Who are internists, and what do they do?
Doctors who study and practice internal medicine are known as internists. They have a deep knowledge of the human body's internal organs and diagnose and treat various conditions, from skin rashes to ear infections. Internists use medications and other non-surgical methods; they do not perform surgeries. They manage patients above 18, and kids don't come under their medical jurisdiction.
If you have pain in the stomach that isn't acute and intense enough to warrant a trip to the emergency room, then an internist can help you detect the cause of the pain and provide timely treatment. Internists use several diagnostic procedures to determine the cause of the pain, ranging from a virus, muscle strain, appendicitis, or cancer.
Internists also treat patients with chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and increased cholesterol. They have the tools to recognize the root cause of chest pain, which is not severe enough to call 911. Some common reasons for chest pain include acid reflux and anxiety attacks, or it could be a heart attack.
Training and qualifications for internists in the US
To become an internist in the US, one must complete four years of undergraduate training and enroll in a medical school after clearing the Medical College Admission Test. After four years of medical school, doctors must finish a three-year internal medicine residency program. The American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) is the governing body that conducts examinations and grants board certification to internists in the US.
Most internists study further and finish a fellowship in the subspecialties of internal medicine. The most common subspecialties include endocrinology, cardiology, gastroenterology, hematology, oncology, pulmonology, immunology, infectious diseases, and rheumatology.
Subspecialties within internal medicine
Here is an overview of some of the subspecialties within internal medicine:
- Cardiovascular disease (cardiology): Cardiologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of heart-related conditions, including heart disease, hypertension, and life-threatening, abnormal heartbeat rhythms.
- Gastroenterology: Gastroenterologists focus on disorders of the digestive system, including the stomach, liver, bowels, and gallbladder. They diagnose and treat conditions such as abdominal pain, ulcers, diarrhea, cancer, and jaundice. They conduct diagnostic and therapeutic procedures using endoscopes to visualize internal organs properly.
- Pulmonary disease (pulmonology): Pulmonologists specialize in respiratory disorders and conditions of the lungs and airways, such as asthma, cancer, pneumonia, pleurisy, occupational and environmental diseases, bronchitis, sleep disorders, and emphysema.
- Nephrology: Nephrologists deal with kidney diseases and disorders, including high blood pressure, fluid and mineral balance, dialysis, and kidney transplantation.
- Rheumatology: Rheumatologists diagnose and treat disorders that affect the joints, muscles, bones, and tendon tissues. These include back pain, arthritis, muscle strains, common athletic injuries, and collagen diseases.
- Infectious disease: Infectious disease experts diagnose and treat AIDS and patients with unidentified fevers. They also hold expertise in preventive and travel medicine.
- Hematology: Hematologists specialize in blood, spleen, and lymph disorders. They diagnose and treat anemia, leukemia, lymphoma, and clotting disorders.
- Sports medicine: These physicians deal with injuries and medical issues related to physical activity and sports participation.
What is the difference between internists and general practitioners?
Internists and general practitioners serve as primary care doctors but have different areas of expertise. Internists specialize in caring for adults and tackling complex medical conditions. Meanwhile, general practitioners provide healthcare for patients of all ages, from infants to seniors. During their training, general practitioners cover various areas of medicine, including internal medicine for adults and pediatric care for children.
Internists undergo specialized training to assist adults with challenging medical issues. Therefore, a general practitioner may refer an adult patient to an internist for more specialized care.
How do you keep your internal organs healthy?
Maintaining the health of your internal organs is crucial for overall well-being. Here are some general guidelines to help you keep your internal organs healthy:
- Eat a good, nutritious diet with plenty of fresh vegetables and fruits.
- Keep your vaccinations up-to-date.
- Stay away from vape products, tobacco, alcohol, or drugs.
- Exercise regularly.
- Keep a check on your mental health.
- Get an adequate amount of sleep.
- Protect yourself from environmental hazards, like pollutants or toxins.
- Consult an internist near you if something is wrong with your health.
Some conditions that internists treat
Internists can treat primary to severe conditions based on their complexity. Here are some conditions that can benefit the expertise of an internist:
Endocrinologists are the chief specialists who diagnose and treat diabetes. Endocrinologists have a deep knowledge of the glands in the human body and the hormones they produce. Diabetes is an ailment caused by a lack of insulin, a hormone in the pancreas that controls glucose levels in the blood.
Endocrinologists help patients understand the disease and ways to manage it. They use medications and insulin shots to keep their sugar levels under control. Even though patients can directly consult endocrinologists for diabetes care, people generally consult them when conventional treatment doesn't work because they have expertise in dealing with all the complications associated with diabetes.
Internists who complete a cardiovascular fellowship help patients understand, prevent, diagnose, and manage heart conditions such as coronary artery disease, endocarditis, pericardial diseases, ischemic heart disease, dysrhythmias, cardiomyopathies, and congenital heart diseases. They have the knowledge and training to identify and treat heart attacks. They also help patients understand the reason for chest pain, which could be due to lung, gastrointestinal, or heart issues.
