Not every person needs a specialist for their routine checkup, which is why they rely on primary care. However, people do not understand whether they need an appointment with Internal Medicine Doctor or a family practitioner. The two primary care specialties can be confusing for students and patients alike, but they differ prominently in their patient demographic.
A pregnant woman may visit an obstetrician, an elderly would see a geriatric specialist, and a parent takes their child to a pediatrician. These primary care providers belong to the family medicine category. On the contrary, an adult would see an internal medicine doctor or an internist. Therefore, the main difference between the two specialties is the age of patient they tend to.
Understanding Internal Medicine
Internal medicine focuses primarily on adults. An internal medicine physician or an internist takes up extensive training to be able to deal with all kinds of medical ailments. They provide healthcare to patients from young adulthood throughout the course of their midlife.
Their comprehensive treatment includes the complex diagnosis of medical complications, management of chronic diseases, and treating multiple ailments simultaneously. In addition, internal medicine doctors also counsel their patients for the prevention of potential diseases, and for general wellbeing.
Understanding Family Medicine
Family medicine offers primary care to the whole family unit. It differs from specialties that target either a particular patient population (i.e. pediatrics, OB/GYN) or a specific organ system (i.e. urologist, cardiologist). The educational training of a family physician encompasses all kinds of medical ailments that might affect all members of a family, regardless of their age.
The service of a family physician is divided into three different fields of medicine, according to their age;
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Pediatrics
Townsville Paediatrics specialists provide healthcare from infancy to teenage.. They conduct routine checkups along with the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic diseases.
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Adult medicine
Adult medicine deals with the facilitation of people above age 18 and beyond.
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Geriatrics
Geriatrics medicine deals with the diagnosis, treatment, mitigation, and cure of physiological and psychosocial problems of the elderly.
A family physician’s care lasts for a lifetime. From birth, through adolescence to midlife and old age, they walk with their patient through the phase of life. A family medicine practitioner practices in an out-patient setting and they are trained to diagnose, manage or treat any acute or chronic illness.
Family Medicine vs Internal Medicine: Difference In Postgraduate Training
A family medicine doctor completes a three-year residency program, after the completion of their medical school. The residency program includes training in:
- Pediatric medicine
- OB/GYN
- Internal medicine
- Emergency medicine
- Surgery
- Psychiatry
- Opthalmology
- Urology, and more
The training of a family physician includes such a wide spectrum of specialties because they are supposed to tend to patients of all age groups. Since the physiological function of the body varies greatly with age, it is important to provide the right diagnosis and treatment to each member of the family.
On the other hand, internists complete a three-year residency program before they practice internal medicine. However, some internists also take up additional training in subspecialties such as:
- Neurology
- Endocrinology
- Oncology
- Psychiatry
- Dermatology
- Cardiology
- Geriatrics
- Rheumatology
An internist works in both inpatient and outpatient settings. Furthermore, they also dedicate their time to patients hospitalized in intensive and critical care to gain an insight into the various treatment strategies. Their comprehensive training allows them to manage and treat a broad spectrum of adult diseases.
There are certain differences, some subtle and some obvious, that set the two primary care professionals apart, but before we look at that here is a little summary of how they are similar.
Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine: The Similarities
Despite the difference in their patient demographic, there are some similarities between internal and family medicine. There are few responsibilities that the physicians belonging to the two specialties share;
- Performing minor procedures such as draining the abscess, repairing lacerations, removing foreign particles from the body, and simple fracture cure.
- Performing routine diagnostic procedures such as gynecological testing, proctoscopy, colonoscopy, and endoscopies.
- Administer nerve blocks and joint infections.
- Perform skin biopsy
Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine: The Differences
The two specialties might seem similar, but they differ in the following aspects:
- Age: A family physician, as the name suggests, provides healthcare to the entire family, regardless of their age i.e., from birth to 100+. Therefore, when you make an appointment with a family medicine doctor, you can get treatment for yourself, your child, and even your parent. On the other hand, an best internal medicine doctor focuses on patients from age 18 years and above. Like a pediatrician is skilled in looking after children an internist has thorough training and expertise in dealing with the puzzling adult diagnosis and treatment.
- Skills: Family physicians focus more on preventive medicine in an outpatient facility. On the other hand, an internist works in both inpatient and outpatient settings. They deal with the diagnosis and treatments of far complex diseases whereas family medicine doctors focus on the general wellbeing of their patients.
- Practice Goals: Internal medicine deals with the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of ailments in adults with a primary focus on the internal organ systems. On the other hand, the family medicine approach is to manage a broad variety of diseases in all age groups.
Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine: Which One Should You Choose?
Since internal medicine doctors and family medicine doctors both belong to the category of primary care providers, it might be confusing to decide which one you should go to. First, it is important to understand that you do not need to have a family in order to make an appointment with a family physician. Since they tend to all age groups, you may as well see them for a routine checkup or a detailed assessment of your health. On the other hand, if you do have a household, the entire family can visit a family physician for convenience.
However, if you looking for a wider range of primary care, you may visit an internal medicine doctor. Since an internist is experienced to deal with more complex medical cases, they make a perfect choice for adults who are looking for advanced medical advice
Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine: What To Consider Before An Appointment
Whether you pick an internist or a family medicine doctor, here’s what you should consider;
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Empathy:
A doctor is not only distinguished by their experience or skills, but also their empathy. Physicians, regardless of their specialty, must listen to their patients attentively and should be accommodating to their needs. They must not appear judgmental or else the patient would hesitate to share their problems with them.
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Customer care service:
An unparalleled customer service is a benchmark of an exemplary brand. The physician, whether they are an internist or a family medicine doctor, should make their patient comfortable to describe their condition and other personal details. A fine customer service instills the trust in their patient that they can share anything and everything without any hesitation.
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Sustainable Wellbeing:
When you plan to visit a physician, look at how they contribute towards sustainable wellbeing. A healthcare provider contributes to a robust and long-term relationship with their patients by providing comprehensive counseling. Whether you visit a family physician for either of your family member or an internist for yourself, their primary focus should be on rapid recovery, long-term prevention, and sustainable wellbeing.
