Family Medicine - Best Doctors | Virtual Consultation Available
Found 2 Doctors specialized in Family Medicine
The Medical Center for Obesity Treatment
Medical treatment with medication for obesity
Family Medicine
What excellent and highly professional service from Dr. Raz and my case manager Adi. Close accompaniment... warm attitude, dedicated and quick treatment... No side effects, a supervised weight loss of 20 kg...
What excellent and highly professional service from Dr. Raz and my case manager Adi. Close accompaniment... warm attitude, dedicated and quick treatment... No side effects, a supervised weight loss of 20 kg...
Dr. Alon Tor
Expert in family medicine and telemedicine
Family Medicine
Imale is perhaps the nicest and most professional doctor I have ever met in my life! He provided me with service at Teito with patience, care, thoughtfulness, and responsibility, and even gave me his personal phone number (more than once) for updates when needed, and he was truly available. Even though this was not a private visit and he had 'nothing to gain from it'. It warms the heart to see that there are such wonderful and professional doctors, and above all, such genuine human beings! Highly recommended in the warmest way possible!
Imale is perhaps the nicest and most professional doctor I have ever met in my life! He provided me with service at Teito with patience, care, thoughtfulness, and responsibility, and even gave me his personal phone number (more than once) for updates when needed, and he was truly available. Even though this was not a private visit and he had 'nothing to gain from it'. It warms the heart to see that there are such wonderful and professional doctors, and above all, such genuine human beings! Highly recommended in the warmest way possible!
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General information about Family Medicine
What is family medicine
The family doctor is usually the first port of call for any medical question: from fever and cough, through back pain or an abnormal blood test result, to the long-term management of chronic diseases such as diabetes and hypertension. Unlike a specialist, who focuses on a particular organ or system, the family doctor looks at the whole person — their medical history, medications, lifestyle and family circumstances — and brings all the pieces together into one picture.
Alongside routine care, the family doctor coordinates the patient's overall care: they refer patients to specialists and for tests, receive their reports, and make sure that the recommendations of the various providers fit together. Studies have shown that continuity of care with the same doctor over time contributes to better, higher-quality care.
Training and specialization
Residency in family medicine in Israel lasts four years. During this time, the resident works in a community clinic under the supervision of a specialist mentor, and also rotates through internal medicine, pediatrics and emergency medicine departments. Upon completing the residency and passing the exams, they receive the title "Specialist in Family Medicine".
The family clinics of the health funds (HMOs) also employ doctors who are not specialists in family medicine — general practitioners who have not completed a residency, and specialists in internal medicine. All of them are primary care physicians, but their training differs.
The importance of preventive medicine
A central part of the family doctor's work is the early detection of diseases, even before they cause symptoms. The family doctor keeps track of the screening tests recommended for each age - such as fecal occult blood testing, mammography, blood pressure measurement and blood lipid tests - and tailors them to each patient's personal and family background.
Choosing a family doctor
Every insured person is entitled to choose their family doctor from among the doctors contracted with their health fund, and to switch at the start of each quarter. When choosing a doctor, it is worth checking their type of license and specialization, their availability and the ways to contact them — and above all, choosing a doctor you feel comfortable with and trust.
Frequently asked questions about Family Medicine
What's the difference between a family medicine specialist and a general practitioner?
The two terms sound similar, but they reflect different training. A general practitioner is a doctor who has completed medical school and the internship year and received a license to practice medicine - but has not completed a residency in any field. A family medicine specialist, by contrast, has completed a four-year residency that included work in a community clinic under the guidance of a supervisor and rotations in internal medicine, pediatrics and emergency medicine departments, and has successfully passed the specialty board exams.
This distinction isn't always visible to patients. In the health funds' service directories, both general practitioners and internal medicine specialists are listed under "family doctor" — all of them are primary care physicians, the first to see the patient for any health problem. The Ministry of Health has ruled that a general practitioner may not present themselves as a "family doctor", and may only state that they work in a family medicine clinic. If the distinction matters to you, you can check each doctor's license type and specialty on the Ministry of Health website.
Why is it worth having a regular family doctor?