Even though neurologists are the first choice of doctors to manage stroke, internists also treat patients who come in with risk factors for developing stroke. They primarily assist these patients by teaching them the signs and symptoms of a stroke, how to detect it early, and how to receive proper treatment. Their role in managing stroke chiefly comes under preventive care.
What should you expect during a visit to an internist?
What happens when you visit an internist will depend on your reason for being there, but generally, you can expect the doctor to check your blood pressure and temperature. They will ask about your medical history and any medications you are taking. Your internist will also ask about your symptoms and how you are feeling overall. Then, they'll do a physical exam to understand your health.
During the physical exam, the internist will:
- Analyze your general appearance.
- Listen to your heartbeats and lungs.
- Check your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat.
- Examine your skin and nails.
For routine check-ups, the doctor may order screening tests like a lipid panel or bone density test. If you have specific health concerns, they may order other tests, such as a urinalysis or imaging.
Depending on the results, you may need to return for a follow-up visit or see a specialist. Suppose you are receiving treatment for any other condition from different doctors. In that case, your internist may work with them to coordinate your care and ensure that your medications don't interact or cause side effects.
A good internist will also talk to you about some lifestyle changes you can make to stay healthy and may check for mental health issues like depression. Internists focus on keeping you well and catching any problems early.
The benefits of receiving care from an internist
Let us discuss the benefits of getting treated by an internist:
- Comprehensive & preventive care: Building long-term relationships with patients is a key aspect of an internist's approach. By understanding a patient's medical history and lifestyle, they can identify potential health risks early and implement preventive measures. Regular check-ups, screenings, and vaccinations help detect and address health issues before they become severe. An internist who begins treating a patient in young adulthood can continue providing care for decades, ensuring consistency in medical management.
- Expertise in adult healthcare: Internists are highly skilled in diagnosing, treating, and managing adult diseases. They focus on non-surgical interventions and provide specialized care for conditions affecting internal organs. Their broad medical expertise enables them to coordinate with other specialists when necessary, ensuring seamless and effective treatment. Many internists also receive subspecialty training in cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, and infectious diseases, allowing them to address various health concerns.
- Lifelong continuity of care: An internist remains a reliable healthcare provider throughout a patient's life. Regular consultations help manage chronic conditions effectively, improving overall well-being. For instance, an internist treating a patient with type 2 diabetes can develop a personalized plan involving lifestyle adjustments, weight management, and dietary changes. Patients are more motivated to take control of their health with consistent support and guidance.
Finding the best internist near you in Atlanta, Georgia
With Zocdoc, you can find the best internists to help you manage your condition and make in-person and online appointments. Go into the Zocdoc website and fill in the following details in the search boxes: your preferred location, symptoms or specialty, and medical insurance policy and plan.
Once you enter your details on Zocdoc, the application will filter through all the internists in its database and present you with a list of specialists who meet your search criteria. All internists on Zocdoc have a personal profile page with all the information on their education, work, and experience so you can make an informed decision. The profile information includes training, areas of specialization, work experience, certifications and licenses, affiliations and accreditation, and any awards received in the past.
You can also filter the search by the languages the internists speak, gender, and whether they treat children. The profile also has information on the places, days, and times the internists offer consultations. You can also check how insurance works for virtual appointments.
With Zocdoc, you can also check if the internist of your choice accepts your insurance. Once you select your current insurance from the drop-down menu listing the commonly used insurance policies in the U.S., Zocdoc will tell you which internists are in-network.
If you cannot locate your insurance, use our insurance detector feature for help. To do so, go to account settings and upload a photo of your insurance card. Zocdoc will scan it and show your likely plan. You can add the information to the search bar and continue looking for in-network providers. Do you have more insurance-related questions? Our Zocdoc patient help center page can help!
You can add your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account. However, each appointment can only be associated with one insurance plan.
But if you have multiple insurance plans, do not worry. You can provide details about your secondary insurance in the appointment notes. Additionally, if your provider utilizes Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can easily input your secondary insurance information for convenient access.
Locating a top-rated internal medicine doctor in your area is now easier! Booking appointments with an internist near you on Zocdoc is fast, free, and secure.
Statistics on prevalent diseases in Atlanta, Georgia
The US Bureau of Labor Statistics presents yearly reports on "Occupational Employment and Wage Estimates" for metropolitan and suburban areas in the US According to one of their reports, as of May 2023, about 3,940 licensed general internal medicine physicians were practicing in the urban and nonmetropolitan area of Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Roswell in Georgia.
Per an article on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website, titled "Georgia Diabetes Profile," in 2022, the prevalence of total diabetes cases was around 953.9K, and there were nearly 74.1K incidences of new patients diagnosed with diabetes. Another report by the CDC titled "Diabetes Mortality by State" stated that almost 2,693 people died in Georgia in 2022 because of diabetes. The death rate for every 100,000 population in the state was around 21.9.
Yet another report by the CDC titled "Stroke Mortality by State" detailed the statistics due to stroke. This report said about 5,110 people died of stroke in 2022, with a death rate of around 44. Heart disease, as per the CDC, was responsible for most deaths in Georgia. In 2022 alone, nearly 21,728 people died due to various heart diseases, and the death rate was almost 183.9.
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