Primary care

Family care and internal medicine in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina

Your primary care doctor is your gateway into the healthcare system and is your first line of defense against many injuries, diseases and other medical conditions.

The dedicated team of family doctors and internal medicine providers within Grand Strand Physicians medical group offers thorough, compassionate treatment for most illnesses and injuries and, when needed, can provide referrals to specialists for additional care.

Internal medicine vs. family medicine

Many people are confused by the terms "internal medicine" and "family medicine," but while both fall under the primary care specialty, the differences between the two can be easily explained.

Family practitioners can provide care for the entire family, from children to seniors, which requires a broad breadth of medical knowledge since medical conditions affecting children can be very different than those affecting grandparents.

To visit one of our family care providers, please schedule an appointment here.

Internal medicine doctors, or internists, are doctors with special training to treat patients who are older than 18 (or sometimes 16) years of age. These providers have a comprehensive and detailed knowledge of common health conditions affecting adults.

To visit one of our internal medicine providers, please schedule an appointment here.

Primary care services we provide

We have both family doctors and internists on our staff. We provide well care and services for a variety of physical problems, including:

• Annual checkups
• Basic dermatological procedures
• Cancer screenings
• Cholesterol management
• Comprehensive physicals
• Electrocardiograms (EKGs)
• Geriatric medicine (senior care)
• Management of diabetes and various heart conditions
• Medicare wellness exams
• Preventive medicine
• Pre-operative screenings
• Sports physicals
• Weight management assistance

Health conditions we treat

We treat and help you manage a variety of acute and chronic health conditions. "Acute" conditions are those that are sudden, usually have distinct symptoms and go away once properly treated. A "chronic" condition is one that is caused by genetic or unhealthy lifestyle factors, develops slowly, tends to get worse over time and is best managed through an appropriate treatment plan created in partnership with a physician.

Some of the medical conditions we treat include:

• Asthma
• Bronchitis
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Chronic sinusitis
• Cold and flu
• Common heart conditions such as heart disease and high blood pressure (hypertension)
• Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and vomiting
• Laryngitis
• Low-level behavioral health issues such as anxiety and depression
• Migraines
• Minor infections and injuries, such as ear infections, conjunctivitis (pink eye) and sprains
• Obesity
• Osteoarthritis and osteoporosis
• Pneumonia
• Seasonal allergies
• Skin conditions
• Sleep disorders
• Thyroid disorders, including hypothyroidism (underactive thyroid)
• Urinary tract infections (UTIs)

Infectious disease treatment

Diagnosis of and care for infectious disease has become a major concern recently. Infectious diseases are disorders caused by organisms such as viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. We have an infectious disease specialist on staff who can address many of these illnesses, including:

Immunizations, infection prevention and antimicrobial optimization are key components to infectious disease care.