What is an internist?
An internist is a certified medical provider specializing in internal medicine. They are experts in diagnosing and treating various conditions affecting the body's internal organs and other internal systems. An internist focuses only on adults; they don't work with adolescents or children.
Though internal medicine is their specialty, an internist can also provide diagnosis, care, and treatment for numerous acute and chronic health issues. If you are an adult, you can choose to see an internist as your first point of contact for any health issue. However, some internists focus on a specific subspecialty within internal medicine.
Internists' additional training and expertise allow them to treat common illnesses and complex medical conditions among adult patients.
What kind of education and training do internists receive?
Becoming an internist follows a structure similar to other medical specialties, beginning with admission to medical school.
Most medical schools insist applicants have an undergraduate degree, though some may accept students after three years of college. While not mandatory, studying subjects like biology or chemistry is often preferred. Additionally, prospective students must pass the Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), a multiple-choice exam that assesses their readiness for medical training and a future career as a doctor. Competitive medical schools typically expect high scores on this test.
Medical school comprises four years of structured education and clinical rotations in hospitals and medical practices. Upon earning a medical degree, aspiring internists must complete a general internal medicine residency, which provides hands-on training to prepare them for clinical practice. This residency is mandatory for doctors practicing in the United States and typically lasts at least three years. However, it may be longer for those pursuing surgical or other specialized fields.
All doctors must pass a medical licensing examination during their first year of residency. The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education accredits residency programs.
After residency, some internists choose to further specialize through a fellowship in their chosen field, which can take up to three years. Others may pursue advanced research training, such as a Ph.D. or fellowship, to understand research methods and statistics better. Many internists dedicate part of their careers to medical research to stay updated on emerging treatments.
Types of primary care providers
A primary care provider (PCP) helps patients with several medical issues. There are different types of PCPs, other than internists, such as the following:
- Family practitioners are primary care doctors who have completed a family practice residency (or family medicine) and are board-certified or board-eligible in this field. Their practice focuses on children and adults of all ages and genders.
- Pediatricians are physicians who have completed a pediatric residency and offer care for newborns, babies, children, and adolescents.
- Geriatricians typically serve as primary care physicians for older persons with complex medical issues associated with aging.
- Obstetricians-gynecologists often act as primary care providers for women, particularly those of childbearing age.
- Nurse practitioners (NP) and physician assistants (PA) undergo separate training and certification processes from doctors. In some practices, they may serve as your primary care provider.
Common health conditions treated by the internist
Internists closely examine the proper functioning of all the internal organs and systems in the body because an issue in one internal part can cause severe complications in another part of the body. The common health issues treated by internists include:
- Diabetes management: Diabetes Mellitus is a chronic health disease due to consistently high blood sugar levels. Insulin hormone helps regulate blood sugar levels. Diabetes occurs because little or no insulin in the blood or the body shows insulin resistance. The type of diabetes determines the kind of treatment prescribed to the patient. Lifestyle transformations, such as exercise, weight loss, and diet changes, are crucial to reduce the incidence of diabetes.
- Pulmonary medicine: This subspecialty focuses on effectively diagnosing and managing respiratory system disorders, including those in the lungs, thoracic cavity, chest wall, and upper airways. Patients frequently consult internists specializing in pulmonary medicine to diagnose unknown respiratory disorders and manage unusual, complex, or complicated respiratory issues.
- Critical care medicine: Internists specializing in critical care medicine usually work in intensive care units within hospital care settings. Critical care training within internal medicine is generally coupled with the pulmonary medicine fellowship because pulmonologists frequently manage or handle patient care in intensive care units. However, even general internists and cardiologists who practice in hospital settings could seek critical care training to facilitate proper care of severely ill patients.
- Chronic Venous Disease (CVD) management: Our healthy vein pump uses blood from different body areas to go back to the heart with the help of valves that open and close systematically. Problems occur when a few valves become weak or damaged and stop functioning normally. As a result, the used blood flows backward and collects or pools near the valves. It leads to the slow draining of used blood, mainly from the legs, resulting in chronic venous disease (CVD). The internist specializing in CVD management can effectively diagnose, manage, and treat these conditions to ensure the patient regains strength in their legs.
- Wound care management: Internists treat patient wounds that have not entirely healed even after six weeks or have not begun healing even after two weeks. Internists customize care and treatment per the patient's needs and health issues. The internist asks for a detailed medical history, conducts a thorough physical examination, and recommends appropriate wound care and treatment.
What should you expect when you visit an internist near you?
When you visit an internist doctor near you, anticipate a thorough exam to evaluate your overall health. This process involves various stages to ensure a complete understanding of your medical status and to provide tailored care.
