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. California has 13,508 practicing family doctors. Broken out by city, family practice doctor density in Alameda is 18, in Anaheim is 284, in Antioch is 26, in Auburn is 48, in Bakersfield is 166, in Berkeley is 72, in Beverly Hills is 45, in Brea is 39, in Brentwood is 14, in Burbank is 64, in Burlingame is 23, in Camarillo is 31, in Campbell is 15, in Chico is 63, in Chino is 52, in Chula Vista is 85, in Clovis is 47, in Concord is 34, in Corona is 53, in Covina is 24, in Culver City is 32, in Daly City is 25, in Davis is 68, in Diamond Bar is 25, in Downey is 69, in El Cajon is 43, in Encinitas is 52, in Escondido is 94, in Folsom is 42, in Fountain Valley is 75, in Fremont is 88, in Fresno is 200, in Fullerton is 36, in Glendale is 167, in Glendora is 25, in Grass Valley is 37, in Hemet is 39, in Highland is 23, in Huntington Beach is 88, in Irvine is 124, in La Mesa is 84, in Lafayette is 16, in Laguna Hills is 23, in Laguna Niguel is 23, in Lodi is 44, in Loma Linda is 60, in Long Beach is 212, in Los Alamitos is 29, in Los Angeles is 1,039, in Los Gatos is 33, in Manhattan Beach is 26, in Mission Viejo is 74, in Modesto is 145, in Moreno Valley is 54, in Murrieta is 23, in Newport Beach is 102, in Novato is 18, in Oakland is 141, in Oceanside is 59, in Orange is 118, in Oxnard is 96, in Palm Desert is 29, in Palm Springs is 46, in Pasadena is 110, in Placerville is 26, in Pomona is 100, in Rancho Cucamonga is 77, in Rancho Mirage is 28, in Redding is 110, in Redlands is 51, in Riverside is 231, in Roseville is 101, in Sacramento is 466, in Salinas is 126, in San Diego is 730, in San Francisco is 348, in San Jose is 269, in San Luis Obispo is 39, in San Ramon is 23, in Santa Ana is 197, in Santa Barbara is 82, in Santa Clara is 33, in Santa Cruz is 105, in Santa Maria is 54, in Santa Monica is 168, in Santa Rosa is 210, in Sebastopol is 29, in Simi Valley is 62, in Stockton is 114, in Temecula is 57, in Thousand Oaks is 47, in Torrance is 150, in Tustin is 40, in Upland is 54, in Visalia is 53, in Vista is 89, in Walnut Creek is 63, in Westlake Village is 20, in Whittier is 87, and in Yorba Linda is 35.

California’s population is 36,142,137, and it is America’s third largest and most populous state. It also claims the highest and lowest altitudes in the lower 48 states. The lowest point in the country, Death Valley, is also home to the nation’s highest recorded temperature, 134 degrees. Tourists flock to this state for its many outdoor activities and attractions, including Universal Studios, Disneyland, Rodeo Drive shopping, the Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, wine country tours, and California’s numerous beaches and parks. Los Angeles is the nation’s second largest city, but California’s capital is Sacramento. The giant sequoias in California’s forests are among the oldest living things in the world, and a redwood in the Redwood National Park is said to be the world’s tallest tree, at 365 feet. California achieved statehood in 1850, and was named the Golden State after the beginning of the Gold Rush in 1848.

According to 2005 Census estimates, California has a population of 36,132,147. Of this population, 9,308,563 are under the age of 18 and 3,827,038 are at or above the age of 65.