• Questions to ask your Doctor
  • Choose Quality Care

Family and Internal Medicine

156247519Family Medicine and Internal Medicine are popular medical areas, accounting for 208 million doctor’s visits annually in family physicians’ offices alone. This is close to double the number of the next highest medical specialty. House Call Doctors have also become popular for many of all ages from  California to Kansas to New York. Both Family Medicine Physicians and Internal Medicine Physicians offer advantages. They offer Prevention, Prediction Risk Level and Early Detection for All Diseases through Health Screenings. They are often the Coordinator and Manager for Referrals, Multi-Specialty Medical Care and Chronic Illness. Internists and Family Physicians may offer quality time during the Q and A with Your Doctor.

These medical professionals are your “primary care physician” because this is often the first physician you will see, and rightfully so in many cases. Select insurance companies require that their insured  receive a referral to another type of medical specialist from their “primary care doctor”.  Still, the term primary care physician is not a specialty recognized by the American Board of Medical Specialties.

Family and Internal Medicine Forums: We invite you to learn more information about how to sustain a quality of life. Check out our forums and check back for updates! 

  • Diabetes-Heart-Mind Combo  Recent study results from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center suggest physicians and consumers might want to more closely evaluate.
  • Streptococcus, including: inner ear infection, sinusitis,  skin infections, throat infections and other infections.

 

174362143The Basics: Selecting Your Family Medicine Doctor or Internist

Select Family Physicians have inept skills to provide ongoing care for initial diagnosis and treatments for every bodily organ and system in children and adults. They may refer people to other medical specialists as the need arises. Still, they oversee the individual’s overall healthcare plan.  Services include and may not be limited to: preventive health, patient education, slight or chronic illness. Select Family Physicians and Internists may conduct biological studies and clinical research activities.

  • Select Internal Medicine Physicians only see adults for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of diseases. This particularly relates to multi-system disease processes that require advanced diagnostic tests and treatments which may include working together with other medical specialists. This is particularly important for people with more than one health issue that require closer coordination between various medical specialists.
  • Select Internal Medicine Physicians leverage their training in one or more medical specialty areas to accommodate for the needs of their patient base. Select Internal Medicine Physicians may perform certain surgical treatments if they have acquired sub-specialty training.  Select Internal Medicine Physicians are known for focusing on clinical research and advancements in medicine. Select Physicians may lecture on specific areas to teach other medical specialists.

Select Your Family Medicine Doctor or Internist

Insurance Considerations

It may be wise to review your options before selecting insurance. In this inquiry, you may inquire about the following, including, but not necessarily limited to:

  • Ability to Select Your Own Doctor.
  • Are physician office policies different for HMO clients when compared to PPO clients in terms of easy access to last minute urgent appointments, accepting new patients and the availability of support teams should you need to speak with or see a physician right away?
  • Requirement to receive a referral to a medical specialist.
  • Deductibles, exclusions and waiting periods for advanced or 2nd line treatment  if you do not respond to 1st line treatment.
  • Limits on care for chronic illness, long term care and terminal illness care.
  • Coverage for rehabilitation and durable medical supplies.

If you do not have insurance, it is not advised to delay your care. Instead, contact the office of your preference, inquire about payment plans or ask if there is an urgent care facility in the area that they may know of.

It is important to recognize that all information contained on this website cannot be considered to be specific medical diagnosis, medical treatment, or medical advice. As always, you should consult with a physician regarding any medical condition. Your Health Access disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.