When researching local physicians or
trying to find the best hospital or clinic to receive care, you’ve likely come across the terms “internal medicine” and “family medicine.” Although both disciplines are similar, there are a few key differences. Similarities and Differences- Internal medicine and family medicine are both primary care specialties. Physicians who fall into either of these
categories are often referred to as “general practice doctors.”
- Family medicine treats patients of all ages – from infants to seniors.
- Internal medicine treats adults only. Just as a pediatrician only treats kids, an internal medicine doctor (also referred to as an “internist”) is solely focused on adults.
- Internal medicine doctors can provide inpatient care in hospitals as well as outpatient care at their practices.
- Typically, family medicine doctors focus on preventative, well-patient services in an outpatient
setting. They will usually refer to specialists if inpatient care is required.
- Both specialties require a three-year residency after medical school, but the training for each looks different. Internal medicine residents focus on hospitalized patients and receive extra training in emergency and critical care. Family medicine residents usually receive some of that same inpatient
training along with instruction related to outpatient medical specialties like pediatrics, OB/GYN and others.
Although there are many differences between internal medicine and family medicine, both specialties are often offered on the same hospital campus or in the same network. This makes it easy for patients to receive the type of care that works best for their needs today as well as when those needs may change in the future. Our network of
primary care providers includes both internal medicine and family medicine physicians – making it possible for you to get the best care you deserve in one convenient, comfortable location closer to home. At Lane Family Practice, you will find dedicated providers who specialize in preventive care, sick care, management of chronic diseases and conditions, health
education, medication management, follow-up care after hospitalization and more.
Family Medicine Residency Program - Education
- Family Medicine Resident Training
What Makes Family Medicine Residency the Best Training for Primary Care Doctors?Family Medicine residencies concentrate learners’ time and experience on the activities which are most relevant to primary care practice. Train for What You Plan to Do! - Emphasis on the Art of Outpatient Medicine: Because primary care physicians spend most of their time caring for patients in an outpatient setting, Family Medicine residency
programs train young physicians extensively and continuously in the art of outpatient medicine. For experience with continuity of care, FM residents see outpatients in the office for 2 sessions weekly during their 1st year (half-day sessions), and for 3-5 sessions weekly during their 2nd and 3rd years. On average, residents will see patients for between 400-500 sessions over a 3 year period, more than double what they would in other types of residency training. FM residents also
participate in a variety of outpatient rotations during their training. Internal Medicine, Pediatrics and Med-Peds residents generally see patients in their continuity clinics for only one session per week throughout their training, or in short ambulatory blocks which an average of one outpatient session per week. As a result, IM and Peds residents generally graduate with approximately 150 sessions of outpatient continuity clinic experience over 3 years, and Med-Peds residents graduate
with approximately 200 sessions over 4 years. All residents participate in a variety of other outpatient rotations, depending on their career interests.
- Continuity Outpatient Experience is Superior for Learning Outpatient Medicine: Outpatient rotations can be helpful for learning, but because these rotations generally involve seeing someone else’s patients, and because they don’t involve much follow up, residents’ learning in these settings is more superficial
and does not include the same development of judgement and responsibility than care for their own continuity patients does. From a learning perspective, there is no substitute for the commitment to extensive continuity practice offered by Family Medicine Residency programs.
- The Right Inpatient Training Experience: Primary Care Physicians typically cite general adult inpatient medicine and newborn nursery care as their two main hospital activities. On
average, Family Medicine Residents receive the same number of months of general adult inpatient experience as do Internal Medicine and Med-Peds Residents. On average, Family Medicine Residents receive more months of newborn nursery experience than do Pediatrics and Med-Peds residents; they all take a 4-6 week rotation in a newborn nursery, but only FM residents have an additional 2 months on the OB service in which they daily round on and care for newborns.
