Before you begin using one of these services, call your insurance company to find out if it’s covered.Īn in-person visit is the best way to decide if a doctor is right for you. These include mental health counseling and weight loss counseling. But some internists provide services that may not be covered by your insurance. Most visits to your internist will be covered by your insurance. They can also treat and supervise treatment for more serious conditions, including diabetes, heart disease, and high cholesterol. Internists can treat minor issues like a sinus infection or broken wrist. Your internist is trained to treat almost any condition you may develop throughout your adult life. If you are in need of medical treatment or supervision and are an adult, you may turn to an internist first. When should you see an internist?Īn internist is a first-line source of treatment. Their residency training includes a variety of specialties in adult medicine from cardiology to endocrinology to palliative care. Internists also completed 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency. If your condition is beyond their scope, they may refer you to a specialist. Like a family medicine doctor, an internist treats most common medical issues, from sprains and strains to diabetes. A family medicine doctor can treat people of all ages, but an internist only treats older adolescents and adults. What do they do and whom do they treat?Īn internist is a doctor only for adults. ![]() Some family doctors provide services such as smoking cessation counseling that not every insurance company covers.Īsk your doctor’s office to confirm if your visits will be covered or if you should plan to pay out of pocket.Īn internist is a doctor who treats a wide variety of conditions in adults only. With a few exceptions, insurance should cover visits to your family doctor. Or you might go because you’ve been having unexplained dizziness and need some help figuring out why. For example, you might go because you have poison ivy and need a prescription. When should you see a family doctor?Ī visit to the family doctor is typically the first step in the treatment process. Their residency training includes a variety of specialties, from gynecology to mental health. What is their training?įamily doctors have completed 4 years of medical school and 3 years of residency. And if your condition goes beyond the scope of your family doctor’s training, they may refer you to a specialist. If the doctor also treats other members of the family, they may be able to help you get ahead of potential genetic issues, like obesity, heart disease, and high cholesterol.įor many people, having a doctor who is intimately aware of both your personal and family history can be helpful and comforting. They encourage healthy lifestyle changes for chronic problems. They are often the doctor you will see to treat minor problems, like bronchitis, and major problems, like high blood pressure.įamily doctors will often advocate for you. ![]() What do they do and whom do they treat?Ī family doctor is trained to care for a person from infancy to advanced age. In fact, a family doctor may care for every member of a family at all stages of their lives. Be sure to verify what your plan does and doesn’t cover with your doctor’s office or your insurance company before your visit.īelow we discuss two types of PCPs: family doctors and internists.Ī family doctor can care for practically anyone. Some PCPs offer services that won’t be covered by your insurance. Most insurance plans cover visits with a PCP. Whether you’re battling the flu or showing signs of blood sugar problems, your PCP will likely be the first doctor you encounter in your treatment timeline. These specialists are responsible for your treatment, but your PCP oversees the entire series of events. If your needs go beyond their scope, you may need to see a specialist or another doctor.Ī PCP can also help to coordinate medical treatments across many specialties.įor example, if you discover you have an infected gallbladder, your PCP may refer you to a gastroenterologist for a consultation and then to a surgeon to have the gallbladder removed. If a condition is beyond their scope, they may refer you to a specialist.įor many of your healthcare needs, you may only need to see a PCP. They are trained to treat people of all ages for a wide variety of medical issues, including disease prevention and maintenance. When you’re sick, either with a cold or something more serious, you may first visit your PCP. They treat a wide range of health issues and can help coordinate your medical treatment with various specialists. The term “primary care practitioner (PCP)” refers to any of the following types of medical professionals:
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