General practice and internal medicine both diagnose, treat, and prevent illnesses, but differ in patient age and medical specialty. General practitioners treat patients of all ages, while internists treat only adults and have subspecialties. Internists can perform surgeries and use more comprehensive testing procedures.
General practice and internal medicine are both types of medicine that are concerned with diagnosing, treating, and preventing illnesses and diseases. There are many differences between these two types of medicines. General practitioners, called general practitioners, treat patients of all ages, while internal medicine doctors, also called internists, treat only adult patients. General practitioners do not deal with complicated diseases and conditions involving adult organs and other similar parts, whereas internists have this capability. Internists also have the ability to perform surgical procedures, while general practitioners do not engage in surgeries.
One difference between general practice and internal medicine is education and training. General practitioners are awarded their degree after the appropriate amount of college. Internists complete the same amount of education in college, but then must pursue additional education in internal medicine. Both types of medical professionals can also be called hospitalists because they can practice in a hospital.
Another difference between these two areas is in the area of medical specialty and patients. General practice treats patients of all ages from birth to old age. Internal medicine, also called adult medicine, focuses on adult patients. An internist can treat or prevent the multisystem diseases that afflict adult patients.
While an internist may provide general medical care for adults, many internists have an area of specialty that provides a difference between general practice and internal medicine. Common subspecialties are gynecology, cardiology, and gastroenterology. Internal medicine subspecialties may also include hematology, rheumatology, and pulmonology. General practice has no subspecialty areas.
The two types of medical practices have the main objectives of diagnosing, preventing and treating diseases and illnesses that afflict people. General practice and internal medicine have different types of patients, but both promote people’s well-being through physical exams. General practice uses general tests, such as blood tests and urine cultures, to determine a patient’s health. Internal medicine has the ability to use more comprehensive testing procedures, such as MRIs and ultrasounds, to find things that a general practitioner may not have been able to see. When an internist is also used as an adult patient’s general practitioner, illnesses can be diagnosed more easily in many cases than if a patient had to consult a general practitioner first.
General practice and internal medicine have similar goals, but treat different patients. A general practitioner lacks the ability to treat complicated illnesses and diseases, particularly in adults. Internists are often the physicians patients are referred to by primary care physicians, particularly if the patient needs care in a subspecialty. General practitioners are not trained in surgical procedures, but many internists are able to perform surgery in their subspecialty.
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