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Who is an internist?

Internists are internal medicine physicians who treat adults with various problems, including complex illnesses. They are primary care physicians and are experts in the internal organs and body systems. Trained to solve complex medical issues, they also care for patients with anything from ear infections to skin rashes. They are especially adept at treating adult patients with chronic diseases. 

Internists focus on disease prevention and health promotion. They are often called "doctors of internal medicine" and "general internists." They confer and work closely with a broad spectrum of experts to provide comprehensive medical care to their patients. Other primary care physicians, like family physicians, may also treat children, while internists only treat adults. Internists have a more profound, in-depth knowledge of adult problems, while family physicians have a broader knowledge base.

What kind of education and training do internists receive?

To become an internist, a student must complete their science graduation. They then need to join a medical school where they study for four years. After this, they need to complete a three-year residency. 

Post-residency, an internist must take an examination to get board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine. An internist may begin practicing or studying further by taking up a subspecialty and completing a fellowship. Subspecialties of internal medicine include pulmonary disease, critical care, oncology, hematology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, or cardiology. The subspecialty training may take two to three years, depending on the subspecialty. 

Internists generally see people in their offices and develop long-lasting relationships with their patients because of the chronic diseases they treat.

Internists can also work in different settings, such as hospitals, centers for hospice care, or rehabilitation facilities. They can even become administrators or get into research.

What is the difference between internal and general medicine?

While internal medicine and general medicine aim to improve patient health, they serve different roles and groups. General medicine physicians, often called general practitioners or primary care doctors, provide care for patients of all ages. They handle various health issues, from routine check-ups to treating common illnesses, and refer patients to specialists when needed.

When someone becomes ill, they often visit a general practitioner, who provides initial treatment and determines whether specialized care is needed.

Internists, on the other hand, are specialists trained to care specifically for adults. With in-depth knowledge of adult diseases, internists focus on diagnosing and managing complex medical conditions that may require specialized treatments. They undergo extensive adult health training, allowing them to handle everything from chronic diseases to intricate diagnostic puzzles. While general practitioners train to handle broad healthcare needs, internists focus on adult health. They work independently, often managing patients with multiple or severe health conditions.

While general practitioners are like “jacks of all trades” with broad expertise across medical fields, internists offer specialized skills in treating complex or severe adult conditions. Both roles are essential: general practice provides the immediate, broad-based care patients need, while internal medicine provides more profound expertise for managing chronic or intricate medical issues.

In short, a general physician may be your go-to if you need a routine check-up or are dealing with a straightforward issue. But if you have a complex or persistent condition, an internist near you can offer the specialized expertise needed for advanced care and targeted treatment.

What common conditions do internists treat?

Internists treat a wide range of illnesses in adult patients. Depending on their subspecialty, an internal medicine doctor may focus on a particular type or group of conditions. 

Some common problems treated by internists include:

Diabetes- is a chronic metabolic illness that occurs when the body has excess glucose or blood sugar. Type 2 diabetes is a prevalent form of diabetes and occurs when the body's cells become resistant to insulin. When the pancreas cannot produce the insulin required to turn glucose into energy, it builds up in the bloodstream. Internal medicine doctors can treat and manage diabetes. They make patient-specific diabetic care plans, keep track of diabetes-associated diseases through routine physicals and control blood sugar levels. 

High Blood Pressure (HBP)- or hypertension occurs when the blood pressure is above average or 130/80 mm Hg. The normal blood pressure is at or below 120/80 mmHg. Most people with high blood pressure (HBP) generally do not have any symptoms, making it a 'silent killer.' Untreated hypertension can increase your risk of life-threatening heart diseases. In this case, early detection through a routine health check-up is how one can learn if they have high blood pressure. People aged over 40 are at a higher risk of HBP. 

Pulmonary diseases such as asthma- are lung illnesses where the airways swell up, narrow down, and produce excess mucus. It causes wheezing, shortness of breath, chest pain, and trouble sleeping. An internal medicine doctor can help diagnose asthma by conducting lung function tests and prescribing long-term or quick-relief medications, depending on the severity of your condition. An internist can also create an asthma action plan with you that outlines your medications and increase or decrease their dosage. If required, an internal medicine doctor may also recommend you to an allergist or immunologist. 

Heart disease- includes a varied group of conditions that affect the cardiovascular system. Multiple forms of heart disease, including irregular heartbeat, coronary artery disease (CAD), and heart valve disease, can be prevented or managed by making healthier lifestyle choices. Consulting a cardiologist (an internal medicine doctor specializing in treating cardiovascular disease) can help you understand your risk for cardiovascular problems and how to reduce it. Further, an internist can help adult patients manage and treat congenital heart conditions that have been present since birth and help with their ongoing treatment.

