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. Illinois has 4,889 practicing family doctors. Broken out by city, family practice doctor density in Cahokia is 4, in Cairo is 4, in Calumet City is 17, in Cambridge is 2, in Canton is 15, in Carbondale is 48, in Carlinville is 13, in Carlyle is 1, in Carmi is 4, in Carol Stream is 13, in Carpentersville is 5, in Carrier Mills is 1, in Carrollton is 6, in Carterville is 6, in Carthage is 7, in Cary is 5, in Casey is 1, in Centralia is 11, in Cerro Gordo is 1, in Champaign is 70, in Channahon is 3, in Charleston is 12, in Chatham is 8, in Chatsworth is 3, in Chenoa is 6, in Chester is 9, in Chicago is 1,317, in Chicago Heights is 41, in Chicago Ridge is 3, in Chillicothe is 7, in Chrisman is 1, in Christopher is 4, in Cicero is 19, in Cisne is 1, in Cissna Park is 1, in Clarendon Hills is 5, in Clifton is 3, in Clinton is 10, in Coal City is 4, in Coal Valley is 3, in Cobden is 4, in Collinsville is 5, in Colona is 1, in Columbia is 6, in Columbus is 1, in Coulterville is 4, in Countryside is 6, in Crest Hill is 3, in Crestwood is 14, in Creve Coeur is 1, in Crystal Lake is 24, in Cuba is 1, and in Cullom is 5.

Most people think that Chicago, because of its size and popularity, is Illinois’ capital city, but that distinction belongs to Springfield, home of the Abraham Lincoln Museum. Illinois has hundreds of museums, numerous yearly art and ethnic festivals, a lakeshore bordering Lake Michigan, and the many national forests and parks that offers visitors camping, horseback riding, biking, kayaking, and fishing. Chicago is home to the Sears Tower, the Shedd Aquarium, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Adler Planetarium, the Museum of Science and Industry, and other cultural opportunities and restaurants in the Navy Pier area.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Illinois has a population of 12,763,371. Of this population, 3,172,677 are under the age of 18 and 1,523,937 are at or above the age of 65.