What Does Internal Medicine Focus On?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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Internal medicine is a field of practice focused

on treating adults

. Doctors prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that afflict all adults, from chronically ill patients, to short-term care. Once a doctor completes an internal medicine residency, they are subsequently referred to as internist.

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 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 you learn in internal medicine?

Internal medicine is the medical specialty that

focuses on the care of adult patients

, and internal medicine physicians are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.

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 are examples of internal diseases?

  • Acute respiratory infections. …
  • Asthma. …
  • Bronchitis. …
  • Chest pain. …
  • Diabetes. …
  • Fatigue. …
  • High blood cholesterol and triglycerides. …
  • Hypertension (high blood pressure)

When should you go to 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.

Which is better internist or family 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. Remakus explains.

Can an internal medicine doctor be a primary care physician?

Internal Medicine doctors provide comprehensive care for adults with a broad knowledge of diseases, are experts in diagnosis, and promote wellness and preventive care. … General internists are

trained to provide primary care for adults

and are considered primary care physicians.

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 is the toughest aspect of internal medicine?

The most challenging and rewarding aspects of internal medicine: Internal medicine patients tend to be older and sicker, with multiple medical problems and often significant

social and psychologic challenges

as well.

Why should I do internal medicine?

“For me, general internal medicine

combines intellectual satisfaction

(since you never know all the answers); the fulfillment that comes from ongoing relationships with patients, getting to know them as whole people, not just diseases; and some modest contribution to public health, with its emphasis on health promotion …

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.

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 a primary care doctor and an internal medicine doctor?

While both a family medicine physician and internal medicine physician fall into the category of “primary care physician,” internal medicine physicians

only care for adults

, while a family medicine doctor can see both children and adults.

What is internal medicine example?

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 rheumatology ( …

Emily Lee
Author
Emily Lee
Emily Lee is a freelance writer and artist based in New York City. She’s an accomplished writer with a deep passion for the arts, and brings a unique perspective to the world of entertainment. Emily has written about art, entertainment, and pop culture.