Establishing Care
When establishing medical care for your family, the first decision you want to make is whether you want to use primary care, internal medicine, family medicine, or a women’s health doctor as your Primary Care Provider or Practitioner (PCP). Primary Care Provider coordinates your medical care with all your other healthcare providers and is the first person you see when you have a medical concern. This provider should know the most about you personally and your life activities. Therefore, choose someone with whom you feel comfortable sharing intimate health details and family information. Your daily activities influence your health and should be shared with your PCP. For example, if you hike in wooded areas, you are at risk of tick-related diseases. Knowing that alerts your PCP to watch for symptoms of Lyme disease or Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Having a comfortable relationship that encourages sharing life stories is therefore important in building trust. In fact, your health and life depend on it.
PCP Coordinates Care
A PCP’s office serves as the headquarters of your care, receiving information and test results from all your specialist visits. Their office also coordinates appointments and develops your plan of care (your treatment plan, including a medication list, therapies, referrals, etc.). Of all the doctors you see, a PCP should know the most about your health because they are the only professionals who have access to all your medical information in one place.
In addition to coordinating your care, the PCP treats the most common medical conditions patients develop. If a condition progresses beyond their expertise, they request a consultation with a specialist. Often, the specialist assumes responsibility for treatment of that condition afterward unless the PCP objects. After a referral, the specialist forwards their findings, including their physical exam report, lab work, and test results, back to the PCP.
Who Can Be Your PCP
Now that I’ve convinced you that you need a PCP, you may be wondering what the difference is between Family Medicine, Primary Care, and Internal Medicine practitioners. A family medicine doctor is a generalist who treats both adults and children. Primary care physicians treat adults with more common illnesses and manage chronic conditions. They also manage referrals. Internal medicine doctors treat only adults and have a deeper focus on complex adult chronic diseases and the management of multiple conditions.
Some women prefer to use their Gynecologist (Women’s Health) as their primary care doctor when they are young because they rarely get sick and only see a doctor for their annual Pap smears or OBGYN (Obstetrician) appointments (i.e., doctors who deliver babies). A Pediatrician (Peds) is usually the PCP for children, though a Family Medicine doctor may also treat them, especially in rural areas.
Outpatient Specialties
On an outpatient basis, you may see a specialist in Cardiology, Pulmonary, Hepatology, Nephrology, Urology, Endocrinology, Gynecology, Oncology, Genetics, Gastroenterology, Neurology, Pain Management, Psychiatry, and Infectious Disease. I’ll discuss these specialties in more detail later as I review hospital departments. However, the outpatient services below aren’t as common in acute care (i.e., hospital) settings. Therefore, I’ll share a little about them now.
Addiction Medicine
Addiction Medicine is sometimes seen as part of a mental health service, but most of the time, they have a separate facility now, or it’s handled as an outpatient program. There are several types of addiction programs depending on the length of time the addiction has been in place, the substance being used, the number of substances, and complicating factors surrounding the ability to stay clean. Some people are early into the addiction and can handle an outpatient program, while others need a lot of support with detoxification and help coping with what caused them to turn to the addiction initially. Therefore, someone looking for a program should seek help from a professional familiar with all the options.
Allergy and Immunology
Allergy and Immunology (A&I) clinics help identify what triggers your sneezing and other annoying allergic reactions. Many people have life-threatening allergies, and testing is essential to determine exactly what they must avoid. Others can get by with Allegra or an over-the-counter medication, along with some additional allergy-relief tips. A&I clinics help identify what to avoid and help to treat symptoms when you can’t.
Departments Involving the Senses
Audiology conducts hearing tests and, when possible, helps find the right hearing assistive device for those with hearing impairments. The Department of Ears, Nose, and Throat (ENT) (Otolaryngology) assesses the relationship between the ears, nose, and throat and how they affect eating, swallowing, and speech. Ophthalmologists examine, diagnose, and treat conditions of the Eye in addition to prescribing eyeglasses and contacts, whereas Opticians do not treat medical conditions; they determine prescriptions for eyeglasses and contacts only.
Senior Care
Geriatric Medicine specializes in treating people aged 65 and older. As people age, their organs change in how they function, mobility needs change, and rehabilitation for fall-related injuries is often required. Healthcare providers specializing in preventing injuries related to those changes help families prepare so that home environment changes can be made before accidents occur.
Departments Treating Autoimmune-Related Diseases and Conditions
Rheumatology specializes in diagnosing and treating autoimmune diseases, musculoskeletal pain, and arthritis, often targeting conditions that cause inflammation in joints, muscles, and bones.
Dermatology focuses on treating autoimmune skin conditions such as psoriasis, vitiligo, alopecia areata, and pemphigoid, as well as other diseases and conditions of the skin.
Gastroenterology treats autoimmune conditions of the digestive system, including Celiac disease, Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, autoimmune hepatitis, and other disorders and conditions of the gastrointestinal tract and related organs.
Neurologists treat autoimmune diseases of the nervous system, such as multiple sclerosis (MS), Guillain-Barré syndrome, and myasthenia gravis, and other disorders and conditions of the nervous system and brain.
Endocrinology focuses on autoimmune conditions (such as Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, Graves’ disease, and Type 1 diabetes) and other disorders and conditions affecting glands and hormones.
Other Departments Available Outpatient
Dentistry and Oral Surgery focus on the diagnosis, prevention, and treatment of diseases, disorders, and conditions of the oral cavity, teeth, gums, and maxillofacial area. It includes restorative, cosmetic, and preventative care aimed at maintaining oral and general health. Oral surgery is required for corrective, restorative, or preventive care, such as realigning the jaw for a better bite, tooth extraction, post-accident repairs, etc.
Medical Weight Loss Programs are structured, evidence-based weight management plans supervised by physicians, dietitians, and specialists. They focus on personalized strategies—including FDA-approved medications, metabolic testing, nutritional counseling, and behavioral therapy—to treat underlying causes of weight gain, such as hormonal imbalances, rather than just calorie restriction.
Podiatry (Podiatric Medicine) diagnoses, treats, and prevents diseases and injuries of the foot, ankle, and lower leg. Performs surgeries, resets broken bones, prescribes medications, and treats conditions like ingrown toenails, heel pain, bunions, and diabetic foot issues.