Upon your visit, the initial steps will involve assessing your vital signs, including your heart, blood pressure, and respiratory rate. This helps the doctor establish a baseline of your physiological condition. Additionally, they will discuss your medical history and ongoing medications, enabling the internist to gain insight into your health background and potential interactions between different medicines.
Your internist will discuss your symptoms and general well-being in detail. This discussion aids in identifying any underlying issues and provides context for the subsequent physical examination. The physical exam is a pivotal aspect of your visit, during which the internist will observe your overall appearance, posture, and movement patterns closely.
A comprehensive physical exam includes listening to your heart for irregularities like murmurs or irregular heartbeats. Similarly, the internist will examine your breathing for sounds like wheezing, crackles, or shortness of breath. They will inspect your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat for abnormalities. The internist will also scrutinize your skin and nails for potential indicators of health conditions.
During wellness visits, the internist may recommend screening tests customized to your age and risk factors. This could include a lipid panel or a bone density test to assess cardiovascular and bone health. In cases where specific health concerns arise, your internist will prescribe appropriate diagnostic tests. These tests range from simple urinalysis to more complex imaging procedures.
The internist may refer you to other specialists when additional expertise is required. In such cases, your internist will collaborate with these specialists to seamlessly coordinate your healthcare. It includes verifying medication interactions and optimizing your treatment plan.
Beyond physical health, a proficient internist takes a holistic approach to your well-being. They might offer guidance on lifestyle adjustments to prevent future health issues. Additionally, they are attuned to your mental health and can identify symptoms of conditions such as depression.
Questions to ask your internist doctor
When choosing an internist doctor near you, ask questions to evaluate whether the provider is suitable.
- What are your qualifications?
- Are you certified in primary care?
- Do you prioritize disease prevention or treatment?
- Do you take a conservative or aggressive approach to treatment?
- How do you determine when a patient requires a specialist?
- How do you prefer to communicate: in person, over the phone, or email?
- Who should I talk to while you are on vacation?
- What are your office hours?
- How long does it typically take to get an appointment?
- Does the office perform lab tests on-site or nearby?
Finding the best internists near you in Glendale, California
Are you searching for a qualified internal medicine doctor near you to help you manage your health concerns? With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best and most experienced internists in Glendale, California.
The process is simple: Create a free account on Zocdoc. Next, choose the specialty or condition, location, date, and insurance plan. A comprehensive list based on your search criteria will appear. Zocdoc has partnered with qualified and experienced internists in Glendale, California, who provide comprehensive patient advice and treatment. You can even use the Zocdoc insurance detector if you need clarification on your insurance plan. Each internist on Zocdoc has a profile. The profile includes a brief introduction, education qualification, practice location, visit reasons, and, most importantly, patient reviews.
If you cannot see your insurance plan listed on Zocdoc, try uploading a photo of your card. We will scan the image and display the most likely plan. If you are experiencing issues uploading a picture of your card, please get in touch with our service team. Contact Zocdoc's patient help center if you have any insurance-related queries.
Our online patient support center can help you find internists who accept your insurance. On Zocdoc, you can link your medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your account; however, you can use only one plan per appointment.
You can add your secondary insurance details in the appointment notes if you have multiple insurance plans. Alternatively, if your healthcare provider utilizes Zocdoc's Intake forms, you can enter your secondary insurance information directly through the form.
Zocdoc asks patients to leave a review when they finish an appointment. Therefore, the best way to find the best internist in Glendale, California, is to read patient reviews on Zocdoc. You can filter your results by gender if you're looking for a female internist in Glendale, California. You can also book video appointments on Zocdoc before an in-person visit to better understand your internist. Look for a purple video icon on internists' profiles or filter the video appointment selection.
Book a visit with an internist near you who accepts your insurance plan in real-time. Booking appointments on Zocdoc is simple, secure, and free!
Internist statistics of California, USA
In 2021, approximately 58,360 general internal medicine physicians actively practiced in the USA under various care settings. California was the second highest state, behind New York, with 4,220 actively practicing general internal medicine physicians.
According to a report published by the California Health Care Foundation in 2020, internal medicine is one of the top ten specialties in the state, with an active provider count of nearly 9,663 internists. Internal medicine is one of the widely studied specialties during fellowships. Currently, it offers the highest volume of active care providers in California. As per a report by the Robert Graham Center, even though general practitioners and general internists are a fundamental part of the primary care provider workforce, general internists vastly outnumber general physicians.
Sources
WebMD
Johnson Memorial Health
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
California Health Care Foundation
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Robert Graham Center
Medline Plus
Cleveland Clinic
