Internal medicine and primary care are both types of primary care doctors, but they have some differences. Here are the key differences between internal medicine and primary care:
Internal Medicine Doctors:
- Care primarily for adults, but some internists also see children if they have dual training in both internal medicine and pediatrics.
- Specialize in diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease in their adult patients.
- Are trained to offer care for a wide variety of health conditions and to counsel their patients on prevention and overall wellness.
- Must complete a three-year residency before they begin practicing internal medicine, and some take additional training in a subspecialty, such as neurology, endocrinology, oncology, psychiatry, dermatology, cardiology, geriatrics, or rheumatology.
Primary Care Doctors:
- Include family medicine doctors, pediatricians, obstetricians and gynecologists, and internal medicine doctors.
- Care for specific groups of individuals. For example, pediatricians are primary care physicians who care for children only, while internal medicine physicians are primary care physicians who treat adults only.
- Are expertly trained to treat a broad range of health conditions.
- Can treat patients of all ages, depending on their specialty.
In summary, internal medicine doctors specialize in the care of adults, while primary care doctors can treat patients of all ages, depending on their specialty. The right primary care doctor for you depends on your personal health care needs.
