Internal medicine doctor in Fort Lauderdale
Primary care with a doctor who knows you, has time for you and answers when you call. Dr. Camilo Ruiz, a dual board-certified internist and sleep specialist, cares for adults at his Fort Lauderdale office.
Camilo Ruiz, DO · Board-certified in sleep medicine and internal medicine
What does an internal medicine doctor do?
An internal medicine doctor, or internist, is a doctor for adults. Internists diagnose, treat and help prevent illness in grown-ups. They do checkups and screenings, treat new problems like infections, and manage long-term conditions such as high blood pressure, diabetes and high cholesterol. Dr. Ruiz is also board-certified in sleep medicine, so he can look at how your sleep affects these conditions.
When to see an internist
- I need a regular doctor and haven't had a checkup in a while.
- My blood pressure keeps coming back high.
- My blood sugar or cholesterol numbers worry me.
- I take several medicines and want one doctor to look at all of them.
- I'm always tired and don't know if it's my sleep, my thyroid or something else.
- I have a cough, an infection or a new pain and need to be seen.
How Dr. Ruiz cares for adults
Preventive visits
A checkup to review your health, your family history and your medicines, and to talk about which screenings and vaccines make sense for you.
Long-term conditions
Ongoing care for high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and thyroid problems, with regular follow-up to see how treatment is working.
Sick visits
Care for new problems such as colds, infections, rashes, stomach trouble or new pain.
A full medicine review
A look at everything you take, including medicines that may affect your sleep, weight or blood pressure.
Sleep and health together
Because Dr. Ruiz is also a sleep specialist, he can check whether a sleep problem may be part of the picture.
Help with specialists
When you need a specialist, Dr. Ruiz can refer you and stay involved in your care.
Concierge primary care with Dr. Ruiz
Primary care at the practice is offered through a concierge program. For an annual membership, you get more time with Dr. Ruiz and more direct access when you need it.
Sleep medicine visits don't require the concierge program.
How concierge medicine works- 24-hour access to Dr. Ruiz for medical questions
- Same- or next-day appointments when you need them
- Visits up to an hour long, not rushed 15-minute slots
- Help with prescriptions and coordinating your care
Preventive visits and screenings
A preventive visit is a time to catch problems early, often before you feel sick. Dr. Ruiz asks about your health, your habits and your family history. He checks your blood pressure and weight and reviews your medicines and vaccines.
Screenings are tests that look for a disease before it causes symptoms. Which ones you need depends on your age, sex, health and risk factors. Many doctors use advice from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF), an independent panel of national experts that makes evidence-based recommendations about preventive care, including screenings.
Dr. Ruiz goes over which screenings fit you, explains why, and helps you plan when to get them. If a result needs follow-up, he talks it through with you.
Care for high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and thyroid
Many adults live with one or more long-term conditions. High blood pressure, type 2 diabetes and high cholesterol often cause no symptoms, so regular checks matter. Thyroid problems can cause tiredness, weight change and other symptoms that are easy to blame on something else.
Dr. Ruiz orders the tests you need, explains your numbers, and works with you on a plan. That plan may include changes to eating, activity and sleep, and medicine when it is needed. He follows up to see how the plan is working and adjusts it over time.
He also looks at your medicines as a whole. When you take several, it helps to have one doctor watching for side effects and for medicines that work against each other.
How sleep is linked to your other health problems
Sleep is not separate from the rest of your health. The CDC says that not getting enough sleep has been linked to the development and poor management of diabetes, heart disease, obesity and depression.
Sleep apnea, where breathing stops and starts during sleep, matters too. The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute says sleep apnea may raise the risk of high blood pressure, diabetes, heart disease and stroke. It also lists obesity and low thyroid hormone levels among the things that can raise the risk of sleep apnea.
Because Dr. Ruiz is board-certified in both internal medicine and sleep medicine, he can ask about snoring, daytime sleepiness and poor sleep during your regular visits. If a sleep problem may be part of the picture, he can order a sleep study and treat it along with your other conditions.
Internal medicine vs. family medicine
| Internal medicine (internist) | Family medicine | |
|---|---|---|
| Who they treat | Adults only | People of all ages, including children |
| Training focus | Diseases and care of adults | Care across all ages, including children and pregnancy care |
| Checkups and screenings | Yes | Yes |
| Long-term conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure | Yes | Yes |
| Sick visits | Yes | Yes |
| Children's care | Refers to a pediatrician | Yes |
What to expect
- Step 1
Request a visit
Call the office. We'll find a time and tell you what to bring.
- Step 2
First appointment
Dr. Ruiz goes over your sleep, your health history and what you've already tried.
- Step 3
Testing, if needed
A home or in-lab sleep study, or blood work.
- Step 4
Treatment and follow-up
You leave with a plan, and come back to adjust it.
Related conditions and care
Patients come to our Fort Lauderdale office from Las Olas, Wilton Manors, Dania Beach, Oakland Park, Lauderhill, Plantation, Hollywood, Hallandale Beach and across South Florida.
Common questions
Is an internist a primary care doctor?
Yes. An internist can be your main doctor for checkups, screenings, sick visits and long-term conditions. Internists care only for adults.
Do you see children?
No. Internal medicine is care for adults. For children, please see a pediatrician or a family medicine doctor.
Do I need to join the concierge program for primary care?
Yes. Primary care at the practice is offered through the concierge program, so one doctor follows your care over time. It has an annual membership fee, and visits are billed to your insurance when covered. Call (954) 839-6987 for details.
Can Dr. Ruiz treat my sleep problem and my other conditions at the same visit?
He is board-certified in both sleep medicine and internal medicine, so he can talk about your sleep along with your blood pressure, blood sugar or thyroid. If you need a sleep study, he can order it.
What should I bring to my first visit?
Bring a list of all your medicines and supplements, or the bottles themselves, any recent lab results or records, and your insurance card if you have one.
Which screenings do I need?
It depends on your age, sex, health and family history. Dr. Ruiz uses national guidance, such as USPSTF recommendations, to help you decide which screenings make sense for you.
Written by Sleep & Internal Medicine Specialists. Last updated . This page is general information, not medical advice for your situation.
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Schedule an Appointment
Send a request any time, or call Monday to Friday, 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. 1319 S.E. 2nd Avenue, Fort Lauderdale.