When looking for a primary care provider for yourself or your family, focus on which specialty best fits your needs. John Clark, MD, a family medicine doctor with Park Nicollet Clinic—Burnsville, discusses the differences between specialties and explains when a certain specialist may be right for you:

Pediatricians are doctors with three years of special training in caring for children. They usually care for children from birth to ages 18 or 21, but when children have a genetic disorder or complex medical condition, they sometimes remain with patients a few years longer.

Family medicine doctors have three years of special training in treating people of all ages. These doctors also provide nursing home and hospice care. Family medicine doctors also receive formal training in obstetrics, and many care for pregnant patients and deliver babies. If you are interested in this kind of care, you should ask a family doctor specifically if he or she sees pregnant women and delivers babies.

“Some people like the idea of one doctor treating the entire family,” Dr. Clark says. “As a family doctor myself, I find it very satisfying to care for two or three generations of the same family. We tend to understand their family dynamics and can be especially supportive when families are coping with a loved one’s serious illness.”

Internal medicine doctors receive a minimum three years of special training after medical school. They focus on complex medical conditions that middle-aged and older adults tend to face. Although internists see patients in the outpatient environment, much of their advanced training takes place in hospitals.

Geriatrics is a sub-specialty within internal and family medicine that focuses on the medical concerns of seniors. Many geriatricians work in long-term care facilities and treat people with dementia and other memory conditions.

Internal medicine-pediatrics (MedPeds) is a combined specialty introduced about 12 years ago. MedPeds doctors receive four years of special training: two years in adult medicine, two years in pediatrics, and treat patients throughout their lives.

MedPeds doctors often specialize in more complicated pediatric cases, such as children born with congenital heart defects, Down syndrome or cystic fibrosis — and continue caring for them into adulthood. MedPeds doctors also may see the patients’ parents or siblings, just as a family doctor would. However, they do not provide obstetrical care or deliver babies.

Obstetrics and gynecology offer two types of care to patients. Some ob/gyns regard themselves as a specialists and want patients to use a primary care doctor for treating minor ailments. Others are very comfortable treating all women’s medical needs through their childbearing years.

At around age 50, most women choose to see a family medicine doctor or internist instead of an ob/gyn doctor, for their primary care. Middle age often is when chronic conditions occur, and family medicine doctors and internists can diagnose and treat these conditions, and work closely with patients on prevention.

Why choose a board-certified doctor?
“I encourage people to seek board-certified doctors,” Dr. Clark adds. To become board-certified, doctors must finish a three- or four-year residency, pass a board certification exam and fulfill continuing education requirements. This certification demonstrates that doctors have achieved a certain level of knowledge and competency, are up-to-date on the latest changes and can manage care as comprehensively as possible.

Other care options
In addition to finding a doctor, people also can choose to see nurse practitioners, physician assistants and specially trained providers for obstetrical and gynecologic care, such as certified nurse-midwives or, in obstetrics and gynecology, certified women’s health nurse practitioners. These providers are available at most Park Nicollet Clinic locations and offer another option for care.

“No matter which type of doctor or clinician people choose, I encourage them to go in for annual physicals and keep up with their clinician’s preventive recommendations. This is perhaps the best thing they can do to help protect their health,” Dr. Clark says.

To learn more about different primary care providers, call Health Directions at 952-993-5500 or visit parknicollet.com.