for generations.  A family medicine physician has extensive training, follows a patient’s healthcare for many years, and recommends specialty physicians when needed.

Family medicine physicians complete undergraduate school, medical school and three more years of specialized medical residency training in family medicine. Their residency training includes rotations in internal medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics-gynecology, psychiatry, and geriatrics. The specialty focuses on treating the whole person through all life stages.

“My patients who come for regular visits are definitely healthier because we work together to control or entirely eliminate chronic conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure or cholesterol,” Khan explains.

Another benefit of the family practice model is that a family is able to visit the doctor with one visit while still maintaining privacy.  Parents and children may be examined all in one room or, as is often the case with teenagers, the doctor may examine a patient one-on-one.  Sometimes this is the first time that an adolescent learns about safe sex and birth control. Likewise, an adult may choose to be examined alone so that they can ask questions in privacy. Men are the most difficult to get to the doctor and visiting one with the whole family may be the best way to get dad the care he needs.

Dr. Khan recommends patients see a primary care physician for a yearly physical, no matter what their age.  She also recommends visiting a primary care physician for school physicals, chronic illnesses, alcohol and drug use problems, gynecologic exams and conditions that arise such as a cold or flu.

To schedule a physical with Dr. Khan at MetroSouth Health Center at Alsip, 12246 S. Pulaski Ave., Alsip, call 708-385-5601.  Anyone who completes a physical by Sept. 30, 2011 will receive a complimentary movie ticket to an AMC theatre.  Students will receive a free re-usable lunch backpack.

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For more information on MetroSouth Medical Center, its physicians or health centers, click here.

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