Internal Medicine VS Family Medicine

Your doctor is an important part of your life. In fact, for many people, it’s one of the most important relationships they have because their doctor is so closely tied to their health, well being, and overall quality of life. But with all the specialties out there It’s hard to know what each doctor specializes in. For example, have you ever wondered what the difference is between family medicine and internal medicine?

First, let’s look at what both do. Both family and internal medicine physicians are primary care physicians. This means they focus on, “health promotion, disease prevention, health maintenance, counseling, patient education, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses” according to the American Academy of Family Physicians.

The differences, however, are more obvious as you delve into each specialty’s uniqueness.

Family Medicine

A family medicine doctor is one that functions as both a pediatrician and internist in one. They’re trained to treat both children and adults. This is one of the reasons many families enjoy seeing a family medicine doctor: everyone can go to the same practice and establish themselves throughout their childhood and adult lives.

The family medicine physician is trained to work with an entire family unit and the variety of needs they have, instead of catering to a single organ or age group.

In addition to treating a variety of ailments, family medicine doctors tend to handle a lot of women’s health, including prenatal care. They also see children and provide things like well baby visits, immunizations, and overall checkups.

Internal Medicine

An internal medicine physician is one who only treats adults. They’re like pediatricians (who only treat children), but for adults. They focus on treatment and prevention of diseases in adults. An internal medicine physician is known as an internist and spends much of their training gaining a deep knowledge of adult medicine.

You’d go to an internist if you’re an adult looking to get established with a primary care provider. This is the doctor you’d establish a relationship with and go to for any issues. If something pops up that requires another specialization, this doctor can coordinate care between other subspecialties.

Internal medicine and family medicine are both important medical specialties that are designed to meet the needs of the community they serve. While some adults may prefer to see an internist, those with children might prefer to be at a family medicine practice where the entire family can grow with them.

If you’re looking for an internist who’s passionate about treating patients with the best care possible, contact us to schedule an appointment with Dr. Faleye.

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