What is internal medicine?
Internal medicine deals with complex chronic conditions associated with various body systems. Medical professionals who practice internal medicine are known as internists. Generally, internal medicine provides treatment for internal organ diseases. However, internists also offer primary care for conditions like rashes.
Regular doctor consultations help patients with chronic diseases track their treatment progress. Internists are ideal for such treatments because they receive training to offer long-term care and treatment for their patients. Based on the treatment's progress, internists can update medication, suggest surgeries, or provide referrals to another specialist if necessary.
What qualifies someone to practice internal medicine? After completing their undergraduate program, aspirants must join a medical school and complete a four-year program. Following the completion of medical school, aspirants must attend a three-year residency program and pass the Internal Medicine Certification Exam conducted by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM).
How similar is internal medicine to other medical specialties? There are many similarities in the approach and treatment of internists and family physicians. One key distinction is that family physicians treat patients of all ages, whereas internists focus exclusively on treating adults. Many adults seeking to consult a primary care physician regularly see internists.
What are the reasons you should visit an internist?
Here are a few reasons to make an appointment with an internist doctor near you:
- Chest pain: Not every form of chest pain happens due to a heart attack. Lung disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, anxiety, and acid reflux can cause chest pain. Internists can diagnose why you have chest pain and provide the proper treatment.
- Abdominal pain: Conditions such as stomach virus and muscle strains and more severe disorders such as appendicitis and some forms of cancer can all lead to such pain. Internists can diagnose the specific disease that is causing stomach pain.
- Screening for chronic conditions: If you have symptoms of chronic diseases, it is a good idea to visit an internist. The internist will recommend screening examinations according to your symptoms, aiming to identify the root cause and assess its intensity.
- Health checkups: People also visit internists for regular health checkups. These checkups are essential for patients ailing with chronic conditions. Regular consultations with internists can further ensure the early detection and prevention of chronic diseases.
Procedures and treatments performed by internists
Internists diagnose and treat a range of acute and chronic conditions in adults over the age of 18. However, their scope of practice may differ according to their specialties and institutions. Hence, the scope of treatments depends on your internist doctor.
Some of the standard medical procedures done by internists include the following:
- Allergies: Internists check for specific allergies by applying a small amount of allergen extracts on the skin to check if it triggers allergic reactions. They use them on your back or the forearm. Some common allergens include pet dander, dust mites, pollen, and food items like peanuts.
- Venipuncture or arterial puncture: As the name suggests, venipuncture and arterial puncture are medical procedures in which a needle is inserted into the vein or artery to conduct blood tests and insert IV lines.
- Renal procedures: These include medical procedures related to the kidneys, such as biopsy and dialysis.
- Cardiology: It includes a range of procedures related to the cardiovascular system, such as echocardiograms, electrophysiology testing and ablation, and angioplasty. They also conduct stress tests, coronary catheterization, stent insertion, and pacemaker implanting.
- Endocrinology: It includes bone densitometry, dynamic hormone testing, and thyroid biopsy to diagnose and treat conditions related to the endocrine system. They help to understand the existing state of an individual's bodily functions and overall health.
- Gastroenterology: The procedures under gastroenterology help identify conditions related to the digestive system. They include liver biopsy, endoscopic ultrasound, esophageal manometry, and upper and lower endoscopy.
- Rheumatology: Internists conduct medical procedures related to rheumatology to diagnose conditions associated with the musculoskeletal system, such as joint aspiration.
- Hematology/oncology: Hematology involves procedures related to blood disorders, while oncology includes cancer-related procedures. Here, internists perform lymph node biopsy, bone marrow biopsy, stem cell transplant, and plasmapheresis.
- Pulmonology: It includes procedures such as bronchoscopy, intubation, and ventilator management to diagnose and treat conditions related to the respiratory system.
- Other Invasive procedures: Internists also perform other invasive procedures such as endotracheal intubation, flexible sigmoidoscopy, nasogastric tubes, and urinary catheters.
What type of specializations do internists choose?
There are several fields that internists can specialize in. Some of them are as follows:
- Cardiovascular disease: Internists with a cardiology specialty can treat conditions associated with the heart and blood vessels. If you have heart disease, you should ideally find an internist who specializes in cardiovascular disorders.
- Oncology: Many cancer patients visit internists to track their treatment progress. If your internist specializes in oncology, the treatment process can be more streamlined, given their training in dealing with cancer patients.
- Hematology: An internist specializing in hematology treats blood-related diseases. They treat anemia, hemophilia, blood clots, and cancers like leukemia.
Some other fields in which internists specialize are nephrology, pulmonary diseases, adolescent medicine, and so on.
What can you expect from your visit to an internist?
When you schedule an appointment with an internist, particularly for your initial consultation, the physician will begin by gathering a comprehensive medical history. It is essential to bring any previous medical reports and current medication prescriptions to facilitate this process. This information provides the internist with a thorough understanding of your health background. Based on your specific symptoms and condition, the internist may recommend a series of diagnostic tests to evaluate your health further. These tests may include:
- Blood tests: Blood tests are a fundamental tool for diagnosing diseases and assessing overall health. By analyzing blood samples, internists can identify the presence or absence of specific illnesses. They can also identify hereditary factors and evaluate risk factors for serious problems such as heart disease.
