Family Practice Specialists was established in the same year that family practice was officially recognized as a medical specialty. Prior to 1969 family physicians were known as general practitioners or GPs. That term didnt comprehensively reflect all that family practitioners do. Family practice doctors provide the first level of care for patients. Additionally family practitioners treat and manage chronic and long-term conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and HIV. When we at Family Practice Specialists encounter a chronic problem that requires a specialist, we have an extensive list of expert physicians to whom we refer our patients