5 Reasons To Consider An Internist Instead Of A Family Doctor
When you decide on a primary physician, you will probably have to choose between an internist and a family doctor. These terms can be confusing, and many people believe that doctors practicing internal medicine and family medicine are the same. However, there are significant differences in the two fields, and it's important to know them. Many adults would benefit greatly from choosing an internist over a family doctor. Here are 5 reasons why.
Internists Treat Adults Only
Doctors specializing in internal medicine focus their practices on adults. This means that you will not be seen in an examination room that is decorated to stimulate children, and you are not likely to encounter families and sick kids in the waiting room.
You will be seen by a team of medical professionals that only study and treat conditions that affect adults. They may also have more knowledge of medical conditions often experienced by senior citizens.
Internal Medicine Focuses on a Scientific Approach
While family medicine may have a more social approach, recognizing the relationship between illness, health, safety, and family relationships, internists take a more scientific approach when it comes to diagnosing and treating illness.
Internists are problem solvers. They will do the research to determine the necessary treatment rather than focusing primarily on the social aspects of the patient's situation.
Interests Have More Training in Specific Conditions
The American College of Physicians states that while doctors practicing internal medicine and family doctors spend the same amount of time in training, internists receive more specific training for adult diseases. Family medical doctors spend much of that training time learning about pediatric medicine.
During their training, internists will have acquired a great deal of knowledge about conditions specifically related to adult health. They are likely to have training in fields like dermatology, endocrinology, and cardiology. They also have expert knowledge in preventing diseases that adults may develop over time.
Internets Are Trained to Handle Chronic Health Issues
Because physicians who practice internal medicine understand illness that affect adults, they are also well equipped to treat chronic diseases. An internist is the right choice for someone who suffers from diabetes or chronic arthritis because the doctor will have training in the those areas and plenty of experience treating those types of conditions. The doctor will most likely be simultaneously treating patients at the various stages of the illness or condition, creating a better understanding of the progression of the disease that can be used to help patients prepare for what is to come or to avoid or delay progressing to the next stage.
Internists Are Trained in Diagnostics
A large portion of training in internal medicine is in diagnosing diseases. This can be particularly complicated in adults and older adults because diseases can overlap, and symptoms can be caused by several different conditions at the same time. Physicians practicing internal medicine are trained to unravel these challenging complications to understand and treat the underlying cause or causes of the problem. They take time to put together the puzzle of the patient's total health.
There is a difference between a physician practicing internal medicine and one who is a family doctor. While both train for the same number of years, the training can be very different. A family doctor will have devoted a great deal of time being trained in pediatric health, child development, and family relationships while an internist will have spent that time learning about conditions and illnesses likely to affect adults. Both types of physicians are important and necessary, but there are good reasons for adults to consider an internist as a primary care physician. To learn more about internal medicine, contact a medical center like Broadway Medical Clinic, LLP.