@deathofdog/jayhind/houston pass - matchyear

[ArchivalUser]

hi buddies...any idea what is the diff between primary care im and general im?are they the same? do they do the same kind of work after residency...any differences in fellowship opportunities?

[ArchivalUser]

Both are 3 years residencies but primary care involves more outpatient exposures ( more elective rotations) and it makes you a general physician rather than a specific for Internal Medicine.

primary care has more exposure to outpatient dermatology, ob-gy, ENT, geriatrics patients while Categorical IM residents do not have much of these rotations and exposure.

Fellowship chances are same for both but if you really want to do fellowship then I would rather suggest you to go for categorical IM which gives you more sub specialty rotations as compared to primary care.

after residency -- Primary care Physician works mainly as an outpatient doctor in his/her office and admits the patient to other hospital as per the requirement. A Hospitalist ( post categorical IM physician) takes care after that. But this really depends on the health system and the hospital he is admitting to. Some hospitals do allow the Primary care physician follow their own patients..

[ArchivalUser]

@match year_ thank you for your query... i would certainly agree with jayhind on the above... need any more clarification feel free to ask....

[ArchivalUser]

hi jayhind and deathofdog...thanks for the info guys...is it possible to be a hospitalist or internist after doing primary care im?

[ArchivalUser]

Certainly youncan practice as a hospitalist, outnpatient MD or can go into fellowship.
U will get the same ABIM certification for both cat and primary care IM program.
The only diff is Primary is having more OP and IM rotations rather than specific subspeciality rotations in cat.
The emphasis is more in primary care because of the federal policies to improve primary health care in rural populations.

[ArchivalUser]

@imgtomd...thanks buddy

[ArchivalUser]

I doubt if primary care category can work as a hospitalist whose main duty is inpatient care ... Still more clarification needed..

[ArchivalUser]

It doesnt matter jayhind. Primary care doesnt mean only OP. It cud be an OP, IP or combination on both. Only thing is theynwant u to practice as a generalist rather thn goin into fellowship.
Even FP people can work as hospitalist.

[ArchivalUser]

As such Internist and Family Physician both are called as Primary care physicians here unless you do the fellowship...

imgtomd might be true in regards to primary care track though !!!