I have been having my family doctor and physicians assistant manage my care. I do have an appointment with an internist this week, just to get established as a patient. My questions are:
(1) do I need internist as well as family doctor?
And
(2) what exactly is the difference between the two? (I have only a general idea)
In literature I've seen the general recommendations of a team including primary care, ophthalmology and rheumatology. Internists are often PCPs for many people...though they are often used as consultants when PCPs need extra help with a diagnosis, which was what happened in my case.
My possibly biased opinion is to go with an internist. Family docs spend 1/3 of their training in peds, 1/3 in obgyn and 1/3 adult medicine. Internists spend all their training in adult medicine. Anyone with medical issues is probably better served by an internist. Now obviously there may be exceptions-really bad internist or exceptionally well versed family doctor.
In any case I would not think you would generally see both. One primary care doctor is enough.
My family doc is an Internal Medicine Specialist. I knew I had something brewing and I felt he would be better qualified to find it and diagnose it! He sure did!