Spotlight on PacMed - Find the Right Primary Care Doctor for You - Dr. Thomas J. Yetman

Find the Right Primary Care Doctor for You

Thomas J. Yetman, MD, MMM, FACOG

Chief Medical Officer, Pacific Medical Centers

Everyone needs a primary care doctor—the one who conducts your physicals, the one you call when you twist your ankle, get stung by a bee, or eat something funny. Some doctors treat entire families; others see only children or only adults. Which type of doctor best suits you and your family? Let’s take a look at four types of primary care physicians.

Family Medicine (also known as Family Practice) – Care for all individuals

At the heart of this specialty is the patient-physician relationship. Family Medicine practitioners cover all areas of general health care, including pediatric and adolescent health, women’s health and gynecology, men’s health and aging issues.

Internal Medicine (also known as “Internists”) – Care for adults

Internal Medicine practitioners are trained to deal with any medical issue an adult patient may have, from preventive care and common disorders to rare or chronic diseases. Internists see a wide variety of patients ranging from highly athletic individuals to people with diabetes, hypertension, cardiovascular disease, cancer, and kidney disease. They help all their patients work toward achieving optimal physical and mental health. Medical systems can be difficult for patients to navigate through, especially if they have complex medical problems. Internists work with multiple specialists and other care providers to help patients achieve a sense of comprehensive and coordinated care.

Pediatrics – Care for children

Pediatrics is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases of infants, children, adolescents, and young adults. Because young patients are rapidly growing and changing, pediatricians must communicate with caregivers to ensure they understand as much as possible about their children’s growth, development, and overall picture of health.

Geriatrics – Care for adults of advanced age

Geriatric Medicine is concerned with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of disorders that occur in older people. Today, the number of people aged 65 and older is larger than ever before, and those aged 85 and older constitute the fastest growing segment of the population. Geriatricians recognize that aging is not an illness; rather, it is a time where quality of life and functional ability can be maintained with proper care, and health and happiness are encouraged.

So if you are looking for a physician for yourself, your partner, your children, your parent or your whole family, PacMed has you covered. With over 60 different primary care physicians, you will find one that is just right for you. And with eight clinic locations we are probably right in your neighborhood. To learn more, please call 1.888.4PACMED or visit www.PacMed.org

Profile of Dr. Thomas J. Yetman

Dr. Thomas J. Yetman is the Chief Medical Officer for Pacific Medical Centers. He joined Pacific Medical Centers in October, 2006.

After growing up in San Diego, California and attending college at U.C. San Diego, Dr. Yetman completed medical school at the George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences in 1983. He entered the United States Navy Medical Corps and trained in Family Medicine at Naval Hospital Bremerton, Washington, and in Obstetrics and Gynecology at Naval Hospital Portsmouth, Virginia. He is board certified in OBGYN and is certified as a Physician Executive by the Certifying Commission in Medical Management.

After separating from the U.S. Navy, Dr. Yetman entered the private practice of OBGYN in western Michigan. During this time, he obtained a master’s degree in Medical Management from Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh,Pennsylvania. After leaving private practice he worked in Elkton, Maryland as Medical Director of Women’s and Infant’s Services and was most recently the Chief Medical Officer at Monroe Clinic in Monroe, Wisconsin.

Dr. Yetman shares his home with his partner, Dwight Wolfe, and four incorrigible dogs.