Internal Medicine: Specialty Training Focused On Adults.

Internal Medicine and primary care training are both generally three years long, but the focus differs. Some physicians are trained to care for patients across all stages of life—from newborns to the elderly.

Internal Medicine physicians spend their residency training focused on the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease in adults—including medically complex patients and adults with multiple chronic conditions.

Family Medicine training is intentionally broader across the lifespan, including adult medicine, pediatrics, obstetrics and other areas of primary care.

There is nothing inherently negative about that breadth—it is the purpose of Family Medicine. But an adult choosing a personal physician should understand the distinction.

Children have Pediatrics. Adults have Internal Medicine.

For an adult choosing a concierge or primary-care physician, my recommendation is simple:

Start With A Board-certified Internal Medicine Physician.

Then compare experience, credentials, accomplishments and the actual model of care.