Doctor's office

A doctor's office in American English, a doctor's surgery in British English or doctor's practice, is a medical facility in which one or more medical doctors, usually general practitioners (GP), receive and treat patients. Doctors' offices are the primary place where ambulatory care is given, and are often the first place that a sick person would go for care, except in an emergency, in which case one would go to an emergency department at a hospital.

In developed countries, where health services are guaranteed by the state in some form, most medical visits to doctors take place in their offices. In the United States, where this is not the case, many people who cannot afford health insurance or doctor's visits must either go to free or reduced-cost clinics or an emergency department at a hospital for care, instead of a doctor's office.

For healthy people, most visits to doctors' offices revolve around a once-yearly recommended physical examination. This exam usually consists of gathering information such as a patient's blood pressure, heart rate, weight, and height, along with checking for any irregularities or signs of illness around the body. GPs will also ask the patients about any mental health problems that they may be experiencing, and may refer them to a psychiatrist for further examination in the event that they do indeed have such problems. If there are any other health problems that must be addressed by a medical specialist, such as a cardiologist, a referral will be given.

Doctor's Office (Plantersville, Alabama)

The Doctor's Office was a historic professional office building in Plantersville, Dallas County, Alabama. The one-story, wood-frame structure was built in a vernacular interpretation of Greek Revival architecture c. 1850. The narrow main facade was three bays wide, with a pedimented one-story porch spanning the entire width. An entrance was situated in the middle bay, with a window to either side. The interior contained a single room. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places on January 29, 1987 as a part of the Plantersville Multiple Resource Area.

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