What is an Internist?

Internists are primary care physician specialists who typically care for adult patients. They focus on prevention, diagnosis and management of complex conditions and disease in adults, particularly those that require multi-system care. Let’s break down what defines this type of care and what an Internist can offer.

What Does an Internist Do?

Internists specialize in diagnosing, managing, and preventing diseases and conditions in adult patients. They are trained to provide comprehensive medical care for inpatient and outpatient populations. Specialized subspecialties of Internal Medicine include endocrinology, gastroenterology, rheumatology, cardiology, pulmonology, infectious diseases, hematology, and oncology.

Internists focus on managing a patient’s overall health, with measures including preventive care, diagnosis, laboratory evaluation and treatment of multiple conditions. They rely on their expertise to interpret complicated data, assess multiple factors, and provide ongoing management plans.

In addition, Internists often serve as a primary care physician for their patients. This means that patients may rely on the Internist to manage their chronic illness, health screenings, lifestyle modifications and medication management, as well as coordinate care from other specialists.

Benefits of Visiting an Internist

When seeking medical care for a wide range of conditions, an Internist can provide comprehensive care and offer a variety of benefits such as:

1. Diagnosis: Internists have extensive training in recognizing complex issues and evaluating evidence from testing, imaging and physical examination. As a longitudinal care provider, they can identify changes in a patient’s health or an evolving condition over time.

2. Treatment and Care Coordination: Internists collaborate with patients to identify, prioritize and develop treatment plans that address multiple conditions and focus on an individual’s overall well-being. They provide care and treatment using non-surgical methods and coordinate with other specialists when necessary.

3. Prevention: Internists focus on preventive techniques, such as screening and lifestyle modifications to help patients reduce their risk of disease and stay healthy. They can provide immunizations and teach patients how to maintain a healthy weight, quit smoking and reduce their risk of chronic conditions.

Conclusion

Internists are a valuable source of medical care for adult patients. They provide comprehensive, longitudinal care for a variety of conditions, emphasizing prevention and proactive treatment for overall well-being. Patients benefit from visiting their Internist for diagnosis, care coordination, and preventive measures.