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What are the differences between Internist vs General Practitioner?

By Dr. Kay Ficht, Newburyport.com Correspondent
Kay A. Ficht, M.D. is an Internal Medicine physician who has been practicing in the Merrimack Valley for 20 years. He launched Your Choice Medical, an independent concierge medicine, primary care practice in Newburyport, MA, April 2017, with nurse practitioners, Anja Comeau and Melissa Maloney. They are accepting a limited number of patients. Kay A. Ficht is recipient of the 2017 Top Doctor Award selected by his highly regarded peers.
Your Choice Medical Internal Medicine
Internist, Newburyport MA

Internal Medicine doctor, or Internist is a term that is frequently heard, but often misunderstood.  An internal medicine doctor, specializes in adult patients care, specifically focused on preventative care as well as non-surgical diagnosis, treatment and education of multi-system diseases of the internal organs.  Kay A. Ficht, M.D. who is an internist at Your Choice Medical in Newburyport, MA states some examples of multi-system diseases are diabetes, heart disease, cancers, and high blood pressure.  Finding a trusted internist can be extremely important for adult patients who have existing health issues as well as patients who are having new health issues and need a diagnosis.   According to the American College of Physicians “Historically, internal medicine and family medicine developed from very different backgrounds. Internal medicine grew out of the increasing application of scientific knowledge into the practice of medicine starting in the late 1800s.  This “scientific” approach to medicine was unique at the time and was progressively applied to the wide spectrum of diseases that commonly affect adults.  With the growth and development of pediatrics as a separate specialty devoted to the care of children in the early 1900s, internal medicine continued its primary focus on adult patients.

General practitioners, also known as family doctors, differ from internal medicine doctors because they treat infants to adults, focusing on preventative care, chronic illnesses and patient education.  This is a broader scope of treatment due to the vast age differences between patients.  A general practitioner can see someone from birth to death, which can enable a long lasting and trusted relationship.

Most people are familiar with the term primary care provider because most insurance plans require members to choose a primary care provider, or PCP to be listed as their doctor.  Both internist and general practitioners fall under the category of primary care provider.  Internal medicine doctors and general practitioners are the first line of defense in treating your health and before you may or may not need to see a specialist.  So whether you prefer to choose an Internist or a general practitioner as your PCP, it is important to find the right doctor who you can establish a trusting relationship with and who can treat, educate and communicate with you about your health care needs.

What is concierge medicine and Who are the Ideal Patients?

By Dr. Kay Ficht, Newburyport.com Correspondent
Kay A. Ficht, M.D. is an Internal Medicine physician who has been practicing in the Merrimack Valley for 20 years. He launched Your Choice Medical, an independent concierge medicine, primary care practice in Newburyport, MA, April 2017, with nurse practitioners, Anja Comeau and Melissa Maloney. They are accepting a limited number of patients. Kay A. Ficht is recipient of the 2017 Top Doctor Award selected by his highly regarded peers.
Your Choice Medical Internal Medicine
Concierge Medicine, Newburyport MA

Concierge medicine offers patients refreshing new options from traditional primary care.  According to Kay A. Ficht, M.D., owner of Your Choice Medical concierge medicine practice and a primary care, internal medicine physician in the Newburyport area for approximately 20 years, “concierge medicine varies from practice to practice, but typically in exchange for many convenient services, which may include additional time with the provider, real people answering the phone, availability for appointments, accessibility for the patients to communicate directly with the providers 24/7, as well as other services, concierge medicine physicians charge an annual fee.  In addition to the annual membership fee, concierge medicine patients are responsible for all fees associated with their insurance plans as well.”

Concierge Medicine has become a growing trend as patients and doctors seek a more personalized health care approach. People are surprised to learn Dr. Ficht’s patients are comprised of people from all walks of life from teachers, firefighters, seniors and other members of our communities. Concierge Medicine has developed out of a need.  People are so busy today with many different commitments that add day to day stress they are seeking solutions to simplify their lives. To the people who join a concierge practice the amount of time and frustration they save as well as the piece of mind they receive is worth the annual fee many times over.

As people age they become more concerned with health issues, aging well and having a reputable trusted local doctor who is available to them.  These are a few of the needs that concierge medicine addresses.  In addition, Your Choice Medical is an independent and unaffiliated concierge medical practice, which means that patients can see a specialist anywhere as long as their insurance plans will allow it.  Almost all traditional practices restrict patients to stay within a certain network.  Concierge Medical practices offer a change from the traditional style of primary care medical practices.

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