Who is an internist?
An internist (also referred to as an internal medicine doctor) is a licensed medical doctor (MD) who diagnoses and treats adults' acute, sudden, and chronic (long-term) illnesses. These physicians study the body's internal organs and their physiological processes. They treat minor and complex heart, liver, lungs, gastrointestinal tract, and kidney diseases.
Common conditions they treat include heart diseases, diabetes, hypertension, lung disorders, skin rashes, ear infections, and obesity. Besides providing treatment, internists also manage preventive care, routine health screenings, and procedures such as skin biopsies. However, they are not surgeons.
Internists generally practice in ambulatory settings (office or outpatient). Others work in hospitals, rehabilitation centers, and hospice care. In primary care, they also work closely with other healthcare professionals.
What are the educational qualifications of an internist?
To become certified internists, they complete ten years of education. A bachelor's degree in science must be followed by four years of medical school and a three-year residency program in general medicine. To practice internal medicine, they must also clear an examination conducted by the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Some internists further choose to subspecialize in different areas, including:
- Hematology: Focused on the study, diagnosis, and treatment of blood-related disorders. It includes conditions such as anemia and other clonal processes, as well as congenital and acquired hemostasis, coagulation, and thrombosis disorders.
- Cardiology: Concerned with diagnosing and treating diseases and conditions of the heart and cardiovascular system. It encompasses many conditions, including coronary artery disease, heart failure, veins, arteries, pulmonary circulation disorders, etc.
- Pulmonary disease: Involves respiratory system disorders, including the lungs and airways. It entails conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, pulmonary hypertension, lung cancer, and more.
- Oncology: Dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of cancer. Oncologists are responsible for managing patients diagnosed with neoplasms and addressing solid and hematologic tumors. They aim to achieve remission, prolonging life, and alleviating symptoms through curative or palliative treatment outcomes.
- Endocrinology: Focused on the study of hormones and the endocrine system. Endocrinologists can diagnose and treat disorders related to hormone imbalances, such as diabetes, thyroid disorders, adrenal gland disorders, etc.
- Rheumatology: Deals with disorders affecting the joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissues. Rheumatologists address and treat conditions like autoimmune diseases, arthritis, and musculoskeletal system-related disorders.
- Gastroenterology: Focused on the digestive system, including the esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, colon, and rectum. Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat different types of digestive disorders and diseases.
- Infectious disease: Dedicated to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of illnesses caused by pathogens such as bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, focusing on the body's immune response and antimicrobial therapies.
- Nephrology: Entails the diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the kidneys. Nephrologists manage glomerular diseases, tubulointerstitial kidney diseases, tubular defects, etc.
How is an internist different from a family physician?
An internist may be confused with other healthcare professionals who provide primary care services and treat similar conditions. Internists and family physicians have identical duties in providing primary care, conducting minor procedures, administering medications, and conducting diagnostic tests.
The primary difference between internists and family physicians lies in their patient demographics. Internal medicine involves treating adult patients, whereas family medicine focuses on treating all family members, including infants, children, adults, and people of old age.
Moreover, family physicians are likely to perform well-patient or regular health checkups in a private office, while internists are more likely to treat complex issues in hospital settings.
The two specialties also differ in their postgraduate training. While internal medicine physicians train in emergency medicine and critical care during residency, family physicians focus on inpatient care, outpatient medical disciplines, and pediatrics. Further, family physicians also have more knowledge of women's health, pediatrics, and orthopedics.
What common conditions do they treat?
Internal medicine specialists treat many adult ailments as primary care providers. They are trained to treat multiple diseases simultaneously and provide ongoing care for chronic illnesses.
You can see an internist near you for the following conditions:
- Heart disease: Includes heart failure, heart attack, ischemic heart disease, endocarditis, congenital heart diseases, and arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat). Internists may also specialize in interventional cardiology, which includes invasive methods such as catheterization to treat structural heart diseases.
- Diabetes affects blood sugar levels and damages the nerves and blood vessels. Internists help patients manage their diabetes through medication and diet.
- Hypertension: Hypertension, sometimes called high blood pressure, is excessively high blood pressure that presses against the arterial walls. Blood pressure exceeding 180/120 mm Hg is hazardous and requires emergency medical intervention. To manage hypertension, internists recommend lifestyle changes and medications like calcium channel blockers and diuretics (water pills).
What to expect from your visit to an internist?
When you schedule an appointment with an internist, especially if it's your first visit, the doctor will initiate the process by collecting information about your medical history. You must bring any previous medical reports and medication prescriptions with you. It will assist the internist in obtaining a comprehensive understanding of your health background. Additionally, depending on your specific condition and symptoms, the internist may propose a series of tests to investigate further and evaluate your health status. These tests may include:
- Blood tests: Blood tests are a critical tool in the internist's arsenal for diagnosing diseases and health conditions. By analyzing blood samples, they can identify the presence or absence of specific illnesses. Blood tests also provide valuable insights into hereditary factors and enable the assessment of risk factors associated with severe conditions such as heart disease.
- Urine tests: Internists utilize urine tests to gain important information about a patient's health. These tests can detect diseases like chronic kidney failure. They reveal the presence of blood or bacteria, which may indicate kidney disease or an infection in other parts of the body. Elevated glucose levels in the urine can serve as an indicator of diabetes. Urine tests also contribute to the diagnosis of liver disease and metabolic disorders.
