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. Maryland has 1,555 practicing family doctors. Broken out by city, family practice doctor density in Aberdeen is 3, in Abingdon is 7, in Annapolis is 49, in Arnold is 10, in Baltimore is 269, in Bel Air is 26, in Berlin is 16, in Berwyn Heights is 5, in Bladensburg is 1, in Boonsboro is 3, in Bowie is 16, in Brentwood is 5, in Brunswick is 6, in Cambridge is 19, in Capitol Heights is 5, in Cecilton is 2, in Centreville is 4, in Charlotte Hall is 6, in Chestertown is 11, in Cheverly is 7, in Chevy Chase is 12, in College Park is 15, in Colmar Manor is 15, in Crisfield is 2, in Cumberland is 26, in Davidsonville is 1, in Denton is 8, in District Heights is 4, in Dundalk is 7, in Easton is 20, in Edgewater is 9, in Elkton is 24, in Ellicott City is 13, in Emmitsburg is 1, in Federalsburg is 6, in Forest Hill is 3, in Fort Meade is 9, in Frederick is 61, in Frostburg is 6, in Gaithersburg is 20, in Galena is 3, in Glenarden is 4, in Goldsboro is 4, in Grantsville is 1, in Greenbelt is 10, in Gwynn Oak is 1, in Hagerstown is 46, in Hampstead is 8, in Hancock is 7, in Hanover is 1, in Havre De Grace is 4, in Hurlock is 3, in Hyattsville is 19, in Indian Head is 4, in Joppa is 2, in Keedysville is 2, in Kensington is 21, in Kingsville is 1, in La Plata is 8, in Lanham is 18, in Largo is 3, in Laurel is 46, in Lavale is 2, in Laytonsville is 2, in Leonardtown is 12, in Lonaconing is 1, in Lutherville is 12, in Manchester is 6, in Mc Henry is 1, in Mechanicsville is 6, in Middletown is 5, in Montgomery Village is 4, in Mount Airy is 16, in Myersville is 12, in North Beach is 1, in North East is 3, in Oakland is 12, in Ocean City is 14, in Odenton is 10, in Perryville is 2, in Pocomoke City is 5, in Poolesville is 3, in Port Deposit is 3, in Preston is 2, in Rising Sun is 4, in Rockville is 71, in Saint Michaels is 4, in Salisbury is 20, in Snow Hill is 3, in Sykesville is 12, in Takoma Park is 8, in Thurmont is 6, in Union Bridge is 3, in Upper Marlboro is 10, in Waldorf is 15, in Walkersville is 3, in Westernport is 1, in Westminster is 21, in Williamsport is 7, and in Woodsboro is 1.

Maryland was one of the thirteen original colonies, and achieved statehood in 1788. Maryland’s population is 5,600,388; Annapolis is its capital and home to the U.S. Naval Academy. Baltimore is the largest city, and is home to world-acclaimed Johns-Hopkins University and Hospital. There are myriad activities available for residents or visitors, including arts and theater, sports, museums, hiking, biking and walking trails, Famous people from Maryland include musician Frank Zappa, baseball great Babe Ruth, and Francis Scott Key, who wrote the “The Star-Spangled Banner.”

According to 2005 Census estimates, Maryland has a population of 5,600,388. Of this population, 1,360,481 are under the age of 18 and 641,040 are at or above the age of 65.