A regular family doctor knows the patient over time - their medical history, regular medications, family background and personal circumstances. This familiarity allows them to spot small changes that a new doctor might miss, and to understand a new complaint as part of a broader picture.
The family doctor also plays a central role in coordinating care. They are the one who refers you for tests and to specialists, receives the findings, and makes sure the recommendations of the different providers don't contradict each other. Studies have shown that this continuity of care ensures better, higher-quality treatment, especially in chronic illnesses and complex medical conditions.
How do I switch family doctors at my health fund?
The law allows you to switch from one doctor to another every quarter, without any special approval. In practice, the switch takes effect at the start of a calendar quarter. If you've already visited your current doctor during the quarter, or have a future appointment booked with them, you won't be able to switch to another doctor in the same field until the next quarter — this is to maintain continuity of care.
How you switch varies between health funds: some let you do it on their website or app, while others require you to contact the clinic secretary of the doctor you want. Even if you see another doctor on a one-time basis, your assignment to your regular doctor won't change unless you choose to change it.
Which routine screening tests are recommended?
Screening tests are designed to detect diseases at an early stage, often before they cause symptoms — at a point when the chances of successful treatment are better. Some of the tests are included in the health basket and are done through your health fund.
Fecal occult blood test — for early detection of colorectal cancer. Recommended once a year from age 50, and included in the health basket. Anyone who has had a colonoscopy in the past five years doesn't need to do it.
Mammography — for early detection of breast cancer. Included in the health basket for women aged 50 to 74, every two years, and more frequently for women in a risk group.
Blood pressure and blood lipids — to identify risk factors for cardiovascular disease.
The frequency and starting age may vary according to personal and family background. For example, someone with a family history of colorectal cancer can consult their family doctor about adjusting the schedule.
Do I need to see a doctor to get a sick note?
Not always. Since September 2024, you can issue a short sick note yourself through your health fund, without visiting a doctor. Such a note can cover up to four sick days, and you can issue up to four notes per calendar year — up to ten sick days in total. Notes issued within a seven-day period count as a single note.
When the illness lasts more than four days, or when the annual quota has been used up, a note from a doctor is required. This option is intended for mild, passing illnesses - symptoms such as chest pain, sudden shortness of breath or loss of consciousness require seeing a doctor immediately.
When should I see my family doctor, when should I go to urgent care, and when to the ER?
In most cases, apart from urgent situations, the first place to turn is your family doctor. They assess the situation and decide whether it can be treated at the clinic or whether a referral to an urgent care center or the emergency room is needed.
An urgent care center operates during hours when clinics are closed and is suitable for conditions that are not life-threatening: infectious illnesses, a flare-up of a chronic disease, minor injuries, and pain or fever that requires an examination.
The emergency room is for emergencies: a severe allergic reaction with shortness of breath, bleeding that doesn't stop with local pressure, acute abdominal pain, swallowing a toxic substance or a medication overdose, and severe dehydration. Going to the ER without a doctor's referral or a commitment form involves paying a fee, except in cases the Ministry of Health has exempted from payment.
Can I also turn to my family doctor for emotional issues, such as anxiety or depression?
Yes, and many people do. The family doctor is one of the health system's first points of contact for mild to moderate emotional distress, and treating anxiety, depression and sleep problems is part of the family medicine residency program. Over the past decade, the number of visits to family doctors for depression and anxiety has doubled - partly because some patients feel more comfortable turning to a doctor who has known them for years than going directly to a psychiatrist.
The family doctor can assess the situation, offer initial treatment, and refer you, if needed, to the health fund's mental health services. Since the 2015 mental health reform, responsibility for these services has shifted to the health funds, and in some clinics psychiatrists and psychotherapists work alongside the family medicine teams, in direct collaboration.
Can I consult my family doctor by phone or video?
Yes. Alongside in-person visits at the clinic, the health funds let you book an appointment with your family doctor as a phone call or a video call, and you choose the appointment type when booking. During hours when clinics are closed, the health funds also operate telemedicine services.
Remote consultation is especially suitable for following up on a known condition, discussing test results, questions about medication and an initial consultation. When a physical examination is needed - listening to the heart and lungs, palpating the abdomen, or examining the throat and ears - the doctor may recommend coming to the clinic.
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