What is the difference between an internal medicine doctor and a medical doctor?

Answer 1

Internal Medicine doctors (also called "internists") spend 3 or more years of intensive training learning how to diagnose and treat non-surgical medical problems in teens and adults through old age. They can treat any problems, simple or complex, in fact, other doctors often refer their patients to internists to solve puzzling medical problems. Internists are also very good at treating multiple medical problems that may come up at the same time and are often tied together.

Family doctors spend their 3 years of training learning about medical problems of children, adults, OB/Gyn, surgery and other specialties. They can treat families from babies to adults, but their training is not as intensive in one area as an Internal Medicine doctor.

Answer 2

To overgeneralize the answer.

Family practice focuses on birth to death health care. (Broad scope of knowledge)

Internal Medicine focuses on the health care of adults. (Relatively specific knowledge)

In terms of practice as a primary care physician there is very little difference in general treatment practice.

Answer 3

Family medicine residency is 3 years and is primary care focused. You learn internal medicine and some subspecialties, obstetrics, pediatrics and some surgery. You can therefore care for children, adults and pregnant women including delivering babies. Fellowship opportunities are somewhat limited

Internal medicine residency is 3 years. You learn internal medicine and many subspecialties of internal medicine. You can therefore care for adults only. Fellowship opportunities are many and many trainees eventually subspecialize.

Salaries are similar for both specialties in primary care but subspecializing increases earning potential.

Answer 4

Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) and Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are both full-fledged physicians trained in the United States who attend four years of medical school and are eligible to specialize in any field of medicine after residency training. Regarding your initial question, a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine can be an internal medicine physician (internist), if they decide to specialize in internal medicine, but they are allowed to specialize in any medical field they choose.

Additionally, both DOs and MDs may sit for board certification examinations and each type of physician has the same legal and medical responsibilities such as prescribing medications, performing surgery, working in the hospital, medical diagnosis, etc. The difference between a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine and Doctor of Medicine is a slight one-Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, in addition to the standard medical curriculum, receive 300-500 hours of instruction in a form of manual therapy known as osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). This form of therapy is another approach sometimes used by DOs to address a patient's musculoskeletal issues.

Answer 5

No, they are different conditions. A family doctor is a medicine Doctor Who knows the clinical status of every member of a family, and is elected by this family to take care of it. A medicine doctor is a generic name for this professional.

Answer 6

All family practitioners are doctors, but not all doctors are family practitioners. Family medicine is a specialty that physicians may be trained in, but only one of many.

Answer 7

A medical doctor is an individual who practices medicine on people. An internal medicine doctor offers a diagnosis and medical treatment to adults.