Today there exist several professions and work lines. Various people work in various fields. These fields hold several posts and designations.
People who work in services like medical care, police departments, etc., try and work hard to serve the nation. These departments hold several posts.
There are several types of posts and designations in the medical field alone. There are various specializations in which doctors work. A hospital itself has several departments where doctors with different specializations work.
Two of these types are 1. General Practice, and 2. Internal Medicine.
Key Takeaways
- The general practice addresses various medical issues, while internal medicine focuses on adult care.
- Internists specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases.
- General practitioners serve as primary care physicians, offering continuous and comprehensive care.
General Practice vs Internal Medicine
The difference between a general practice doctor and an internal medicine doctor is the type of disease or disorder that is treated by the respective doctors. A general practice doctor diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders at a minor level or with less severity. On the other hand, the internal medicine doctor diagnoses and treats diseases and disorders whose severity is more.
A doctor that provides the primary aid to prevent a certain disease from getting severe and treats a patient with acute disorders is known as a general practice doctor.
Some certain disorders or diseases require immediate care and attention so that they don’t spread more in the body and their severity won’t increase. A general practice doctor helps in such times by prescribing medications and appropriate treatment.
A doctor that provides intense care and attention to a patient who is suffering from a serious internal disease or disorder is known as an internal medicine doctor.
The disease or disorder that can not be cured by primary aid or medications requires attention from internal medicine doctors.
Comparison Table
| Parameters of Comparison | General Practice | Internal Medicine |
|---|---|---|
| Meaning/ Definition | A doctor that provides the primary aid to prevent a certain disease from getting severe and treats a patient with acute disorders is known as a general practice doctor. | A doctor that provides intense care and attention to a patient who is suffering from a serious internal disease or disorder is known as an internal medicine doctor. |
| Age groups | They can provide medical care to people of all age groups. | They render medical care to adults. |
| Workplace | They work in outpatient methods. | They work in hospitals. |
| Inception | 1960s | 1800s |
| Trained for | Preventive care | Comprehensive care |
What is General Practice?
A general practice doctor is a doctor who diagnoses and treats a patient with acute disorders. When a person has a certain disorder, the immediate care and attention that is supposed to be given are given by general practice doctors.
General practice doctors also give the initial medications and treatment.
The inception of general practitioners began in the late 1960s. It was a result of the General Practitioners Movement.
The movement was regarding the growing level of specialization in the medical field and the threat to the relationship between a doctor and a patient.
Many Commonwealth nations address this post as a general practitioner. Some nations also address it as GP. The basic medical degree is different in different countries.
Many countries offer the degree in a certain period. The structure of the bachelor’s degree and the master’s degree is different in different countries.
The requirement of a general practice doctor differs from place to place. If a place is a rural area, then that place requires a general practice doctor. The need for a general practice doctor is less in metropolitan areas and cities.
However, a person must consult with a general practice doctor if he or she faces any disorder. They provide the primary aid for the respective disorder.
What is Internal Medicine?
A doctor who provides intense care and attention to a patient suffering from a serious internal disease or disorder is known as an internal medicine doctor.
They mostly work in hospitals. In various Commonwealth nations, they are also addressed as internists and physicians.
The medical conditions that take place inside an adult’s body need to be treated with an analytical examination and other procedures.
They require medical treatment and other aids to relieve a certain disorder. In such cases, an internal medicine doctor provides the required medical care and attention.
The reason behind internal medicine doctors work mostly in hospitals is because the patients treated by internal medicine doctors require extensive care and attention, and they undergo complex investigations.
Several tests and procedures need to be run sometimes when the cases are critical.
An internal medicine doctor’s job is a complicated one. There are several specializations in the medical field. Internal medicine doctors treat a patient after they diagnose what happened to the patient, and treatment is given accordingly.
Main Differences Between General Practice and Internal Medicine
- A general practice doctor is also known as a “GP” or a general practitioner. On the other hand, an internal medicine doctor is also known as an internist or a physician.
- A general practice doctor requires fewer qualifications. On the other hand, an internal medicine doctor requires more qualifications.
- A general practice doctor is specially trained for preventive care. On the other hand, an internal medicine doctor is specially trained for comprehensive care.
- The inception of general practice doctors took place in the late 1960s. On the other hand, internal medicine doctors’ inception occurred in the 1800s.
- The general practice doctor can offer medical care to patients of all age groups. On the other hand, internal medicine doctors can offer their medical care to adults.
- https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/fbff/76fc3a5c46879f1fad6601c11087115648df.pdf
- https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamainternalmedicine/article-abstract/486642
Last Updated : 13 July, 2023
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Emma Smith holds an MA degree in English from Irvine Valley College. She has been a Journalist since 2002, writing articles on the English language, Sports, and Law. Read more about me on her bio page.
While general practice doctors offer initial medications and treatment, internal medicine doctors deal with more complex investigations and treatments for serious medical conditions.
The range of medical specialties is quite intriguing, and the article makes a good job explaining the key differences between general practice and internal medicine.
It’s clear that general practice doctors target a wide age group while internal medicine doctors focus primarily on adults.
The rigorous training of internal medicine doctors is a reflection of their role in providing comprehensive care to patients. The article provides valuable insights into the medical careers.
I believe the article creates a clear understanding of the different roles and responsibilities of general practice and internal medicine doctors. It’s quite informative.
It looks like general practice doctors are focused on mild or less severe cases while internal medicine doctors handle more complex and serious health problems.
The historical perspective on the inception of general practice and internal medicine is quite interesting. It provides a deep understanding of the background of these fields.
This is a great article to understand the differences and would definitely help people understand which type of care they need to seek.
The comparison table is an excellent summary, offering a quick overview of the key differences between the general practice and internal medicine fields.
It’s interesting to note the different aliases used for general practice doctors and internal medicine doctors in various Commonwealth nations. The article is quite engrossing.
The need for general practice doctors differs based on the area, making this article more relevant given the differences in medical care requirements.
The article gives a clear comparison between the general practice and internal medicine doctors.