- Urine tests: Urine tests provide critical information about a patient's health. They detect diseases like chronic kidney failure and reveal the presence of blood or bacteria, which may indicate kidney disease or infections elsewhere in the body. Elevated glucose levels in urine can signal diabetes. Other findings can help diagnose liver disease and metabolic disorders.
- MRI scans: Internists often utilize MRI scans to capture detailed images of the body's internal organs. This advanced imaging technique surpasses X-rays in image quality and diagnostic accuracy and helps diagnose a wide range of conditions.
Upon receiving the test results, the internist will use this information to customize an appropriate treatment plan. If necessary, they may refer you to a specialist with expertise in your condition. Depending on the complexity of your case, the internist might recommend follow-up visits to monitor your progress. These visits allow the internist to adjust your treatment plan as needed. Also, ongoing care ensures that your health is managed effectively over time.
Understanding the difference between a family doctor and an internist
Many people find it confusing to differentiate between family medicine and internal medicine. While both specialties focus on patient care, key differences exist in their approach and areas of expertise.
Comprehensive understanding
Family doctors provide medical care for patients of all ages, from newborns to seniors. Their training covers various health conditions, allowing them to treat acute and chronic illnesses while focusing on preventive care. Whether you need a routine check-up or treatment for a long-term condition, a family physician can manage your overall well-being.
Meanwhile, an internist near you specializes in treating adult patients only. Their expertise includes managing chronic conditions, diagnosing complex illnesses, and providing preventive care tailored to adult health risks.
Differences in medical training
While both family doctors and internists receive general medical training, their focus areas differ:
- Family physicians are trained in various medical issues affecting all age groups. They typically work in outpatient settings, providing primary care, preventive treatments, and disease management.
- Internists receive additional training in adult-specific conditions, including subspecialties such as psychiatry, dermatology, infectious diseases, sleep medicine, and orthopedics. This training allows them to offer comprehensive care for adult patients with complex health concerns.
Hospital vs. outpatient care
Another key difference is their approach to inpatient and outpatient care. While family doctors primarily focus on outpatient services, internists are more likely to provide hospital-based care. If you ever need hospitalization, an internist can oversee your inpatient and outpatient treatment, ensuring continuity of care.
Furthermore, when discussing common misconceptions, the term "internist" is often confused with "intern." However, an intern is a medical student still in training, whereas an internist is a fully trained physician specializing in adult care. If you're searching for an internist near you, rest assured that they have completed extensive medical education and residency to provide expert care tailored to adult patients.
How can you find the best internist doctor near you in Flushing?
Are you looking for an internist in Flushing? You are not alone. Internists are crucial in managing complex multisystem disorders. Since their treatment is generally long-term, you should choose an internist wisely.
The qualifications and abilities of the internist you choose are essential, but other factors also hold weight. For instance, the internist's proximity and the consultation's coverage in your health insurance plan are significant factors. It would help if you found an internist who meets your location and health coverage criteria while also being qualified to deal with your condition(s).
Zocdoc is a website that lets you find doctors and book appointments in minutes. Finding a reliable doctor can be difficult, but Zocdoc simplifies the process by allowing you to see doctor gender, specializations, profiles, etc.
How does it work? Once you arrive on the website, enter the type of specialist you're looking for. Also, enter details about your location and health insurance. To find your insurance plan on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (excluding vision or dental). Our system will scan the image to identify your likely plan. If you have trouble uploading the card image, please reach out for assistance to our customer service team. For additional information about insurance, visit Zocdoc's insurance page.
To personalize the discovery process further, you can use filters and find doctors relevant to your condition. The filters available are mode of appointment, specialty, the reason for consultation, availability, distance, timeslot, hospital affiliation, gender preference, pediatric care, and language proficiency. You can also see ratings and reviews on each profile to select the best internist doctor near you. Based on your criteria, Zocdoc will generate a list of internists in your area.
All bookings with Zocdoc are easy, secure, and free!
Health statistics in Flushing, New York
Internists provide a wide range of treatments for adult disorders and conditions. General health data in Flushing and the state indicate the incidence of common ailments and the subsequent need for and importance of internal medicine specialists.
Queens County, where Flushing lies, is the 12th healthiest County in New York (out of 62), according to the 2022 data published by County Health Rankings & Roadmaps. The same source states that around 21% of the County's population is in fair health, higher than the state and national average. In addition, the data shows that adults in the County had about 3.7 poor physical health days and around 4.0 poor mental health days over 30 days. In general health data, the same source shows that the adult smoking rate in Queens is about 12%, lower than the state and national rates. The adult obesity rate in the County is around 25%, again lower than the state and national rates.
What about the overall state numbers? The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) says that the heart disease death rate in New York was about 183.9 in 2020. Another 2020 report from the CDC suggests that the cancer death rate in the state is around 128.8, the fifth lowest in the country.
Sources
WebMD
St. George's University
Medical News Today
Indeed
Rayleigh Medical Group
American College of Physicians
County Health Rankings & Roadmaps
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
McGraw Hill Medical
Millenium Medical Care
Matthews Internal Medicine
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