General practitioner

A general practitioner (GP) also called a family doctor or a primary care physician is a medical doctor who works outside of a hospital. They deal with all sorts of health problems. They often get to know families over a long time. This continuity is very important.^[1] In many countries they send people to see specialists. Away from towns they may have to deal with emergencies and deliver babies. They spend most of their time looking after illness in young children and old people.

In many countries general practitioners run their own small business. They are very important in rural medicine.

1. ↑ Sandvik, Hogne; Hetlevik, Øystein; Blinkenberg, Jesper; Hunskaar, Steinar (2022-02-01). "Continuity in general practice as predictor of mortality, acute hospitalisation, and use of out-of-hours care: a registry-based observational study in Norway". British Journal of General Practice. 72 (715): e84–e90. doi:10.3399/BJGP.2021.0340. ISSN 0960-1643. PMC 8510690. PMID 34607797.