Internal medicine & primary care in West Palm Beach

What is internal medicine?

Internal medicine is the medical specialty devoted to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of disease in adults. Internists complete medical school and residency training, pass a rigorous board certification examination, and are skilled in caring for the whole patient.

General internists are specially trained to solve diagnostic problems and to manage acute and chronic illness over the course of a patient’s life. Some pursue fellowship training in an internal medicine subspecialty. Every physician in our practice is also board-certified in infectious disease.

How we care for you

• Primary and preventive care: a physician who knows your history and sees the whole picture.
• Chronic condition management: ongoing care for long-term health conditions, coordinated with your specialists.
• Acute illness: evaluation and treatment when something new comes up.
• Comprehensive wellness exams: prevention and early detection, with lab work and immunizations.
• On-site digital X-ray: imaging in the same visit when you need it.

An internist for West Palm Beach and Palm Beach Island

Carden Dodson Medical Associates has cared for adults in West Palm Beach since 1985. Our office sits on North Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway, a short drive across the bridges for patients who live on Palm Beach Island, and close to neighborhoods such as Northwood, Flamingo Park and El Cid.

Our physicians have long ties to the local hospitals: they have served as chiefs of staff and department chiefs at Good Samaritan Medical Center and St. Mary’s Medical Center, and led infection control at Good Samaritan and JFK Medical Center. That experience matters when your care involves a hospital stay, a specialist or a complicated diagnosis.

Many Palm Beach residents spend part of the year elsewhere. If you are a seasonal resident, bring a list of your medications and the names of your other doctors to your first visit so we can keep your care connected wherever you are.

Staying healthy in South Florida

• Hurricane season (June 1 to November 30): keep an up-to-date medication list and enough medication on hand. Florida law allows early prescription refills when a state of emergency is declared.
• Heat: hot, humid weather raises the risk of dehydration and heat illness, especially for older adults and people taking diuretics or blood-pressure medicines. Ask us how your medications affect you in the heat.
• Mosquitoes: Palm Beach County has been under a mosquito-borne illness advisory since August 2026. “Drain and cover”: empty standing water and use repellent.

Conditions internists commonly manage

Internal medicine physicians diagnose and manage the full range of adult health problems. Common conditions include:

• High blood pressure (hypertension)
• Prediabetes and type 2 diabetes
• High cholesterol and cardiovascular risk
• Thyroid disorders
• Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Osteoporosis and bone health
• Arthritis and joint pain
• Kidney disease
• Digestive problems such as acid reflux
• Recurrent and complicated infections

Medication reviews

Many adults, especially older adults, take several prescription medicines, supplements and over-the-counter products. Each new medication adds the possibility of side effects and interactions. At each visit, we review everything you take, check that each medicine is still needed, and look for interactions and doses that should change. Bring all of your medication bottles, or a complete written list, to your appointment.

Coordinating your care

Your internist is the physician who sees the whole picture. We help you decide when a specialist is needed, share the information they need, review their recommendations with you and follow up after a hospital stay or emergency room visit. When you are discharged from a hospital, call our office so we can schedule follow-up and review any new medications.

Our goal is to keep you out of the hospital and participating vigorously in the game of life.

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between an internist and a family doctor?

Internists specialize in adult medicine only. Their training focuses on diagnosing and managing complex and chronic illness in adults, while family physicians care for patients of all ages, including children.

Do you see patients from Palm Beach Island?

Yes. Our office is on North Flagler Drive in downtown West Palm Beach, directly across the Intracoastal Waterway from the Town of Palm Beach, and we welcome new patients from Palm Beach Island, West Palm Beach and the surrounding communities.

I live in Palm Beach part of the year. Can you be my doctor in Florida?

Yes. Bring a list of your medications and the names of your other physicians to your first visit so we can keep your care coordinated while you are in Florida.

Where is your office?

1411 North Flagler Drive, Suite 7900, West Palm Beach, FL 33401, in downtown West Palm Beach on the same stretch of Flagler Drive as Good Samaritan Medical Center. Call (561) 655-8448 for appointments.