When should you see an internist near you?

If your primary care physician is an internist, you may continue visiting them for routine check-ups or complex medical issues. But, if you are 18 and above and suffer from chronic pain or condition, have long-term breathing or digestive problems, or often feel fatigued, you must be in touch with internal medicine doctors near you. They are experts in internal organs like the heart, liver, kidney, and lungs and the issues that develop with age in these systems.

You can see an internist for chest or abdominal pain. There are different causes for both these problems. Sometimes, chest pain may be due to a problem in the gastrointestinal system or the lungs, or it could be acid reflux. However, it could also indicate a possible heart attack, in which case you need to call 911. However, if the pain is less, you should visit an internist.

Similarly, abdominal pain has several reasons, from a stomach virus to muscle strain. It could also be due to cancer or acute appendicitis. If you have sharp pain, head for the emergency room, but if for anything less severe, you should see an internist. They will tell you precisely what is causing the pain.

What should one expect on the first visit to an internist?

What the internist does on the first visit depends mainly on the symptoms one faces. The internal medicine physician will ask about the problem and check your vital signs. They will study the medical history and current and past medication. A complete physical exam will include the following:

• Listening to the heartbeat to check for abnormalities.
• Checking posture and physical movements.
• Checking the eyes, nose, ears, throat, skin, nails, and mouth for any issues.

The internist may also ask for screening tests to check lipid or bone density or other appropriate tests for specific problems. If required, the internist may refer the patient to a specialist and coordinate with that expert to provide the best medical care. Internal medicine physicians check for physical illness and mental health issues such as depression.

How to find a good internist nearby

Finding skilled internal medicine doctors near you might be a difficult task. Thanks to Zocdoc's extensive provider database and unique search features, you can easily access certified internists serving across the country from the comfort of your home! To avoid the difficulties of traveling to a hospital or clinical facility, schedule a virtual appointment or in-person consultation with an internist on Zocdoc.

Visit the website, then complete the information requested about your condition or symptoms, location, and insurance plan. Use our insurance detector feature if you need help finding your insurance plan. Go to your account settings and upload a clear picture of your insurance card. Zocdoc will scan it and show you your likely plan. We understand figuring out insurance while booking appointments seems daunting. Hence, we have compiled more insurance-related information on our patient help center page for your reference.

Once you run the search, Zocdoc will list top-rated internal medicine doctors near you, matching your specific needs. You browse this list and narrow your search results based on gender, location, day of the week, hospital affiliation, spoken languages, cost, and whether or not the practitioner sees children. To find the most affordable medical care, you can use the drop-down menu at the top of our homepage to choose your insurance network to narrow the list of internists in-network.

Zocdoc aids in your decision-making by providing a summary of each internist's education, clinical training, certificates, licenses, awards, and accreditations. Furthermore, the verified patient reviews and ratings featured on Zocdoc can help you understand the doctor's bedside manners and approach to patient care.

Zocdoc believes in providing the best patient-centric services and making medical care more accessible. With Zocdoc, booking appointments with top internal medicine doctors near you is simple, secure, and free!

Internists workforce statistics for San Diego, California

According to The State of California's Physician Workforce report, there were 8,760 internists in California in 2015, accounting for 2% of the total physician workforce in the state. This figure went up to 9,663 in 2020 to form about 3% of the workforce. In 2020, the Greater Bay area had the highest concentration of internists (41) per 100,000 people, while the Inland Empire had the least at 17.5. Figures in other places in California (all figures per 100,000 people) included 20 internists in Central Coast, 26.8 in Los Angeles County, 17.9 in Northern and Sierra, 24.9 in Orange County, 30 in the Sacramento area, 26.5 in the San Diego area, and 19.8 in San Joaquin Valley. 

The Greater Bay area saw the highest number of internists (4 per 100,000 people) in 2020 over 2015, while the Central Coast saw the most negligible addition at 0.7 during the same period. Inland Empire saw an increase of 1.1 during the same period, Los Angeles County 2.6, Northern and Sierra 1.8, Orange County 1.4, Sacramento area 2.7, San Diego area 2.8, and San Joaquin Valley saw an addition of 2.6 from 2015 to 2020.

Sources

WebMD

American College of Physicians

Cleveland Clinic

University of California

Mayo Clinic[1]

Mayo Clinic[2]

Mayo Clinic[3]

Mayo Clinic[4]

Mayo Clinic[5]

Johnson Memorial Health

National Cancer Institute

Prestige Physicians

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.