Whats the difference between internal medicine and family medicine

Good to Know:

• Internal medicine and family medicine are both forms of primary care. Your primary care physician can be a family medicine physician or an internist. 
• Family medicine doctors treat health issues in patients of all ages. Internists only treat adult patients.  
• While family medicine doctors can help manage chronic illnesses, most will focus on regular wellness check-ups and preventive care. Internists, in comparison, can help manage more complex chronic conditions in addition to providing standard preventive care. 
• Your primary care physician should work closely with you to address your health care needs. For some people, this will best be done with an internist; for others, a family medicine doctor is the better option.

Whether it’s regular check-ups, disease prevention, or managing chronic illnesses, the right provider can make all the difference. Selecting the right primary care physician is essential to your well-being, but it’s easy to get tied up in the different types of providers. 

Does a family medicine provider see adult patients? What exactly is internal medicine? Can primary care physicians address complex medical needs? We’ll help explain the different types of primary care physicians so you can choose a physician that will fit your medical needs.

What is internal medicine?

An internal medicine specialist, or internist, sees exclusively adult patients. Their focus will be on disease management as well as prevention. Internal medicine is a highly complex and comprehensive field of medicine. Internal medicine doctors are equipped to handle health concerns common in adults, such as high blood pressure, diabetes (both Type 1 and Type 2), and obesity. They can also help provide care for more complex medical needs and chronic illnesses.

Fast Facts: Internal medicine dates back to the late 1800s. At the time, internal medicine was unique for the way it incorporated scientific knowledge into medical care.

Internists receive additional training after medical school by completing a three-year residency. During this time, internists will train in an inpatient setting with hospitalized patients. They’ll train with emergency care and critical care patients, as well as training in multiple medical subspecialties. 

Fast Facts: Internal medicine doctors are required to spend at least one year of their additional training caring for hospitalized patients. 

As a result, internists are capable of providing care in inpatient (hospital) and outpatient settings. That doesn’t mean you have to be hospitalized to see an internal medicine doctor; rather, if you require hospitalization for complex medical needs, your internal medicine doctor can provide care while you’re in the hospital as well as after you’re discharged.

What is family medicine?

Family medicine doctors still provide comprehensive care, but there are some key differences between a family medicine practitioner and an internist. As the name suggests, a family medicine doctor can care for each member of an entire family, seeing patients of all ages and addressing numerous health care needs. This makes them different from pediatricians, who only see patients from birth to age 18. 

Quick Statistics: Although family medicine doctors offer care for patients of all ages, approximately 85% of family medicine patients are adults.

Family medicine doctors also complete a three-year residency after medical school, but their additional training takes place in outpatient centers as well as hospitals. They also gain experience in obstetrics and gynecology, pediatrics, and routine medical procedures.  

If you choose a family medicine doctor as your primary care provider, you can expect to receive preventive care with a relational and holistic approach. Your provider will likely focus on patient education and overall wellness as well as diagnosing, managing and/or treating chronic illnesses. Your family medicine doctor may provide care that emphasizes specific subspecialties, such as obstetrics-gynecology or orthopedics.

Fast Facts: Family medicine came from a movement in the 1960s in response to the rising number of specializations in medicine. The goal was to focus on patient-provider relationships and continuity of care.

What is primary care—and why is it important?

Think of your primary care physician as your first point of contact for your health care. They are the person you see on a regular basis. They will help you stay up to date on screenings and vaccinations. They can provide providing general wellness and preventive care. If you have chronic conditions, your primary care provider can assist in your management of them, as well as refer you to subspecialty providers when needed. 

Quick Statistics: Between 2002 and 2015, the number of people with primary care providers dropped from 77% to 75%. According to experts, this 2% decrease is roughly equivalent to the population of New Jersey, and the decline was especially noticed in younger, healthier adults.

All of this means that, depending on your health care needs, your primary care physician can practice family medicine or internal medicine. You can’t go wrong with either; having a primary care physician is better than not having one. But to get the most out of your health care experience, we’ve got a list of questions you can use to decide which type of provider may suit your needs.

Which type of provider is best for you?

• Are you generally in good health?
• Do you mainly see your doctor for annual check-ups, regular screenings, and vaccinations?
• Are your main health care concerns disease prevention and preventive care?
• Are you interested in holistic, whole-person care?
• Do you prefer to build a relationship with your primary care provider?
  • You may prefer a family medicine doctor. 
• Do you have any medical needs that may require complex care?
• Do you have any chronic conditions or illnesses you’d like your provider to help you manage?
• Are your main health concerns disease management as well as disease prevention?
• Are there any areas of specialty you’d prefer your doctor to have, such as cardiology or hematology-oncology?
• Will you feel more confident with a provider whose expertise is in diagnosing and treating adults?
  • You may prefer an internist.

Regular primary care has been linked to better health outcomes overall. By offering consistent, comprehensive care, your primary care provider can help prevent diseases and address your medical needs. Internists and family medicine doctors are both capable of providing excellent primary care, but their difference in specialty and approach can help different patients meet different medical needs. Find a provider who makes you feel comfortable and confident in their care. It’s a simple but meaningful way to better your health!

Sources 

• Access to Primary Care | Healthy People 2020. (n.d.). Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
• (2021, June 24). Comparing Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine: Medical Blog | SGU. Medical Blog | St. George’s University | The SGU Pulse. 
• Fewer Americans Have Primary Care Providers. (n.d.). ASH Clinical News. Retrieved May 10, 2022. 
• Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine | ACP. (n.d.). American College of Physicians. Retrieved May 10, 2022. 
• Internal Medicine vs Family Medicine: What’s the Difference? (2021, February 11). AUC School of Medicine.
• Rabovsky, M., MD. (2021, December 21). What’s the Difference Between an Internist and a Family Physician? Cleveland Clinic. 
• Shi L. (2012). The impact of primary care: a focused review. Scientifica, 2012, 432892. 
• UCI Health. (2016, September 15). Which primary care doctor is right for you? UCI Health | Orange County, CA. Retrieved May 10, 2022.