Internal medicine is a medical specialty for the comprehensive care of adults. It addresses a wide spectrum of health concerns, from common illnesses to complex chronic conditions, and its practitioners are trained to manage the overall health of their adult patients across all organ systems. Here’s more information on internal medicine physicians and what they can do for their patients:
What Is an Internist?
An internist, or internal medicine physician, is a doctor specializing in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of diseases in adults. Their professional training begins with medical school, which is followed by a three-year residency program focused exclusively on internal medicine. During this residency, they gain in-depth experience in various settings. They learn to manage conditions affecting all major organ systems, preparing them to handle a broad range of health issues.
Primary Care
Many internal medicine physicians serve as primary care physicians for their adult patients. In this role, they are the first point of contact for health concerns and provide continuous and comprehensive care. Their primary care tasks include conducting routine physical evaluations, performing health screenings, reviewing and managing medications, and coordinating care with other medical specialists. This approach allows them to build a long-term relationship with patients and oversee their health as it evolves.
Internists and PCPs
The terms “internist” and “primary care physician” (PCP) are often used interchangeably, but there are distinctions between them. While many internists function as PCPs, the PCP category is broader and can include family medicine doctors, geriatricians, and even pediatricians for children. An internist’s training is focused solely on adults, whereas a family medicine physician is trained to care for patients of all ages, from infants to seniors.
What Do They Offer?
Internists provide a broad range of services to manage a patient’s overall health through a structured approach. Some services commonly provided include:
- Comprehensive Health Assessments
- Detailed Review and Management of Medications
- Ongoing Monitoring of Chronic Conditions
- Coordination of Preventive Health Screenings
- Management of Referrals To Other Healthcare Providers
- Interpretation of Medical Records and Test Results
Internist care is centered on building a long-term patient-physician relationship to oversee health needs, and this continuity helps healthcare plans stay consistently managed.
What Don’t They Offer?
While internists have a broad scope of practice, there are specific services they typically do not provide. They do not perform major surgical procedures, as that is the specific domain of surgeons. Their practice is also exclusively focused on adults, so they do not provide pediatric care or obstetrical services. While they can manage urgent health problems in an office setting, they do not provide the immediate, life-saving interventions handled in an emergency department.
There are several non-urgent scenarios where an individual might establish care with an internist. Many adults choose an internist as their primary care physician to oversee their general health and wellness. Other situations include needing assistance interpreting complex test results, coordinating care between multiple specialists, or scheduling preventive screenings.
Learn More About Internal Medicine
Internists play a central role in adult healthcare by providing comprehensive, long-term management for a wide variety of medical needs. They serve as a key resource for patients navigating their health. For more information about how an internal medicine physician can benefit your health, schedule a consultation today.