- Emphasis on
Procedures: As part of a culture of encouragement for learning, physicians trained in Family Medicine receive surgical training and hands-on experience in the continuity clinic so that they are prepared to perform skin biopsies, joint injections, colposcopy, laceration repair, circumcisions, I & D’s, endometrial biopsies, diaphragm fittings, IUD & Nexplanon placement, and a number of other outpatient procedures; this means that their patients can receive the majority of
their treatments right in the primary care office, without requiring referral. It is more difficult for IM, Peds or Med-Peds residents to build experience and confidence in these procedures because of a relative lack of opportunity in the continuity clinic and a culture in which many of their preceptors prefer to refer procedures out to specialists.
- Strong Primary Care Psychiatry Training: Many primary care outpatient visits include a psychiatric
component. Family Medicine Residencies consistently center Psychiatry and Behavioral Health throughout the 3 year curriculum, and often require a monthlong rotation in psychiatry. Psychiatry is not a focus of any of the other primary care residencies.
- Strong Women’s Health Training: Family Medicine Residencies’ continuity clinics are set up to accommodate gynecological issues and appointments on a daily basis. Preceptors are all comfortable
with gynecological and prenatal care. As a result, FM residents have the opportunity to develop both comfort and skill with a wide range of women’s health issues as a part of their core curriculum. IM, Peds and Med-Peds residents have to go out of their way to seek out opportunities to learn about this type of care outside of the usual curriculum, and generally have limited access to learning gynecological procedures.
- Strong Traditions in Sports
Medicine: Primary care orthopedics has been a focus in the Family Medicine Community for many years, and Primary Care Sports Medicine Fellowships are closely affiliated with Family Medicine Residency programs. Sports Medicine teaching in Family Medicine Residencies is significantly more robust than it is in other primary care residencies.
- Training in Care of the Pregnant Patient: While the majority of Family Medicine residents do not
go on to deliver babies, they are well-trained in the care of the pregnant patient through their experience with continuity prenatal patients. PCPs routinely have pregnant patients referred to them from OB/Gyn for care of conditions including asthma, allergies, back pain, joint pain, sinusitis, conjunctivitis, and rashes. Only Family Physicians have enough experience with these issues and the with rhythm of prenatal care to feel truly comfortable with these issues after graduation.
- Residency Culture and Focus: 90% of Family Medicine Residents will go on to practice Primary Care after completing their training, while only 50% of Med-Peds, 40% of Pediatrics and 20% of Internal Medicine graduates will do the same. Training in Family Medicine means that you will be surrounded by people who are enthusiastic about learning and teaching Primary Care.
But What if I Feel Like Three Years is Not Enough?
If you feel that seven years training to be a broad generalist physician are not enough, there are a number of 4 year Family Medicine Residencies across the country, which offer all the advantages listed above, but with an additional year of experience.
What if I’d Like to Keep Fellowship Options Open? Family Medicine Residents have a wide variety of Fellowship options including Sports Medicine, Geriatrics, OB, Sleep
Medicine, Adolescent Medicine, Emergency Medicine, Palliative Care, Hospitalist Medicine, International Medicine, Preventive Medicine, Faculty Development, Wilderness Medicine, Rural Medicine, Substance Abuse, and Women’s Health.
What About Opportunities in Academic Medicine for Family Medicine Physicians? There are Family Medicine Residencies in every state in the nation, and there are more Family Medicine Residencies than any other type of
residency. As a result, Family Physicians have more opportunities to be Program Directors and faculty, and they can do this from a wider variety of communities than other types of physicians.
Do I Have to Worry About Nurse Practitioners and Physician Assistants Taking Over My Work? Mid-level providers always need physician collaborators and supervisors. Because their training is less extensive, it is much easier for them to
focus on a specific skill set. Family Physicians are uniquely qualified to lead a diverse group of mid-level providers to provide care for an entire community: one mid-level practitioner might focus on doing routine gyne care, another might focus on well child care, another might focus on chronic care for hypertension and diabetes. The Family Physician can lead and collaborate with the entire team, handle complex cases in pediatrics, adult medicine and gyne, performing colpos
for abnormal paps, psychiatric care, and other hands-on procedures.
What Kind of Job Prospects are there in Family Medicine? What
is it Like to be Part of the Family Medicine Community? |
