Senior Care
Geriatric Medicine
Geriatric Medicine is a specialty that focuses
on medical issues and diseases of aging, and
of old age. Often referred to as a Geriatrician,
these specialized physicians treat people over
the age of 60, who may be healthy or experiencing
multiple medical issues. Geriatricians serve
as subject matter experts specializing in how
medical conditions can impact one another,
how medications interact with one another
and the unique affect medications and medical
issues have as you age. A unique qualifier for a
Geriatrician is that they must be certified by
two separate medical boards- internal or family
medicine as a foundation and then specialized
training in geriatrics. Geriatricians will have the
designation of “Board Certified” in Geriatrics.
INTERNAL AND GENERAL
MEDICINE/FAMILY
MEDICINE
According to the American College of Physicians,
understanding the differences between
these practices is, “…perhaps one of the most
confusing questions for many students (and
patients alike).” While the practices are generally
similar, they do share some fundamental
differences.
Internal Medicine:
Internal medicine typically focusses only
on adults. These physicians train in mostly
common general medical conditions but also
include experience in each of the internal
medicine subspecialties - endocrinology,
rheumatology, and infectious diseases, and
neurology. Internal medicine doctors will also
train in and/or gain experience in such specialties
as psychiatry, dermatology, ophthalmology,
office gynecology, otorhinolaryngology, nonoperative
orthopedics, palliative medicine,
sleep medicine, geriatrics, and rehabilitation
medicine. While internal medicine physicians
will treat patients over the age of 18, they do
not always carry the board designation of a
geriatrician. Internal medicine physicians can
commonly be found in large clinics and in
private practice.
Family Medicine:
While internal medicine will focus primarily
on adults, family medicine will work through
the continuum of care from child to adult.
Family medicine physicians often train in
general medicine but are required to obtain
specialized training in an in-patient facility and
in emergency care. Family medicine education
is broader in nature than internal medicine
since it involves training in the care of children.
Family medicine physicians can often handle
a myriad of medical issues. Family medicine
physicians may commonly be found in clinics,
private practice, urgent and walk-in clinics, and
emergency rooms.
WALK-IN CLINICS /
URGENT CARE
As with internal medicine and family medicine,
there are a few differences between walkin
clinics and urgent care.
A walk-in clinic, normally found near retailers
and in/or around pharmacies, provide a fast
and affordable option for basic medical needs.
Nurse practitioners and physician assistants
typically staff a walk-in clinic and provide convenient
services for insured and non-insured
patients. Typical services will entail any common,
non-threatening conditions such as minor
injuries and illnesses like flu or cold treatment,
strep throat, cuts, or skin conditions, as well
as services like immunizations, physicals, and
health screenings. Most locations are open
seven days a week, with extended hours for
convenience and affordability.
Urgent care clinics are also a convenient and
affordable alternative to the emergency room.
Urgent care clinics are usually staffed with a
physician and nurses and can provide additional
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