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What is internal medicine? Who is an internist?

Internal medicine is a specialty within modern medicine that applies clinical knowledge and expertise to diagnose and treat a comprehensive range of health concerns in adults. Internists or internal medicine doctors specialize in internal medicine. They are also known as "general internists" and "internal medicine doctors." However, do not confuse internists with "interns." Interns are aspiring doctors in their first year of residency, while internists are professionals with at least 11 years of medical education. They routinely see patients with chronic conditions like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and pulmonary disease. 

Internists identify and treat a wide range of illnesses and symptoms. You may use an internist as your primary care physician if you are an adult. Internists offer their knowledge of ailments affecting the inside organs of your body. They also provide palliative care and comprehensive care for the duration of life. An internist may consult with experts in other medical specialties or refer you to a specialist if your ailment calls for specialized care and attention.

Training and education of internists

Aspiring internists begin with a four-year undergraduate degree in a medicine-related field and follow it with four years of medical school. Next, they undergo a three-year-long residency in internal medicine at a recognized medical institution. Post-residency, aspiring internists clear a final exam to receive the American Board of Internal Medicine's official recognition.

Although not mandatory, some internists choose a subspecialty. Such internists will pursue one to three more years of education. 

What are the different subspecialties of internal medicine?

Here are some subspecialties of internal medicine that doctors can choose to focus on:

1. Gastroenterology: Gastroenterologists specialize in treating conditions affecting the digestive organs, like ulcers and liver disease. They also perform procedures.

2. Endocrinology, diabetes, and metabolism: Endocrinologists treat issues related to hormone imbalances and metabolism, using lab tests to help diagnose problems.

3. Clinical cardiac electrophysiology: These cardiologists treat patients with complex heart rhythm disorders, often using devices like pacemakers.

4. Critical care medicine: These doctors are skilled at caring for sick or injured patients, often in intensive care units (ICUs). Some focus on specific types of patients or conditions.

5. Hematology: Hematologists specialize in treating conditions like anemia and leukemia, often using lab tests to help diagnose and monitor patients.

6. Adolescent medicine: Doctors who specialize in teen health care for young people who are becoming adults. They help with regular check-ups and deal with issues arising during puberty. They also treat eating disorders and sports injuries.

7. Adult congenital heart disease: These doctors are experts in treating adults born with heart problems. They work closely with other specialists to give long-term care to these patients.

8. Hospice and palliative medicine: Hospice and palliative care doctors focus on providing comfort and support to patients with life-threatening diseases.

9. Allergy and immunology: These doctors specialize in treating allergies and immune system problems, such as asthma and food allergies.

10. Cardiovascular disease: Cardiologists are experts in treating heart diseases like clogged arteries and irregular heartbeats. They focus on both treatment and prevention.

11. Advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology: These doctors care for patients with severe heart problems, some of whom may need a heart transplant. They also advise other doctors treating heart failure.

12. Geriatric medicine: Geriatricians focus solely on caring for elderly patients and understanding the unique health challenges they face as they age.

13. Infectious disease: These doctors specialize in diagnosing and treating infections caused by microorganisms like bacteria and viruses.

14. Interventional cardiology: Cardiologists use special techniques to diagnose and treat heart diseases, often using catheters.

15. Hospital medicine: Hospitalists specialize in caring for hospitalized patients, coordinating their treatment, and managing their care.

Difference between an internist and a general family medicine practitioner

Although people use the terms 'internists' and 'general family physicians' interchangeably, these are different specialties. Hence, educated decisions require understanding the distinctions between the two options. The key differentiating factor between the two specialties is the age group of their patients. Internists see only adults, while general family practitioners see children and adults.

Unlike internal medicine doctors, general family practitioners may practice pediatrics, obstetrics, and minor surgery. The scope of their treatment and the recipient age group is broad. They can treat various medical issues and provide patients with acute, chronic, and wellness services. Their holistic training in adult critical care, senior care, gynecology, and newborn encounters allows them to attend to a wide range of patients. Unlike internists, their training involves care for children in emergency settings and surgery. They can also help with behavioral health, population health, wellness, and disease prevention concerns.

Reasons to see an internist doctor near you

You will see an internist near you for routine care if you choose them as your primary healthcare provider. If you have not picked them as your primary healthcare provider, you may still have to see an internist for common abdominal or chest pain problems.

Abdominal pain can result from something minor, such as a stomach virus or muscle strain. Seeing an internist is a good idea for less severe pain. However, abdominal pain in its extreme form may indicate illnesses like acute appendicitis and several cancers. In such cases, your internist can help you decide whether your discomfort is gastrointestinal or caused by something else. They may direct you to specialists if needed. 

An internist can also help you with less severe chest pain — which is not always a result or an indication of a heart attack. It can result from anxiety or acid reflux, too. In some cases, it may exist because of a breathing issue. Your internist will help diagnose your problem and refer you to specialists if needed.

What should you expect during your first visit to an internist near you?

When visiting an internist, you can generally anticipate the following steps in your care:

1. Vital signs and medical history: The doctor will check your vital signs—your heart rate, blood pressure, and temperature. They will also require you to discuss your medical history and provide information about your current medications.

2. Symptoms and general health: Your internist will inquire about your symptoms and overall well-being to understand your health status comprehensively. If you are in pain, they may ask you to describe it on a scale of one to 10 and enquire about the exact location of the pain.

