Iredell physician explains differences, why it was right career path for him

To clear up some of this confusion, Iredell Internal Medicine physician Samuel J. Stelmach explains what internal medicine is, the difference between internal medicine and family medicine, and why internal medicine was the right career path for him. This section explains.

With National Physician Day approaching on October 28th, it’s the perfect time to learn more about internal medicine and see if a physician is right for you.

When you hear the name “internal medicine” as the name of a medical institution, you may first imagine a doctor who specializes in diseases of the internal organs. In fact, according to Stelmach, this is a very common misconception.

“Many people think that when physicians actually treat most medical conditions in the body, they only treat internal systems,” says Stelmach.

The word “internal” can be misleading, but internists treat far more than just the organs inside the body.

These doctors focus on treating all kinds of adult patient illnesses and conditions, from 18 years old to the elderly. Some physicians also see children, but they need additional training in pediatrics to do this.

Internal medicine is the largest primary care specialty in the United States, and physicians can be primary care providers.

Physicians are sometimes called internists, general internists, or internists. Their training includes medical school and an additional three years of training in prevention, diagnosis and treatment of adult diseases. You may also choose to do additional training in subspecialties such as cardiology, oncology, and gastroenterology, to name a few.

These doctors can provide care in offices, clinics, hospitals, and nursing homes.

Both internal medicine and home medicine are primary care specialties, so you can choose between them as your primary care provider. However, the main difference between the two is that an internal medicine doctor primarily treats adults over the age of 18, whereas a family physician treats patients of all ages.

“Internal medicine is more specialized in that regard because it focuses strictly on adult care and less on infants and children. ” says Stelmach.

Physicians are specially trained in adult medicine and provide ongoing care for chronic conditions. They are experts in complexity as they often care for patients with multiple chronic diseases.

“All physicians face complex decisions to deal with some chronic illness. Internal medicine has an older patient population on average compared to family medicine, so on average, internal medicine has a different population. We believe we need to address the more complex interactions of these medical conditions,” said Stelmach.

Another difference is that internal medicine physicians have extensive training in hospital and inpatient care and are more likely to work in hospitals than family physicians. Therefore, if you are hospitalized, you are more likely to be treated by a physician. Physicians who work in hospitals are often called hospitalists.

Both primary care physicians and internists treat similar conditions. According to Stelmach, the conditions he sees most often include high blood pressure, diabetes, atrial fibrillation, heart failure, and COPD.

If you are an adult currently managing a chronic illness, a physician may be an excellent option for you. However, healthy adults may choose a physician as their primary care provider.

“Familiarity with many aspects of medicine and the treatment of various medical conditions, and the option to do so without hesitation on either the outpatient or inpatient side as needed, drew me to internal medicine. said.

Seeing patients improve is the most rewarding part of his job.

Stelmach practices at Iredell Internal Medicine at 757 Bryant St. in Statesville and is accepting new patients. To schedule an interview with Dr. Samuel Stelmach, please call 704-873-5658.