Locations:
SearchThe short answer from a primary care specialist
Q: I’m looking for a primary care doctor. What’s the difference between an internist and a family physician?
Advertisement
Cleveland Clinic is a non-profit academic medical center. Advertising on our site helps support our mission. We do not endorse non-Cleveland Clinic products or services. Policy
A: Internists are specialty-trained to treat adults from 18 years old through the geriatric years. They have intensive and comprehensive training in all aspects of adult medical care. Internists specialize in primary care screening and in treating common adult problems, such as diabetes and hypertension, as well as in treating patients with a complex combination of conditions.
Family medicine doctors are specialty-trained to care for people across the lifespan, from birth through the geriatric years. Family medicine doctors have formal training in pediatrics, adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, mental health and more. This broad training equips them to deal with a wide range of health problems for the entire family, with a focus on wellness, disease prevention and chronic disease management.
— Family medicine physician Garrett Kirkpatrick, DO
Advertisement
Learn more about our editorial process.
Advertisement
Your first point of health contact
A combination of rest, fluids and over-the-counter medications can help you feel better fast
Changing how you breathe, gargling water and distracting yourself are all common ways to stop your diaphragm from spasming
CTs and MRIs use different technologies to show different things — neither is necessarily ‘better’ than the other
Dry coughs mean irritation, while wet coughs mean mucus
Most of the time, beeturia is a curiosity, not a concern
You can’t cure a cold, but these simple home remedies can help you feel better faster
Exercising, hydrating and other natural remedies can help a headache without the meds
If you’re feeling short of breath, sleep can be tough — propping yourself up or sleeping on your side may help
If you fear the unknown or find yourself needing reassurance often, you may identify with this attachment style
If you’re looking to boost your gut health, it’s better to get fiber from whole foods
