“Internal medicine is the specialty of medicine that deals specifically with the medical diseases of adults. This is in contrast to other specialties such as surgery, pediatrics, psychiatry, and obstetrics/gynecology. Internal medicine is also distinct from family medicine in training and scope of practice. Although both internal medicine and family medicine physicians may provide primary medical care for adults, family medicine clinicians are trained more broadly to care for infants and children as well. Although this is becoming less common, family practitioners have historically also done obstetrics and some general surgery. Internal medicine practitioners (internists) concentrate on adult patients in training and practice. The patients internists care for, therefore, often have multiple and more complex medical problems.
Primary medical care is mostly provided by family medicine practitioners, internists, general pediatricians, and gynecologists. Depending on their location, availability of other specialists, and personal interests, some general or primary care internists may concentrate on women's health care, adolescent health care, or other specific patient populations. Some internists, for example, are formally trained and separately board-certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics.
Internists may practice the specialty of internal medicine generally, or seek additional training and board certification in a subspecialty of internal medicine. The subspecialists may practice exclusively in their subspecialty or provide a combination of subspecialty and general internal medicine primary care” Timothy C. Evans, (2008)
Primary medical care is mostly provided by family medicine practitioners, internists, general pediatricians, and gynecologists. Depending on their location, availability of other specialists, and personal interests, some general or primary care internists may concentrate on women's health care, adolescent health care, or other specific patient populations. Some internists, for example, are formally trained and separately board-certified in both internal medicine and pediatrics.
Internists may practice the specialty of internal medicine generally, or seek additional training and board certification in a subspecialty of internal medicine. The subspecialists may practice exclusively in their subspecialty or provide a combination of subspecialty and general internal medicine primary care” Timothy C. Evans, (2008)