2. Be informed
“Family medicine practitioners care for patients of all ages from birth to death, which can include prenatal, obstetric, gynecologic, pediatric, adult, and geriatric care. Internal medicine providers offer care for adults starting at 18 years old, and may refer out to an OBGYN provider for women’s healthcare needs,” says Lindsay Nakaishi, MD, MPH, faculty at the UPMC Shadyside Family Health Center.
Family practitioners may focus on disease prevention, while internal medicine doctors often have a sub-specialty. So, if you have a particular health issue, you should seek out an internist familiar with your concern. Also, take into consideration that you may call your primary care physician a general practitioner, but that’s not an actual specialty.
