What is the difference between family practice and internal medicine

When looking for a primary care provider (PCP), you may have come across the terms “general practitioner,” “internal medicine doctor,” “family doctor,” “nurse practitioners,” and more. While each and every one of the physicians can be primary care providers, it may not be the best idea to just pick one as your PCP without considering some factors.

For instance, a lot of people use internal medicine doctor and primary care doctor interchangeably, not knowing that they are not always one and the same. Internal medicine doctors may be primary care providers, but not all primary care providers are internal medicine doctors.

Let’s talk about the differences between internal medicine doctors and primary care doctors, so you can make a sound decision on who to see.

Primary Care Doctors

Primary care doctors may be family medicine practitioners, pediatricians, or internal medicine doctors. A primary care doctor is the first line of defense when it comes to your medical care. Anytime you are sick, the first doctor you visit is your primary care physician. You visit your primary care doctor when you get the flu, cold, or back pain as well as when you need annual check-ups and vaccinations.

Primary care physicians take care of specific. groups of individuals. For example, pediatricians are primary care physicians who care for children only. Internal medicine physicians are primary care physicians who treat adults. Family medicine doctors are primary care physicians who treat both. Each of them has specialized training and experience to adequately treat certain groups of people. Depending on who you are, you should choose accordingly.

Also called an internist, an internal medicine doctor specializes in the care of adults. An internal medicine doctor is essentially a specialist in medical care for adults. An internal medicine doctor can be your primary care provider. They have the knowledge, special training, and experience in diagnosing and treating simple and complex injuries and diseases that most often affect adults. They put a heavy emphasis on the prevention of diseases and chronic disease management that adults are most likely to develop.

Choosing The Right Primary Care Doctor

You should choose a primary care doctor who suits your needs. An internal medicine doctor is often the best suited for adults because they have a wealth of experience and skills treating all types of health issues that adults are prone to developing. Visit one today to see how they can be of service to you.

Internal Medicine Doctors in Irmo, South Carolina

At SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation, our physicians offer compassionate and patient-centered care. We believe in building long-term relationships with our patients in order to deliver the highest quality care. Our goal is to change the landscape of medicine by making a positive impact in the lives of our patients and helping improve their quality of life.

To schedule a consultation with SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation at (803) 749-1111 or send us an appointment request now.

People sometimes use “general practitioner,” “primary care physician,” and “internist” interchangeably. It’s important to know the differences between doctors when you’re looking for a new primary care physician, however. Both general practitioners and internists are primary care physicians. Both offer medical care for adults. GPs and internists are not the same, however. So what’s the difference between a general practitioner and an internist?

What’s an Internal Medicine doctor or internist?

An internist is a doctor who specializes in internal medicine. Internal medicine focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries and diseases. Internal Medicine doctors provide comprehensive care for adults with a broad knowledge of diseases, are experts in diagnosis, and promote wellness and preventive care.

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.  Some phrases you may hear to describe an Internist are “Doctors for Adults” or “The doctors’ doctor.”

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. People sometimes use “primary care physician” and “general practitioner” interchangeably. These two terms are not synonymous, however.

A primary care physician is the doctor you see for regular check-ups. Your primary care physician may be an internist, a family practitioner, or another type of doctor. Your child’s primary care physician may be a pediatrician.

Like internists, general practitioners are considered primary care physicians. One of the biggest distinctions between an internist and a general practitioner is that while internists typically only treat adults, general practitioners are trained to provide care for patients of all ages.

A general practitioner may treat adults, adolescents, and also children. General practice physicians may choose to practice family medicine, but family medicine is a medical specialty.

Choosing the right doctor

If you’re looking for a new primary care physician, internists and general practitioners may both be good options. Of course, your own specific needs may determine which type of doctor is right for you.

Fayetteville Diagnostic Clinic, A MANA Clinic, is an internal medicine based clinic with some of the best board certified, internal medicine doctors in Northwest Arkansas! At this multispecialty clinic, patients can access general internal medicine doctors and specialty medicine doctors under one roof. Find the right internal medicine doctor for you!