Primary care physicians (PCP) deliver basic or general
care that is intended to be the patient's first level
of contact with the medical care system. Primary care
physicians attend to the general health-care needs of
the entire family. Trained in every major area of medicine,
they serve as the primary source of a patient's health
care throughout life. When appropriate, PCPs refer their
patients to specialists such as cardiologists, allergists
or surgeons. Primary care physicians may specialize
in family practice, internal medicine, internal medicine/pediatrics
or pediatrics.
Family Practice
Family practice physicians provide continuing comprehensive
primary care to the whole family. They see patients
of all ages. As a specialty, it is broad in scope and
integrates the biological, clinical and behavioral sciences.
Internal Medicine
Internal medicine physicians, internists, specialize
in the study, diagnosis and treatment of non-surgical
diseases in adult patients. An internist is trained
to diagnose and treat complex illnesses, as well as
manage the prevention of illness. Some internists, geriatricians,
specialize in the health-care needs of the elderly.
Internal Medicine/Pediatrics (IM/Peds)
Physicians who specialize in internal medicine and pediatrics
have completed a combined residency program in internal
medicine and pediatrics. They are able to provide preventive
care as well as care for the complex medical problems
of adults and children.
Pediatrics
Pediatricians specialize in the treatment of newborns,
infants, children and adolescents. It is their role
to plan and carry out a medical care program for children-from
birth through adolescence. They provide preventive health
care as well as care for acute and chronic illness.
