They treat common medical conditions and perform routine exams. They refer you to other medical services or doctors if you need urgent or specialized treatment. A general practitioner focuses on your overall health: physical and mental. They serve an important role in a much wider healthcare system.

Is a practitioner a doctor?

While NPs are not physicians by definition, they undergo rigorous training and credentialing while focusing on the well-being of the whole person. NPs can also ease the high cost of health care for patients and help address the looming primary care shortage.

What kind of doctor is a practitioner?

Like internists, general practitioners are considered primary care physicians. One of the biggest distinctions between an internist and a general practitioner is that while internists typically only treat adults, general practitioners are trained to provide care for patients of all ages.