Choosing a primary care option: Internal medicine or family practice?

The number of people in the United States with a usual source of care has dropped 10% in the last 18 years, with only about three-quarters of people saying they have a regular primary care provider. Increasingly, there has been a move to more episodic care with many people looking into alternative solutions, like seeking medical attention through visits to the emergency department or urgent care. This random care can lead to poorly managed health concerns and potentially serious medical outcomes.

For patients, having an ongoing primary care provider offers consistency and continuity. Developing a primary care provider relationship allows patients to cultivate familiarity and trust, which is vital in healthcare. Finding the right primary care option for you creates holistic and personalized engagement options to improve chances of early disease detection and treatment.

Perhaps one of the most confusing questions for patients when looking for a primary care provider is the difference between internal medicine and family practice?

There are important differences between internal medicine and family medicine. Both have unique skill sets and important roles in the care of adult patients and providing primary care depending on the practice setting and the specific needs of the patient-each discipline provides different strengths in caring for patients.

Internal medicine (“internists”) education focuses only on adults and includes experience in both general medicine and the internal medicine subspecialties (including geriatrics, rheumatology, endocrinology, and nephrology), Training in adult medical issues is comprehensive and provides a strong focus on managing complex medical situations where multiple conditions may affect a single person.

Family medicine education is broader in nature since it involves training in the care of children, OB/Gyn, and adult medicine. As family practice physicians have such a broad practice scope, there is less focus on chronic care and comorbidity management of adults and seniors. Although the depth of training in adult medical issues may be less than in internal medicine, the emphasis on outpatient medicine allows family physicians to support a family unit depending on individual medical need.

Since Internists focus on medically complex diagnoses, they are ideal for older people who need help with multiple health problems such as diabetes, heart disease, and autoimmune diseases that require numerous medications.

For younger adults, the benefits of regular check-ups with a PCP (primary care physician) provide an opportunity to initiate preventive care measures and setting the stage for a lifetime of good health. From vaccinations to screenings for various health conditions, early detection and intervention can prevent minor issues from escalating into serious health concerns. Having a trusted healthcare provider to turn to empowers young adults to make informed decisions about their well-being, personalized health education and guidance on nutrition, exercise, stress management, or mental health.

At LIMA, our internists take pride in delivering exceptional care with the courtesy and respect you should expect. The trust and comfort built between a patient and their primary care provider has a positive impact on health outcomes.

By serving your best interest in your health, truly understanding who you are, and promoting healthy lifestyles, we can enable patients to function with the highest quality of life they can attain. We know there are choices in selecting a physician or healthcare service and look forward to being your choice.