Primary care consists of services provided by a primary care physician. A primary care physician has a breadth of knowledge and skills, and is typically a patient’s entry point into the healthcare system. If you are not feeling well and the issue is not life-threatening, you do not need to go to the emergency room. You can be seen by a primary care doctor, who will examine you and handle a range of medical conditions at the primary care level.
If you end up needing a specialist, your primary care doctor will act as the coordinator of your care and recommend specialists with whom you are more likely to be compatible and are within your network.
There is more than one type of primary care doctor. Let’s talk about the two most common primary care specialties.
Family Medicine
Primary care doctors who specialize in family medicine are also called general practitioners. They can provide medical care to patients of all ages or the whole family. A family medicine physician can care for your grandparents, parents, husband or wife, siblings, and children, and build an enduring and trusting relationship with each member of the family. They provide diagnostic, treatment, and preventive services, including managing chronic diseases. Family medicine doctors tend to have more training in women’s health and pediatrics. Populations with access to primary care have lower infant mortality rates, higher birth rates, above-average immunization rates, lower healthcare costs, and longer and healthier lives.
Internal Medicine
Primary care doctors who specialize in internal medicine are called internists. Internal medicine is a discipline that focuses on illnesses and diseases that affect adults age 18 or over. Like family doctors, internal medicine doctors are experts in treating the broad spectrum of simple and complex health conditions that affect adults, including chronic diseases. Many years in residency training are dedicated to learning how to treat and prevent adult-specific illnesses and diseases, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, diabetes, heart disease, arthritis, cancer, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and sleep apnea.
This is the primary care doctor you need if you have complex and multiple medical conditions. While you may be seen by a specialist for your chronic disease, an internist, being a primary care doctor, is the one who can improve your symptoms and overall health, thus helping you live the life you love despite your chronic health condition.
When choosing a primary care practice, it comes down to your preferences, and whether you have children or are a family of adults.
Internal Medicine Doctors in Irmo, SC
SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation is an internal medicine practice staffed with compassionate primary care doctors who treat adult patients with a wide range of medical conditions. We care about your convenience and have made our facility a one-stop shop for our patients, moving you seamlessly from evaluation to testing. Our internal medicine doctors like to foster long-term relationships with our patients and will provide you with superior quality preventive services to optimize your health and wellness.
For over thirty years, we have served the primary care needs of South Carolina residents. For any questions about our primary care services or to make us your primary care provider, call our clinic today at (803) 749-1111 or use our convenient appointment request form.
