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 13,222 practicing family doctors. Broken out by city, family practice doctor density in Alameda is 19, in Anaheim is 280, in Antioch is 25, in Auburn is 46, in Bakersfield is 162, in Berkeley is 69, in Beverly Hills is 43, in Brea is 37, in Brentwood is 13, in Burbank is 59, in Burlingame is 22, in Camarillo is 32, in Campbell is 14, in Chico is 61, in Chino is 50, in Chula Vista is 87, in Clovis is 47, in Concord is 35, in Corona is 54, in Covina is 24, in Culver City is 32, in Diamond Bar is 26, in Downey is 65, in El Cajon is 42, in Encinitas is 51, in Escondido is 87, in Folsom is 45, in Fountain Valley is 75, in Fremont is 86, in Fresno is 193, in Fullerton is 35, in Glendale is 154, in Glendora is 24, in Grass Valley is 36, in Hemet is 37, in Highland is 24, in Huntington Beach is 88, in Indio is 21, in Irvine is 124, in La Mesa is 81, in Lafayette is 15, in Laguna Hills is 22, in Laguna Niguel is 20, in Lancaster is 63, in Lodi is 40, in Loma Linda is 57, in Long Beach is 205, in Los Alamitos is 27, in Los Angeles is 1,015, in Los Gatos is 31, in Manhattan Beach is 28, in Mission Viejo is 72, in Modesto is 151, in Moreno Valley is 51, in Murrieta is 21, in Newport Beach is 98, in Novato is 18, in Oakland is 137, in Oceanside is 41, in Orange is 116, in Oxnard is 95, in Palm Desert is 26, in Palm Springs is 44, in Pasadena is 106, in Placerville is 27, in Pomona is 93, in Rancho Cucamonga is 72, in Rancho Mirage is 25, in Redding is 111, in Redlands is 49, in Riverside is 229, in Roseville is 99, in Sacramento is 425, in Salinas is 122, in San Diego is 709, in San Francisco is 337, in San Jose is 248, in San Luis Obispo is 43, in San Ramon is 23, in Santa Ana is 188, in Santa Barbara is 79, in Santa Clara is 28, in Santa Cruz is 100, in Santa Maria is 52, in Santa Monica is 165, in Santa Rosa is 206, in Sebastopol is 29, in Simi Valley is 60, in Stockton is 113, in Temecula is 53, in Thousand Oaks is 47, in Torrance is 148, in Tustin is 36, in Upland is 49, in Visalia is 53, in Vista is 89, in Walnut Creek is 61, in Westlake Village is 18, in Whittier is 87, and in Yorba Linda is 34.

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.