The role of a general practitioner is to provide primary care to families. They are the first resort when people become mildly ill or injured. They are able to treat children and adults and have knowledge of different kinds of illnesses. For instance, a mother may bring her child to generalist when he or she has a fever or cold.
As mentioned above, an internist is known to specialize in an illness within individuals that are 18 and older. They tend to have a stronger focus on internal organs, like the heart, kidneys, intestines, lungs and liver. For example, a cardiologist could refer someone to a heart surgeon if they are suffering from heart failure.
One of the good things about the field of a generalist is that it offers families a way to get emergency medical help from a person that knows their medical history. This professional is also referred to as a primary doctor. One disadvantage is that the general practitioner is not specialized in complex illnesses and is unable to give you medical advice for them.
The internist is able to provide specialized services to patients that have specific health conditions. They are also able to give medical advice and clear explanations about that specific illness. The disadvantage is that the internist won't be knowledgeable about your medical history. When looking around for a generalist or internist, you should research their credentials.
