Family practice is the branch of medicine concerning the total health care of the person and the family. A family practice physician can have a varied and extensive medical background, including internal medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, psychiatry, and geriatrics. A family physician has the skills and knowledge to provide care and health maintenance education for all ages. This physician is trained to diagnose and treat each member of the family, no matter what the problem.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Emphysema, Broncho-Esophagology, Pneumonia, Osteoarthritis , Bronchitis, cystic fibrosis, Asthma, pectus excavatum, osteoporosis, infection, Diabetes, cancer, Acne, Alzheimer's disease, Hypertension, Autism, Yeast infection, Strep throat, Anemia, and Aneurysm.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including wart removal and mole removal.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including Bone density test, FAA-Flight Physicial, physicial / check up, physicial, biopsy, Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), ultrasound, x-ray, Blood Test, Upper GI (Barium Swallow), stool test, Lower GI (Barium Enema), electrolyte test, microbiological culture, and pH probe test.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Alabama has 1,633 practicing family doctors. Broken out by city, family practice doctor density in Adamsville is 1, in Alabaster is 12, in Albertville is 20, in Alexander City is 13, in Aliceville is 5, in Andalusia is 9, in Anniston is 38, in Arab is 6, in Ashford is 3, in Ashland is 6, in Athens is 19, in Atmore is 11, in Auburn is 12, in Bay Minette is 5, in Bessemer is 21, in Birmingham is 220, in Boaz is 11, in Butler is 3, in Calera is 1, in Carrollton is 6, in Centre is 8, in Chatom is 3, in Chelsea is 2, in Clanton is 8, in Columbiana is 9, in Courtland is 2, in Cullman is 28, in Daphne is 25, in Decatur is 34, in Demopolis is 9, in Dothan is 37, in Elberta is 5, in Enterprise is 10, in Eutaw is 1, in Fairfield is 5, in Fairhope is 12, in Fayette is 8, in Florence is 18, in Foley is 17, in Gadsden is 54, in Gardendale is 7, in Geneva is 5, in Graysville is 2, in Greensboro is 5, in Greenville is 6, in Grove Hill is 5, in Gulf Shores is 15, in Guntersville is 12, in Haleyville is 10, in Hartselle is 9, in Helena is 3, in Homewood is 2, in Hoover is 13, in Huntsville is 167, in Jackson is 7, in Jacksonville is 8, in Jasper is 25, in Killen is 4, in Madison is 40, in Mobile is 96, in Monroeville is 10, in Montevallo is 1, in Montgomery is 107, in Moody is 3, in Moulton is 9, in Mountain Brook is 10, in Northport is 23, in Oneonta is 9, in Opelika is 14, in Opp is 9, in Orange Beach is 4, in Oxford is 9, in Ozark is 8, in Pelham is 14, in Phenix City is 15, in Pleasant Grove is 1, in Prattville is 28, in Prichard is 1, in Rainbow City is 8, in Red Bay is 1, in Roanoke is 4, in Robertsdale is 3, in Rogersville is 3, in Russellville is 7, in Saraland is 10, in Scottsboro is 25, in Selma is 24, in Sheffield is 7, in Spanish Fort is 5, in Springville is 2, in Summerdale is 1, in Talladega is 9, in Troy is 11, in Trussville is 4, in Tuscaloosa is 113, in Tuscumbia is 6, in Valley is 7, in Wetumpka is 7, in Winfield is 6, and in Woodland is 3.

Montgomery is the capital city of this southern state, though Birmingham is its largest city. Population in 2005 was 4,557,808. Alabama is the birthplace of historical figures Hank Aaron, Helen Keller, and George Washington Carver. Take an airboat tour on the Mobile river delta, see the Alabama Civil Rights museum in Mantua, or tour the Jazz Hall of Fame in Birmingham. Visit the Shakespeare Festival Theater Complex in Montgomery, or play a round of golf at one of Alabama’s many acclaimed courses. From the foothills of the Appalachian Mountains in the state’s north to the Gulf coast beaches in the south, Alabama’s scenery includes a varied and diverse landscape.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Alabama has a population of 4,557,808. Of this population, 1,074,627 are under the age of 18 and 600,258 are at or above the age of 65.