What kind of doctor should I see?

Adults can choose a family medicine doctor or an internal or complex medicine doctor as their primary care physician. But, which one of those doctors is the best fit for you? Check out this blog to help you select the right physician for your health care needs.

Family Medicine and Internal Medicine (or Complex Medicine) are the medical specialties that treat adult patients.

After four years of medical school, all physicians complete a three-year residency in their chosen specialty to complete their medical education. During their residencies, family medicine specialists spend time in Pediatrics, Surgery, Internal Medicine and Obstetrics. This training gives them a broad range of skills to treat men, women and children of all ages.

Within the scope of family medicine, there can be some variation with the types and ages of patients seen in individual practices. For example, some family medicine physicians don’t see younger children, and others deliver babies. Internal medicine residents train exclusively in adult diseases and conditions, including complicated medical problems.

The decision about what kind of doctor to see depends on several factors.

The first is how many different medications you take.

In general, patients that take six or more medications should see an Internal Medicine specialist. This is because the more medications you take, the greater the chance for side effects, interactions with other medications, and adverse effects on other medical conditions. For example, some prescription medications can interact with over-the-counter medicines like Advil and cause problems.

The second factor involves those medical conditions

If you have medical problems affecting two or more major body systems, an Internal Medicine physician may be your best bet. The treatments for people with multiple problems involving the heart, lungs, liver and kidneys can affect each organ or system differently. A medication for lung disease may cause problems for someone that also has heart disease. Internal Medicine specialists are the best physicians to evaluate how treatments impact all body systems. They can adjust medication doses and test different drugs to see how they react with others over time.

If you are younger and relatively healthy, a Family Medicine doctor can effectively treat you and your whole family. They get to know your family’s health history and issues. It can be convenient to see just one doctor and develop a long-term relationship with them.

If you’re an adult who has seen multiple doctors, or has several ongoing health issues, you might consider an Internal Medicine or Complex Medicine doctor; someone who can use their training and experience, and take the time to investigate more complicated medical conditions.

CCH is open, safe and ready to see you.

With almost 80 physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners in nearly 20 specialties, CCH is committed to your wellbeing right here at home. If you have been putting off a visit to your doctor for a regular checkup, contact them; they can help weigh your personal healthcare risk and avoid further delayed diagnoses.

Visit www.cchwyo.org/findadoc to find your provider or clinic.