A doctor who provides primary and preventative care to patients of all ages and genders is said to be a "general practitioner" as opposed to "specialists" who treat one kind of illness or disorder.

In the United States a general practitioner completes an undergraduate bachelor's degree followed by a four-year program to receive a Doctor of Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine degree. This is followed by a one year internship.

This is distinguished from a "family medicine physician" who completes an additional three-year residency. The family medicine physician then becomes eligible for board certification, an element now required by the majority of hospitals and health plans.

Consequently, we are seeing more family medicine physicians and fewer general practitioners who are now regarded, to some degree, as old fashioned or "small town" doctors. Since the late 1970s and 1980s the terms "general practitioner" and "GP" have even carried some element of demeaning or derogatory connotation suggesting the professional in question has inadequate training.

More Glossary Terms Explained here