At Internal Medicine MD, you don't have to choose between primary care and internal medicine, because you get both. Primary care is the everyday care you return to for checkups, screenings, and ongoing conditions, and internal medicine is the adult focused medical training our team brings to that care.
If you are an adult looking for a regular doctor in Trinity, you may see the terms "primary care" and "internal medicine" used side by side. Primary care describes the role a provider plays in your health, and internal medicine describes a kind of physician training focused on adults. This article explains how the two work together, and why adults at Internal Medicine MD receive both.
What is the short answer?
Primary care describes the care you receive: your home base for prevention, new concerns, and ongoing conditions. Internal medicine describes the training behind it: a physician specialty focused entirely on adults. At Internal Medicine MD, our team provides adult primary care through an internal medicine approach, led by Dr. John Hanna, a board certified internist, with nurse practitioners working alongside him as one team.
Simple way to think about it: primary care is what you get, and internal medicine is how our team is trained to deliver it.
What does "primary care" mean?
Primary care is the care you return to first and most often. The American Academy of Family Physicians describes it as integrated, accessible care delivered by physicians and their care teams, and it describes the primary care physician as the first point of contact for health concerns that have not yet been sorted out.
In practice, a strong primary care relationship usually includes:
- Prevention. Yearly visits, age appropriate screenings, and vaccines.
- First contact for new concerns. A place to start when something feels different and you are not sure where to go.
- Ongoing care. Regular follow up for conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes, or high cholesterol.
- Coordination. Keeping track of specialists, tests, and medications so your plan stays organized.
Primary care is defined by that role, not by one type of training. According to the AAFP, primary care physicians include specialists in family medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, geriatrics, and combined internal medicine and pediatrics. Many care teams also include nurse practitioners and physician assistants who provide primary care services.
What is an internal medicine doctor?
An internal medicine doctor, also called an internist, is a physician who specializes in adults. The American College of Physicians describes internists as specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
Internists complete medical school and then at least three years of residency training in internal medicine. That training centers on the wide range of conditions that affect adults, including situations where several conditions overlap. The ACP notes that this training prepares internists to practice primary care.
Some internists continue with one to three more years of training to become subspecialists, such as cardiologists or kidney specialists. A general internist stays broad and focuses on the whole adult, which is why many adults choose a general internist as their primary care doctor.
How is internal medicine different from family medicine?
Both internal medicine and family medicine are recognized primary care specialties, and both prepare physicians to provide first contact and continuing care. The main difference is the age range of the patients they train to care for.
| Topic | Internal medicine | Family medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Who they care for | Adults | People of all ages, from newborns to older adults |
| Residency length | At least three years in internal medicine | Three years covering the full lifespan |
| Common focus | Adult prevention, chronic conditions, and complex or overlapping health needs | Whole family care, often including children and adolescents |
MedlinePlus describes the same distinction in plain terms: family practitioners care for children and adults of all ages, while internists care for adults of all ages with many different medical problems.
Neither path is better than the other. The best fit depends on who in your household needs care, what health needs you have now, and how you like to work with a care team.
Who benefits from primary care with an internal medicine focus?
Primary care with an internal medicine focus can be a good fit for any adult who wants a care home centered on adult health. Adults often find it especially helpful when they:
- Want a physician trained specifically in adult medicine for yearly prevention and screenings.
- Manage one or more ongoing conditions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, thyroid conditions, or high cholesterol.
- Take several medications and want one team to review them together.
- Are approaching or enrolled in Medicare and want help planning preventive visits.
- See several specialists and would like one primary care team to keep the picture organized.
If you are not sure whether it is time for a visit, our article on signs it may be time to see an internist walks through common reasons adults schedule one.
How does Internal Medicine MD provide adult primary care in Trinity?
Internal Medicine MD provides adult primary care through an internal medicine approach for patients 18 and older, with offices in Trinity and Hudson. Our team is led by Dr. John Hanna, a board certified internal medicine physician, and includes nurse practitioners who work alongside him as one team with one shared chart. You can read more about our providers.
Adult primary care at Internal Medicine MD includes:
- Yearly checkups and screening plans matched to your age and history
- Care for ongoing conditions, reviewed at every visit
- In office blood draws and EKG testing
- Medicare Annual Wellness Visits for people with Medicare Part B
- Telehealth follow up for many visits that do not need a hands on exam
The Trinity office is on Little Road in Trinity, north of State Road 54. New patients age 18 and older are welcome. Appointment availability is determined by the office. When you call, the team can answer questions about scheduling and which providers are available at the Trinity location.
Frequently asked questions
Is an internist a primary care doctor?
Many are. A general internist is trained in adult medicine and often serves as a patient's primary care doctor. Other internists complete extra training and practice as subspecialists, such as cardiologists, rather than as primary care doctors.
Do internists see children?
Internists are trained in adult medicine, so most do not care for children. Family medicine physicians and pediatricians care for children, and physicians trained in combined internal medicine and pediatrics care for both. Internal Medicine MD sees patients 18 and older.
Can a nurse practitioner be my primary care provider?
In many practices, yes. MedlinePlus notes that nurse practitioners and physician assistants may serve as primary care providers in some practices. At Internal Medicine MD, our nurse practitioners care for adult patients and work closely with Dr. Hanna as one team.
Sources
- American College of Physicians, About internal medicine (opens in a new tab)
- American Academy of Family Physicians, Family medicine: primary care for all ages and stages (opens in a new tab)
- American Academy of Family Physicians, Primary care definitions (opens in a new tab)
- MedlinePlus, Choosing a primary care provider (opens in a new tab)
This article is general health information from the Internal Medicine MD care team and is not a substitute for advice from your own provider.
Primary and Preventive Care
Chronic Disease Management
Medicare Annual Wellness Visit