Internal medicine deals with the health care needs of adults whereas family practice deals with the health care needs of adults and children. In this context, adults refer to people that are age 18 or above. The Vision Plan is available for subscribers, for a $5.00 additional premium. This vision/optical plan is designed to provide coverage for medically necessary visual needs, and does not provide benefits for cosmetic or aesthetic purposes.

Internal Medicine Physicians provide preventive medicine, care for chronic conditions, and diagnose and treat all areas of the body in adults. We try to find disease before you are aware it is there, rather than waiting until things are too late. Chronic conditions include high blood pressure, high cholesterol, thyroid disease, diabetes, anxiety, depression, obesity and many others. When needed, we will refer you to the appropriate specialist.

The training received by a family practice physician is broader. Board Certification is available for family practice physicians as oposed to general practice physicians. Board certified means that one has been recognized by a board of peers (other doctors in one's area of study) that he/she has met the rigorous standards necessary to practice in a specific field of study.

There are typically many reasons. One is he or she has not learned of these techniques in medical school or in the course of their work. Another reason is that they cannot, or choose not to spend the time necessary to use this method of treatment. Again, the way insurance is structured these days, in- network doctors are only able to spend a small amount of time per patient. This may change in the future.

These reports are significant due to the serious nature of the adverse events. All three patients had jaundice and abnormal liver function. One patient recovered, one required a transplant, and one died. All three patients had previously been healthy.

Answer: I offer you the succinct definition of a patient of mine that said after some thought, "I guess an Internist is to adults as a Pediatrician is to children." Internal Medicine is the primary care of adults and medical problems that adults have. Internists are specialists in adults. We are specialists and we are primary care providers.

Family physicians (and specialists) are trained to recognize diseases. They focus on diagnosing and treating disease by removing a single causative agent (e.g. with antibiotics) or by providing a deficient substance (e.g. hormones) or by relieving symptoms (e.g. painkillers.) Naturopathic doctors focus on treating the whole person and finding the cause of the symptoms or the root of the condition.

Think of the difference between a physician and a dentist. Both are health care practitioners but in different medical professions. Both are legally entitled to use the title "doctor." Chiropractic is complementary to other areas of primary health care, as are an obstetrics or dermatology. It is not a replacement for medical care, but its emphasis on non-invasive and preventive measures may offer an alternative to medication and surgery in many circumstances.

No cosmetology statute limits a salon to exclusively providing cosmetology services and products. In fact, traditionally, salons have offered many non-cosmetology services, such as tanning and body massage. A growing trend is the “medispa” business. At these facilities, both medical and cosmetology services are offered. The cosmetology statute and rules do not prohibit this practice; however, appropriate licenses must be obtained.

No. Patients of Forbes Hospice continue to be served by their own physician. Our team works with each physician, and serves as the eyes and ears of the physician in the home.

A family physician is a doctor who takes care of your whole family. Family physicians create caring relationships with patients and their families. They really get know their patients. They listen to them and help them make the right health care decisions.

The initials M.D. stand for "Doctor of Medicine" and D.O. stands for "Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine". While both M.D.'s and D.O.'s may use all accepted methods of treatment, including prescribing medication and performing surgery, D.O.s are trained to be doctors first, and specialists second. They place special emphasis on the body's musculoskeletal system, preventive health care, and holistic patient care.

To find out more about our doctors and about what Family Medicine is, see the About the Practice section of our website.

Family care means care provided by family practitioners, internists, OB/GYNs, and pediatricians. All other physicians are specialists.

The primary difference is that alternative medicine includes any diagnostic or therapeutic method that has not found complete acceptance within the mainstream medical community, and is therefore not taught in standard medical schools.

Piles (hemorrhoids) are of two types: internal and external. Internal piles (hemorrhoids) are those, which develop inside the anus. They are usually painless but sometimes may cause a vague discomfort. Slight bleeding may be seen especially if the stools are hard. These piles (hemorrhoids) have a tendency to bulge out of the anal opening when they appear like a bunch of grapes, which is painful.

Internal Medicine is the specialty dealing with the medical problems of adults. We do not care for children under the age of 15, deliver babies, or perform surgery. For teenagers and adults, we serve as the primary care physician--the one to contact first for any medical concerns. In addition to caring for routine problems such as ear infections, colds, rashes, headaches, etc.

We are currently participating in the Association of American Medical Colleges Electronic Residency Application Service (ERAS). We will only be accepting applications for the match in Internal Medicine through this service.

The M. D. Anderson Cancer Center does not refer patients to physicians or practitioners of complementary/alternative therapies. A database of physicians who are knowledgeable about alternative therapies is maintained by the Commonweal Cancer Help Program in California (avilamimi@aol.com). These physicians are not promoted by Commonweal. Rather, they have been recommended by cancer patients, and Commonweal shares the reports from patients about these physicians.