This is a common question I get from people who have never seen an Internal Medicine Doctor (Internist) before. Many patients are familiar with Pediatricians and Family Medicine Doctors, as they often see them during childhood.
It’s best to think of Internal Medicine as the equivalent of Pediatricians for adults. To learn more about the differences, it is best to observe how each is trained. Doctors spend 4 years in medical school. After graduation, residency is where things become different. Pediatricians spend three years in residency and specialize in caring for children under 18-years-old. Family Medicine residents spend 3 years in residency, splitting their time among caring for children, managing pregnancy/birth, and treating adults. Essentially, they take care of patients from birth to death. Internists spend 3 years in residency, spending half of the time working in the hospital taking care of patients admitted for non-surgical reasons, including 4-6 months working in the ICU. The other half of the time, Internists work in multiple medical subspecialty clinics, such as Cardiology, Pulmonology, Endocrinology, Gastroenterology, etc. Internists spend all of their time only caring for adults, especially those requiring more specialized care.
Additionally, Doctors spend over 12,000 patient care hours in training prior to practicing independently. Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants spend 500-700 patient care hours in training prior to practicing under a Doctor’s license.
Internists are experts in the care of the following:
- Patients with multiple chronic medical conditions
- Manage complex coordination of care with subspecialists
- Patients on numerous medications
- Conditions related to aging
- Obesity
- Chronic pain
- Type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (not on an insulin pump)
- High blood pressure (Hypertension)
- Heart disease
- Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)/ Asthma
- Endocrine issues (thyroid, etc.)
- Blood disorders
- Kidney issues
- Infectious diseases
- Pre-travel vaccine and medical counseling
- Palliative care
As an Internist, I am best suited to take care of you as you get older. I told my Mom to switch to an Internist years ago, and she has been very pleased. At Jacksonville Concierge Medicine, you will see the difference. Click the link below to learn more about how I can help.
Dr. Kyle Mikals