- MRI scans: Internists often rely on MRI scans to comprehensively understand the internal workings of a patient's body. This advanced imaging technique provides detailed images that help diagnose various conditions. Internists prefer MRI scans over X-rays due to their superior image quality and enhanced diagnostic accuracy.
Upon receiving the test results, the internist will use this information to formulate an appropriate treatment plan or, if necessary, refer you to a specialist with expertise in your condition. Depending on the complexity of your situation, the internist may recommend scheduling a follow-up visit as part of your ongoing treatment plan. It will enable them to monitor your progress and modify your treatment plan.
How can internists help prevent heart failure and manage diabetes?
Here's how internists near you can help prevent heart failure and control diabetes.
Heart failure
Obesity or overweightness is the leading cause of heart problems. Internists can recommend effective ways to achieve and maintain a healthy body weight. They can create a lifestyle plan and suggest exercises to reduce weight and keep a healthy heart.
Patients suffering from heart conditions are generally prescribed a combination of medications to subdue the symptoms and enable proper heart functioning. Managing these medications is very important as it helps prevent severe heart complications. Internists can help you take the necessary steps to address the side effects of some medicines and help you lead an active lifestyle.
Your body needs proper nutrition to enhance the positive effects of medications. Internists can help design a heart-healthy diet with negligible amounts of sodium, lots of fruits and green vegetables, low-fat dairy products, and lean proteins. This diet will benefit the heart and the body.
Diabetes
- Manage blood sugar levels.
Internists can check and manage your blood sugar levels. They can help you take supplemented insulin when required. They can even guide you on how to self-check your blood sugar levels and explain the process of using an automatic insulin pump when needed.
- Monitor potential complications
Diabetes can cause health issues like foot disorders, heart problems, and hearing loss. Internists can help you understand the diabetic risk factors, monitor these complications, and prevent their occurrence.
Internists can help track your physical, mental, and emotional health. They can monitor your symptoms and check if these affect other body parts. They ensure you stay healthy and active despite your chronic condition.
- Prepare an appropriate diet plan
Eating a healthy diet is essential to manage diabetes effectively. Internists can help you prepare a healthy meal plan that includes whole grains, fruits, and green vegetables. They may also monitor your portion size and suggest you avoid processed food and soda. Internists can help you maintain a balance in your eating habits.
How do you find an internist doctor near you in Jersey City, New Jersey?
Internists have in-depth knowledge of several illnesses, which allows them to offer preventive care services. They help manage chronic conditions and get advanced treatment. Hence, choosing an internist as your primary care provider is vital as they can refer you to the right specialists when required.
Finding an experienced internist in your area can be quite a challenging task. However, Zocdoc provides users with a straightforward way of finding the best healthcare providers - without the hassles of visiting a hospital or clinical facility. Using Zocdoc, you can conveniently find and book an appointment with an internist near you, ensuring you receive quality healthcare from a trusted professional.
To book an in-person or video consultation with an internist, visit the Zocdoc website and enter your condition or symptoms, the date you'd like to schedule an appointment, your location, and your insurance carrier. Click on "find" and view a list of top-rated internists.
If you want to know your insurance plan, upload an image of the insurance card to your Zocdoc account, and we will find and display information regarding your insurance plan (this facility is not available for vision or dental plans). You can also check out Zocdoc's patient help center for more information and solutions related to insurance.
You can filter this list of healthcare providers according to gender, time of day, hospital affiliation, distance, and whether they treat children. Zocdoc allows users to schedule appointments on the same day, 24 hours in advance, after 5 pm, or even on the weekends, depending on the selected provider's availability.
To help you make an informed decision, Zocdoc also provides each specialist's educational background, including their medical training, certifications, licensures, awards, and accreditations. Moreover, you can also read through honest and verified patient reviews to make your choice.
Thanks to Zocdoc, locating the best internists near you is now easier! Bookings on Zocdoc are fast, free, and secure.
Statistics for diseases treated by internists in New Jersey
As per a report from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, New Jersey employs nearly 1,150 general internal physicians (as of May 2019), a significantly higher number than neighboring states such as Delaware and Connecticut. The metropolitan area of New York-Newark-Jersey City also has the country's highest employment rate of general internists.
Research from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) in 2017 showed that heart disease was the leading cause of death in New Jersey, with over 18,000 deaths occurring that year. Stroke and diabetes ranked fourth and seventh position, respectively.
As per an American Diabetes Association (ADA) report, nearly 10.5% of the New Jersey adult population, i.e., roughly 760,249 people, have been diagnosed with diabetes. Each year, over 64,000 people in the state are diagnosed with diabetes. Strikingly, almost 207,000 adults in New Jersey are unaware of their diabetes.
Those with diabetes also have direct medical expenses 2.3 times higher than those without. Diabetes in New Jersey costs people over $6.7 billion every year. According to a New Jersey Diabetes Action Plan Report, in 2015, approximately 15,000 New Jersey residents were hospitalized for diabetes. The highest prevalence of diabetes is in the southern counties of the state.
Data collated by the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) in 2013 reported that the incidence rate of high blood pressure in New Jersey adults with diabetes was 60.1 per 100 people. High blood pressure was more likely to be detected between the ages of 45 to 64. Further, those with diabetes also had high cholesterol, with an overall incidence rate of 59.9. The incidence of high cholesterol was more common in females (64.2) than in males (55).
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