BMN Blog

A family medicine doctor is someone you can always feel comfortable voicing your concerns to and leave an appointment feeling as though you were really listened to. They will help you to become an informed and active member of your healthcare decision-making process.
 

A family medicine doctor understands preventative care.  They perform annual checkups to uncover any problems. The earlier health abnormalities are detected, the better chance you have at receiving treatments that could result in more favorable outcomes.
 

They provide thorough health evaluations for the entire family—from infants to the elderly. These evaluations include: well-child visits for immunizations and sports physicals and wellness exams for men and women. These preventative exams can help detect high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems, thyroid issues, diabetes, a variety of cancers, and so much more. A family medicine doctor is a reliable and trustworthy resource to help you navigate the complex healthcare system.
 

1. Referrals to Other Medical Specialists. An experienced and well-connected family medicine doctor will provide qualified assistance in finding the right specialist when required by illness or injury.
2. Coordination of Care. If a specialist is required, a family medicine doctor can coordinate information between other healthcare providers, making sure there is no duplication of testing to help reduce your medical costs.
 
3. Better Patient-Doctor Communication. They are your first-line of defense if something is not right. They will take your phone calls and answer any questions you might have about a pressing medical issue. They can assess the urgency of most medical problems and will direct you to the best place for that care.
 
4. Longevity. They look at the “big picture” of you and your family’s health. Overall, having a family medicine doctor will keep you as healthy as possible as you navigate through the many stages of life. Studies show people who regularly visit a PCP have longer, healthier lives.

They can improve lives — and save money

There’s ample evidence — both here in America and abroad — that using more primary

care saves money for a healthcare system.

For example, according to an insurance study, a 23 percent increase in primary care

spending in Rhode Island led to an 18 percent reduction in total healthcare spending.

And data suggests that adding one primary care physician (such as a family doctor) for

every 10,000 people can

lower hospital admissions by 5.5 percent, emergency room visits by 11 percent and

surgeries by 11 percent.

Those numbers are even more impressive than cost savings. Family doctors can certainly

save the country money, but more important, they can offer your family better health.

*It is important that physicians are connected with reliable home health and hospice resources.

Comfort Care Home Health | Hospice is reliable and a provider physicians have learned to trust

with their patients.

About Dr. Sidney Shah

Education

• Vestavia Hills High School 1993
• Undergraduate - Birmingham Southern College, 1995
Medical School - Bharti Vidyapeeth Medical College, University of Pune, Pune India, 2000
Internship - Sassoon General Hospital, University or Pune, Pune, India, 2000-01
Residency - Carraway Methodist Medical Center, Family Practice, 2003-2006

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP:

American Academy of Family Practice, American Medical Association, Jefferson County

Medical Society, American Association of Medical Review Officers, American Association of

Physicians of Indian Origin Member. Dr. Sidney Shah, Tarrant Family Practice and Occupational Medicine, is an active member of the Tarrant community.  He feels it is important to give back to the community that he serves.  He is a reserve police officer for the Tarrant Police Department and the Offline Medical Director for the Tarrant Fire Department.  He has given back by purchasing and distributing school supplies to the Tarrant City School for several years.