What is internal medicine, and who is an internist?
Internal medicine is a specialty within modern medicine that applies clinical knowledge to diagnose and treat a comprehensive range of internal health concerns in adults. Internists are physicians with a specialization in internal medicine. While internists do not perform surgery, they can provide preventive care and treat several conditions. They only treat adults and have an in-depth understanding of adult health issues.
Internists 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.
What do internists do?
Internists offer expertise and care for ailments affecting the body's internal organs. They also provide palliative care and comprehensive care for the duration of a patient's 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.
Internists who manage chronic illnesses build long-lasting relationships with their patients. They work in different care settings, such as rehabilitation facilities or centers for hospice care. Some internists may see their patients in independent clinics, while others only do so at hospitals. Many internists prefer to research the field, while others become administrators.
Training and education for internists
Aspiring internists must complete a four-year undergraduate degree in chemistry, biology, mathematics, or related fields and follow it with four years of medical school. Their medical education comprises in-depth lessons on human anatomy, physiology, histology, and pathology. Besides theoretical studies, they must also participate in clinical rotations.
After graduating with an MD (Doctor of Medicine) or a DO (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), they must complete a three-year internal medicine residency, where they practice under the supervision of experienced doctors. The program can include rotations in intensive care units, subspecialty clinics, outpatient units, and community health clinics. During the first year of the residency, aspirants must clear a medical licensing exam accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education.
Finally, all internists must also pass the certification exam implemented by the American Board of Internal Medicine, which qualifies them to practice as internal medicine specialists. Alternatively, they can pursue a sub-specialization by enrolling in a fellowship, which takes up to three years to complete.
Conditions treated by an internist
Internists diagnose, manage, and treat a wide range of conditions, from common ailments to complex and rare diseases. Their expertise covers a variety of systems within the body, including the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, and digestive, respiratory, and vascular systems.
Some of the conditions they treat include:
- Allergies, such as allergic rhinitis, angioedema, and food allergies
- Birth control, including emergency contraception
- Blood disorders like hemophilia, sickle cell disease, and clotting disorders
- Cardiac issues, like coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias, and complications from heart attack and stroke
- Cognitive concerns, such as cognitive impairment and dementia
- Dermatologic problems like acne, skin cancer, and cellulitis
- Ear, nose, and throat issues, including sinusitis, sore throat, and vertigo
- Endocrine disorders, including thyroid disease, diabetes, and adrenal insufficiency
- Gastrointestinal problems like Crohn's disease, acid reflux, pancreatitis, and liver disease
- Hypertension and related complications, such as hypertensive retinopathy
- Infections, including Lyme disease, staph infections, and Clostridium difficile (C. diff)
- Kidney conditions, including chronic kidney disease and kidney stones
- Liver disease, including cirrhosis and hepatitis
- Men's health issues, like prostate disease and erectile dysfunction
- Neurological conditions like migraines, epilepsy, and neuropathy
- Non-surgical orthopedic concerns, such as sprains, strains, and joint pain
- Pain management for conditions ranging from acute pain to chronic conditions
- Pulmonary problems, including asthma, pneumonia, and COPD
- Urinary issues, including bladder problems and urinary tract infections
- Vascular conditions, such as venous thrombosis and peripheral vascular disease
- Women's health, including routine care and gynecologic issues
Internists play a key role in diagnosing and managing these diverse conditions, offering both preventive care and treatment tailored to individual needs.
Types of internists
Internal medicine has several subspecialties, which include:
- Cardiovascular diseases: Focuses on medical conditions concerning the heart and blood vessels, such as heart attacks and irregular heartbeat.
- Critical care medicine: Involves the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with critical illnesses, injuries, or trauma.
- Endocrinology: Handles the diagnosis, treatment, and management of hormonal and metabolic disorders and neoplasia (uncontrolled, abnormal growth of cells or tissues) of the endocrine glands.
- Gastroenterology: Concentrates on diseases of the digestive organs, such as ulcers, diarrhea, abdominal pain, jaundice, stomach cancer, etc.
- Geriatric medicine: Focuses on diagnostic, preventive, therapeutic, and rehabilitative aspects of treating older patients (aged over 65).
