Internists routinely see patients with conditions such as
heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease
. An internist may consult with doctors in other fields of medicine, or may be called to consult on a patient by another specialist.
What falls under internal medicine?
Subspecialties of internal medicine include
allergy and immunology
, cardiology (heart diseases), endocrinology (hormone disorders), hematology (blood disorders), infectious diseases, gastroenterology (diseases of the gut), nephrology (kidney diseases), oncology (cancer), pulmonology (lung disorders), and rheumat-ology …
What do internal medicine doctors do?
An
internal medicine doctor
, also known as an
internist
, is a
doctor
who specializes in
internal medicine
.
Internal medicine
focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of injuries and diseases.
What is the difference between family practice and internal medicine?
An internal medicine physician
cares for adults
. A family practitioner is a pediatrician and internist combined into one specialty, and cares for both children and adults.
What procedures do internal medicine doctors do?
- Venipuncture (“blood draw”) to test blood.
- Arterial puncture to analyze blood gases.
- Endotracheal intubation.
- Flexible sigmoidoscopy.
- Intravenous (IV) line insertion.
- Nasogastric (NG) tube placement.
- Urinary catheters placement.
Why would you see an internist?
Internists routinely
see patients with conditions such as heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and chronic lung disease
. An internist may consult with doctors in other fields of medicine, or may be called to consult on a patient by another specialist. … Thus, the name “internal medicine” was adopted.
Who should see an internist?
An internist is a
doctor only for adults
. A family medicine doctor can treat people of all ages, but an internist only treats older adolescents and adults. Like a family medicine doctor, an internist treats most common medical issues, from sprains and strains to diabetes.
What are examples of internal diseases?
- Acute respiratory infections. …
- Asthma. …
- Bronchitis. …
- Chest pain. …
- Diabetes. …
- Fatigue. …
- High blood cholesterol and triglycerides. …
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
Is internal medicine a specialty?
Internal medicine or general internal medicine (in Commonwealth nations) is
the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of internal diseases
. … Internal medicine is also a specialty within clinical pharmacy and veterinary medicine.
What is the difference between internal medicine and primary care?
Internal medicine doctors are different from
other primary care doctors because they only care for adults
. These doctors, also called internists, are trained to treat both simple and complex conditions from early adulthood through old age.
Should I see a family practice or internal medicine doctor?
“While internists typically diagnose and treat medical problems of greater complexity than family practitioners in both the office and hospital settings, family practitioners typically
provide more ‘well-patient’ services in
the office setting and don’t treat as many hospitalized patients,” Dr.
What type of doctor should I choose for primary care?
There are several different types of doctor that will be identified as a primary care physician – typically
Family Practice, Internal Medicine or General Practice
. There are also doctors who focus on children, called Pediatricians, who will serve as the primary care physician for your child.
Can you do Dermatology after internal medicine?
There are some programs that highly prize someone having done internal medicine or pediatric training before completing dermatology. You will see many of the older dermatology academic attendings who have completed both.
Do internist perform surgery?
An internist is a doctor of internal medicine. They’re doctors who specialize in the internal organs and systems of the body, but they are not limited to those areas. They can also give preventive care and treat anything from skin rashes to ear infections. They only treat adults and they aren’t
surgeons
.
What does internist mean in English?
English Language Learners Definition of internist
: a doctor who specializes in diseases that do not require surgery :
a doctor who specializes in internal medicine
.
Is an internist the same as a general practitioner?
Although internists may act as primary care physicians,
they are not “general practitioners
,” or “family physicians,” whose training is not solely concentrated on adults and may include pediatrics, obstetrics, and surgery (Learn more about the difference between general internal medicine and family medicine).
