Internist Summary: An Internist is a physician who practices medicine related to any of the organs and systems of the body. They deal with any problem no matter how simple, complicated, ordinary, or unusual it may be. They provide comprehensive care to adults with the exception of performing surgery. This means they can take care of any complaint from nose, ears, reproductive system, to mental health problems, to issues such as substance abuse.
Internists are trained to solve the most complex and intriguing problems as well as handle multiple complaints and illnesses at one time. Besides treating the patient, an internist focuses on preventative medicine and educating patients on how to maintain a healthy lifestyle.
Internist FAQs:
What is an Internist
?
An Internist is a physician who studies Internal Medicine for adults. Internal Medicine is a branch of medicine that focuses on the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases.
Why might I see an Internist?
If you are an older adult you could have an Internist as your primary care physician. An Internist also treats patients with chronic or internal organ illnesses, along with other common problems.
What are the specialized areas that an internist can practice in?
• Adolescent medicine
• Allergies and immunology
• Cardiology
• Endocrinology (glandular disorders)
• Gastroenterology (colon and digestive disorders)
• Geriatrics (treatment of the elderly)
• Hematology (blood disorders)
• Infectious diseases
• Nephrology (kidney disorders)
• Pulmonology (lung and respiratory disorders)
• Oncology (cancer)
• Rheumatology (arthritis)
• Sports medicine
What is internal medicine?
Quite simply, internal medicine refers to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of medical conditions, illnesses, injury and disease relating to any system of the human body. This includes all organs (ears, nose, heart, lungs, skin, etc.) and systems (reproductive, endocrine, circulatory, respiratory, etc.)
What does an Internist do?
An Internist can choose to practice general medicine or specialize in a certain area. The general Internist conducts physical exams of the body. The Internist obtains medical history and orders any tests that are required. Once the test results are obtained, the Internist will choose the appropriate course of treatment: medication, lifestyle changes, surgery, or referral to a specialist.
What are some of the rewards of being an Internist?
An Internist is a very interesting profession that will often present mental challenges. Because an Internist handles any and every system in the human body, there is always opportunity for amazing discoveries.
What can't an Internist do?
An Internist can diagnose, treat, and help prevent diseases, illnesses, injuries, and medical conditions. However, they cannot perform surgery. They must refer the patient to a surgeon that specializes in that certain area.
Who should get treatment from an Internist?
Any adult who needs medial care for an illness, injury, disease, or other medical condition could use an Internist. It is recommended that children see a pediatrician as their training and education is geared towards a child's health.
How do I find an Internist in my city and state?
The wellness.com directory will help you locate an Internist in your state. Select Internist from the professionals menu and select the state that you are looking to locate an Internist in. After you have located your state, find the city that you will need an Internist in. Select the state and city and you will see a list of Internists in your city and state.
Internist Related Terms: physical examinations, cholesterol testing, pap smears, immunizations, skin biopsies, stress reduction plans, ongoing evaluations, bone density testing, menopause treatment, internal medicine, internal systems, prevention, and comprehensive care