3. Physical examination: Typically, the internist will conduct a physical exam. It may involve observing your general appearance, posture, and movement, listening to your heart for murmurs or irregularities, and evaluating your breathing for abnormalities. They will examine your eyes, ears, nose, mouth, and throat. They will also inspect your skin and nails.

4. Diagnostic tests: Depending on your health needs, the internist may order screening tests like lipid panels or bone density tests for preventive check-ups. They may recommend appropriate tests such as urinalysis or imaging studies if you have specific concerns. The doctor may suggest follow-up visits or refer you to specialists based on the results.

5. Coordination of care: If you require consultation with other specialists, your internist may work with them, ensuring cohesive and comprehensive care. They will also review potential interactions between medications and coordinate your treatment plan.

6. Proactive care and counseling: The best internists are proactive, guiding lifestyle modifications and preventive measures to minimize future health issues. They may also assess your mental health, including screening for conditions like depression.

What are some tests and procedures in internal medicine?

Doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers in internal medicine are skilled in performing various tests and procedures. These may be used to evaluate, diagnose, and monitor patients or to treat specific conditions. Performing these procedures requires experience, skill, and often additional training and certifications to ensure patient comfort, maximize results, and minimize side effects.

Common tests and procedures performed or ordered by internal medicine specialists include:

• Venipuncture (blood draw): For blood testing
• Arterial puncture: To measure blood gases
• Endotracheal intubation
• Flexible sigmoidoscopy
• Intravenous (IV) line insertion
• Nasogastric (NG) tube placement
• Urinary catheter placement

Some internists are also trained to perform more advanced diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, such as:

• Thoracentesis
• Lumbar puncture
• Paracentesis

Additionally, an internist near you may perform or order tests and procedures in specialized areas, including:

• Allergy: Skin testing, rhinoscopy
• Cardiology: Cardiac stress tests, echocardiograms
• Endocrinology: Thyroid biopsies, dynamic hormone testing, bone density scans
• Cancer screening: Oropharyngeal cancer screening
• Pulmonary: Bronchoscopy, chest tube insertion, ventilator management, tracheostomy placement

• Rheumatology: Joint aspiration and therapeutic injections

Advanced imaging techniques such as CT scans, ultrasound, and MRIs are frequently used in internal medicine to guide invasive procedures. Additionally, flexible fiber-optic instruments help access areas of the body that are otherwise difficult to reach

Finding the best internist doctors near you

As established, internists can help a person in various conditions, which makes it essential to find the right one. Aiding this search process, Zocdoc can help you find the top-rated internists in Memphis, Tennessee. Enter your location, specialty (internists), and preferred appointment date. You can filter specialists based on gender, hospital affiliations, and whether they treat children.

Every internist has a dedicated profile on Zocdoc, where you can view their educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, specializations, practice history, and spoken languages. You can also read verified reviews by past patients to make an informed decision. 

Zocdoc also helps make your insurance submitting process hassle-free by letting you filter internists according to those who accept your plan. Add your insurance carrier's name in the search query to utilize the feature. If you need clarification on your insurance plan, Zocdoc's insurance detector can help you. You can use Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information before making an appointment. You can add medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to your Zocdoc account.

You can only search for and book appointments using one insurance plan at a time. If you have more than one insurance plan, you can include details about your secondary carrier and plan in the notes for the provider during the final step of the booking process.

If your provider uses Zocdoc’s Intake forms, you’ll also have the option to add secondary insurance when filling out those forms online. For more questions about insurance, you can check out Zocdoc's insurance page.

Once you choose the best internist doctor, click on the book appointment option, and Zocdoc will instantly help you book your first session. Zocdoc also allows you to book video appointments and in-person visits. Look for the purple video icon on your doctor's profile or filter the video appointment selection. 

Depending on the internist's availability, you can book an appointment before 10 a.m., after office hours, on weekends, or even on holidays.

Booking appointments with internist doctors near you through Zocdoc is free, fast, and secure.

Heart disease and cancer statistics from Tennessee

A 2020 data set published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports CVD (cardiovascular disease) as Tennessee's leading cause of death. Surveys for 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 suggest a consistent ranking based on heart disease mortality in Tennessee, with a slightly lower mortality rate in 2016 and higher than the average rate in 2020. In 2020, Tennessee ranked 5th in the US for heart disease mortality rates. The mortality rate was about 212 per 100,000, with around 17,943 deaths in the state. The corresponding rank for 2016 was 7th, with a mortality rate of nearly 198.8 per 100,000 population. The death toll for 2016 stood at about 15,429.

Per the American Cancer Society's Cancer Statistics Center, an estimated 42,200 new cancer cases occurred in Tennessee in 2022. Lung and bronchial, breast, prostate, colorectal, and skin melanoma are the most prevalent cancers. The report found that over 14,390 people in Tennessee might have died of cancer in 2022. Lung and bronchus cancer might be the deadliest in Tennessee, with approximately 3,680 deaths. Other top lethal cancers in Tennessee for 2022 were colorectum, pancreas, breast, and prostate cancers.

Sources

WebMD

Castle Connolly Top Doctors

American College of Physicians[1]

American College of Physicians[2]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]

American Cancer Society

St. George’s University School of Medicine

Castle Connolly Medical, Ltd.

The content herein is provided for general informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Medical information changes constantly, and therefore the content on this website should not be assumed to be current, complete or exhaustive. Always seek the advice of your doctor before starting or changing treatment. If you think you may have a medical emergency, please call your doctor or 9-1-1 immediately.