What is the difference between family practice and internal medicine doctors




















After medical school, Internal medicine doctors complete a three-year residency; this is a focused approach to adult care without further training in pediatric or obstetric care. They are specially trained to diagnose complex diseases and manage chronic illnesses that may have several different illnesses appear at the same time. Internists are equipped to provide health care for adults starting at age 18 and into the golden years. They provide health promotion and preventive care including recommended screenings and coordinating care with medical specialists.

They treat simple and complex illnesses. Internists may choose a subspecialty of internal medicine such as cardiology, pulmonology, rheumatology, or gastroenterology.

An internist that specializes in cardiology, for example, is a cardiologist. General internists are trained to provide primary care for adults and are considered primary care physicians. This is where people may get confused about internists. Wondering what the difference is between a family doctor and an internal medicine doctor? Lots of people are confused by the two terms — or more accurately, by the differences between the two specialties.

While there is some overlap between internal medicine and family practice, there are several important differences between the two. You know how a pediatrician treats only kids? Well, an internal medicine doctor or internist treats only adults. To practice family medicine, doctors must also complete a three-year residency program after medical school. A residency in family medicine includes training in pediatric medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine, emergency medicine, surgery, psychiatry, radiology, ophthalmology, urology and more.

Because they tend treat the widest variety of ages and conditions, they must be trained to diagnose and treat a broad range of diseases and conditions. Through added fellowship training, many family medicine physicians also incorporate obstetrics, sports medicine and palliative care into their practice. Because internal medicine doctors and family medicine doctors are both primary care doctors, it may be difficult to choose between them.

Ultimately, there are benefits to choosing both types of physicians. Stephanie explained that once that clarification is made, many patients feel they have enough information to make the best decision for themselves and their family.

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