- Hematology: Deals with medical conditions concerning the blood, spleen, and lymph, such as anemia, sickle cell disease, hemophilia, leukemia, and lymphoma.
- Medical oncology: Focuses on diagnosing and treating all types of cancer and any complications arising from benign and malignant tumors.
- Rheumatology: Concentrates on the diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions of the bones, joints, muscles, and tendons.
Reasons to see an internist
You will see an internist for routine care if you choose them as your primary healthcare provider. If not, you may still have to consult them for common abdominal or chest pain problems.
Abdominal pain can result from something minor, like a muscle strain or a stomach virus. 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 and may direct you to a specialist 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 occur due to 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 to expect from the first visit to an internist near you?
The nature of your medical concern will determine how your initial appointment with your internist will go. Generally, the internist will ask about your symptoms and look for vital signs. They will also check your medical history, tests, and list of medications.
The internist will conduct a physical exam to get a complete picture of your health. The components of your physical examination depend upon your case's nature. However, in usual circumstances, the internist will check your posture and movement. They will check your heartbeat for a heart murmur, irregular heartbeat, or unusual sounds. They will also listen to your breathing and examine for crackles, wheezing, or shortness of breath. They might check your eyes, tongue, ears, nose, mouth, skin, nails, and throat. Based on the results, they may also order some additional tests.
What is the difference between internists and general practitioners?
Both internists and general medical practitioners are primary care doctors. While the conditions they treat can overlap, there are some key differences between them.
Internists cater to adults, while general practitioners treat people of all ages. Further, while the medical training internists receive is limited to internal medicine, general practitioners are trained in different areas, including internal medicine, pediatrics, family medicine, and more.
How can you find the best internist near you in Richmond, VA?
Treating your internal disease in time will be a sensible decision in the long run. Zocdoc can help you find the top-rated internists in Richmond, Virginia. Enter your location, the specialty you seek, and your preferred appointment date. You can also filter specialists based on their gender and hospital affiliations.
Every internist has a dedicated profile on Zocdoc where you can view their educational qualifications, board certifications, clinical interests, specializations, practice history, certifications, and spoken languages. You can also check verified patient reviews to help you make an informed decision.
Zocdoc also helps make your insurance submitting process hassle-free by letting you filter providers 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 coverage, Zocdoc's insurance detector can help you. You can use Zocdoc's insurance card capture feature to submit your medical insurance information pre-appointment. Even if you have added your insurance information to your Zocdoc account, carrying your insurance card to your appointment is still a good idea. Many offices require a physical card to verify your coverage, even when your details are available online. For more insurance-related questions, please visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Once you select the best internists near you for your case, click on the book appointment option, and Zocdoc will assist you in instantly booking an appointment for your first session. Zocdoc also allows you to book video appointments along with in-person visits. Look for the purple video icon on your doctor's profile or filter the video appointment selection.
All bookings with Zocdoc are easy, free, and secure!
Heart disease and cancer statistics for Virginia
Several surveys by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found heart disease to be Virginia's leading cause of death. Surveys for 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2017, 2016, and 2015 suggest a consistent ranking based on heart disease mortality in Virginia, with a slightly lower mortality rate in 2018 and higher than the average rate in 2014. In 2014, Virginia's heart disease mortality rate stood at over 156.1 per 100,000, with over 13,874 deaths. The corresponding rate for 2018 was about 147.9 per 100,000 in the total population of Virginia. The death toll for 2016 stood at 14,600.
According to the Cancer Statistics Center (American Cancer Society), Virginia will have an estimated 48,560 new cancer cases in 2024. The most frequently occurring cancers would be breast, prostate, lung and bronchus, colorectum, and skin melanoma. Reports estimate that over 16,420 people in Virginia will die of cancer in 2024, with lung and bronchus cancer being the most deadly at approximately 3380 projected deaths. Other deadly cancers include the colorectum, pancreas, breast, and prostate cancers. The corresponding mortality figures were around 1390, 1380, 1160, and 970, respectively, among the Virginia population.
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
Healthline
Medical News Today
American University of the Caribbean School of Medicine
USMLE Courses
Mayo Clinic College of Medicine and Science
Association of American Medical Colleges
