Internal Medicine vs. Family Medicine: Understanding the Difference

internal medicine Doctor listening to the heartbeat of a Lady patient

When it comes to healthcare, patients have a lot of choices to make. One of the biggest decisions people need to make is whether to visit a family medicine or an internal medicine provider. Even though they both practice primary care, there are significant differences between these two fields.

Let’s explore these differences, so you can make a more informed decision about your primary healthcare.

Family Medicine

Family medicine is a primary care specialty that provides healthcare services for patients of all ages, sexes, and conditions. Family doctors often care for entire families.

Family medicine providers are focused on preventative care, diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic illnesses, and disease management. They offer vaccinations and routine checkups for children, adult women and men, and geriatric patients.

Family doctors have a broad range of knowledge on a variety of medical conditions affecting people in all age groups. They often work with specialists to provide comprehensive care to their patients. If you have a family with different healthcare needs or are looking for a doctor who can provide ongoing care for the whole family, then family medicine may be the right choice for you.

Internal Medicine

Internal medicine is a primary care specialty that provides healthcare services only to adults. It focuses on diagnosing and treating complex medical problems and managing chronic health conditions like diabetes, hypertension, heart disease, and respiratory illnesses. Many of these conditions require coordination with specialists, so internal medicine doctors become particularly skilled at managing complex care plans for their patients.

If you are over 18 years of age and need a primary care doctor for yourself or if you need specialized attention for some medical conditions, like diabetes or hypertension, internal medicine could be your best option.

The Differences Between Family Medicine and Internal Medicine

One of the key differences between family medicine and internal medicine providers is the age range of patients they see. Family medicine providers are trained to handle patients of all ages, from infants to older adults. They also provide services like immunizations, well-baby checkups, reproductive health services, and more. On the other hand, internal medicine providers only see adults 18 years and above.

Another difference is the care continuity. Family medicine providers provide care continuity across a broad scope of health concerns for children and adults. They can oversee a patient’s health and medical records throughout life, enabling patients to see the same doctor from birth to well into adulthood. In comparison, internal medicine providers provide care continuity starting at age 18, which means children must wait to reach adulthood before selecting an internist as their primary care doctor.

Family medicine doctors are convenient for families. Those with children or aging parents may select a family doctor to streamline their family’s health care by having the same clinic or doctor to visit when anyone gets sick. It is also easier to share your family health history with a family medicine doctor who sees other members of your family at the same time. Also, it is very convenient in situations when multiple family members are sick because they can all be seen by the same doctor.

Whichever you choose, remember to make an appointment with your primary care provider regularly to best address any healthcare issues you may have.

Internal Medicine Doctors Near You in Wooster, Ohio

At Wooster Community Hospital, we provide comprehensive health care for residents of Wayne County and the surrounding areas with an extensive roster of board-certified primary care physicians and specialists.

If you wish to see an internal medicine doctor, you may do so for a wide range of health concerns, including:

The providers at Bloomington Internal Medicine, which is part of the Wooster Community Hospital Health System, specialize in treating adults with a variety of acute and chronic health care issues.

To learn more about our internal medicine providers at Wooster Community Hospital and the primary care they offer, call (330) 202-3477 today.