Family Medicine vs. Internal Medicine: What’s the Difference?
The medical professionals of Eastway Medical, Dr. Sylvia, MD, and Dr. Joseph, MD, specialize in long-term family health, managing acute disorders and chronic diseases, and offering comprehensive treatment to patients of all ages. They specialize in adult care with extensive experience in diagnosing and treating complicated medical diseases. We are conveniently located at 1220 Eastway Drive Charlotte, NC 28205. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online.
Table of Contents:
Who should I see for regular checkups, a family medicine doctor or an internist?
Do family medicine doctors treat patients of all ages?
What types of patients do internal medicine doctors typically see?
Do family medicine doctors provide urgent care services?
Eastway Medical Clinic emphasizes the importance of maintaining optimal well-being throughout your life with regular health checkups, done by either a family medicine doctor or an internist.
Our doctors are trained to provide primary care to every member of your family, from newborns to the elderly. They offer a wide range of services, including preventive care, health screenings, acute and chronic disease management, minor surgeries, and treatment for common illnesses. Our doctors focus on treating the whole person. This approach allows for a better understanding of their health history and lifestyle. If you’re looking for a single physician for all your primary healthcare needs, including routine checkups, vaccinations, and management of common illnesses, a family medicine doctor may be the ideal choice.
Our internists focus on adult medicine. Trained to manage both common and complex illnesses in adults, our internists often collaborate with specialists in other medical fields, such as cardiology or gastroenterology. They provide comprehensive care to adults, focusing on preventing, diagnosing, and managing chronic conditions such as diabetes, heart disease, and kidney disorders. If you have specific medical concerns requiring ongoing management and monitoring, or complex medical needs, an internist might be the more suitable choice.
At Eastway Medical Clinic, our experienced professionals are trained to provide exhaustive medical care for a broad array of health issues that span across all age groups – from newborns to the elderly.
Our practitioners diagnose and manage a diverse range of medical conditions, encompassing both acute and chronic illnesses. They are prepared to offer healthcare for individuals throughout their lifetime, ensuring comprehensive care for all patients.
Our family medicine doctors are thoroughly acquainted with the specific health needs of each age group. For children and adolescents, we provide age-appropriate immunizations, developmental screenings, and health education. Adults can anticipate routine checkups, screenings for chronic diseases, and management of common ailments.
Moreover, we believe that health isn’t simply about treating physical ailments. Our family medicine doctors are trained to cater to the mental and emotional health of their patients, treating conditions like depression, stress, and anxiety.
By fostering long-term relationships with their patients, our family medicine doctors gain a profound understanding of their medical history, lifestyle factors, and family dynamics. Their extensive expertise enables them to offer individualized care tailored to the individual needs of patients at all stages of life.
Our professionals will guide and coordinate all aspects of care. This continuity of care offers a unique and valuable approach to health care, as the doctor understands the entire health history of a patient and can provide the most appropriate treatment.
At Eastway Medical Clinic, our internal medicine doctors, also known as internists, are highly skilled in managing a broad spectrum of illnesses affecting adults. They serve as primary care physicians for adults, handling everything from common health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and respiratory infections to complex multi-organ conditions like autoimmune disorders, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic pain syndromes. Their extensive knowledge and clinical expertise equip them to provide comprehensive healthcare, from prevention to treatment of complex disorders.
Our providers are exceptionally knowledgeable about the intricacies of the human body. They excel in diagnosing and treating medical disorders such as infections, influenza, and diseases of the lungs, heart, kidneys, and liver. They also manage digestive disorders, neurological problems, hormonal imbalances, and mental health issues.
Our internists offer preventative healthcare, including yearly check-ups, routine health screenings, and immunizations. They specialize in managing chronic diseases and have the expertise to solve puzzling diagnostic problems, even when multiple different illnesses coexist in a patient.
Not only do our internists see patients in the clinic, but they also provide care for those who have been hospitalized. They coordinate the care of these patients, delivering critical care in complex situations. Post-hospital care, including follow-up appointments to ensure recovery and prevent readmissions, is also a significant part of their service.
Internal medicine doctors play a vital role in adult healthcare and helping patients maintain optimal health and well-being through preventive care.
Family medicine doctors often serve as the first point of contact when a health issue arises. They play a pivotal role in providing comprehensive health care to people of all ages, including urgent care services. Urgent care at Eastway is a category of walk-in care outside of a traditional emergency room, dedicated to treating diseases or injuries that need to be treated right once but are not serious enough to attend the emergency room.
We can perform minor surgical procedures, such as wound cleaning, suturing, and casting, and also provide preventive care, teaching patients about health maintenance and disease prevention. Our family medicine doctors can conduct diagnostic testing, such as X-rays, blood work, and urinalysis, and prescribe necessary medications. They can also make referrals to specialists or emergency services when necessary.
What sets Eastway’s family medicine doctors apart is their comprehensive approach to urgent care. Being familiar with their patients’ health history, current symptoms, and overall well-being, they can make well-informed decisions when urgent care is needed, ensuring the best possible patient outcome. This intimate knowledge of their patients allows them to provide personalized treatment plans and ensure that urgent medical needs are met promptly and effectively while maintaining a holistic view of the patient’s health.
However, it’s important to note that while our family medicine doctors at Eastway can provide urgent care services, not all of them choose to do so. Some may prefer to focus on regular check-ups, preventive care, and managing chronic illnesses. Therefore, it’s always a good idea to check with your specific doctor or our clinic about the range of services we provide.
The professionals at Eastway Medical Clinic can certainly provide urgent care services, but the extent of these services depends on the individual practice. In urgent situations, it’s crucial to communicate with your healthcare provider or seek immediate help from the nearest urgent care facility or emergency room if necessary. We are conveniently located at 1220 Eastway Drive Charlotte, NC 28205. For more information, please contact us or book an appointment online. We serve patients from Charlotte NC, Newell NC, Mint Hill NC, Matthews NC, Allen NC, Harrisburg NC, and surrounding cities.