What is an internist?
A certified doctor specializing in internal medicine is called a general internist or a doctor of internal medicine. Internal medicine focuses on health issues that affect the internal organs and different systems of the body, such as cardiovascular, respiratory, urinary, endocrine, musculoskeletal, digestive, immune, and nervous systems. Some internists may further specialize in a particular area within internal medicine, such as cardiology and endocrinology.
An internist mainly deals with diagnosing, managing, treating, and preventing diseases in adults. They don't work with children or adolescents and cannot perform surgeries. Due to their expertise in chronic disease management, internists provide care to older adults with multiple chronic health conditions. Internists offer outpatient care in private offices or clinics and inpatient care in hospitals, intensive care units, and hospice centers. They could also provide primary care, including treating injuries, acute illness, and preventive healthcare services.
Education and training of internists
Becoming an internist follows a systematic educational path that commences with attaining a four-year undergraduate degree. After this foundational step, the progression involves completing various phases of training.
Firstly, aspiring internists embark on a four-year medical school program where they acquire fundamental knowledge and skills essential for medical practice. After completing medical school, the next crucial phase involves a three-year residency program focused on internal medicine. During this residency, the focus is refining internists' diagnostic and treatment abilities for various medical conditions.
Subsequently, the culmination of this educational journey entails passing a certification examination overseen by the American Board of Internal Medicine. This exam is a significant milestone, officially recognizing an individual as a certified internist equipped to provide adult medical care.
If an internist opts to specialize in a specific field of internal medicine, an additional education period becomes necessary. The duration of this specialized training varies, ranging from one to four years, depending on the chosen subspecialty.
Notable areas of specialization for internists include:
- Cardiology: Deals with heart abnormalities
- Pulmonary disease: Diagnoses, treats, and manages lung problems
- Oncology: Provides care for patients with cancer
- Critical care: Concerned with tending to patients in intensive care
- Hematology: Focuses on blood-related diseases
- Nephrology: Diagnoses and treats kidney problems
- Neurology: Concerned with diseases affecting the nervous system
- Psychiatry: Diagnoses, treats, and prevents mental health disorders
- Rheumatology: Deals with problems of the joints and musculoskeletal system
- Adolescent medicine: Focuses on treating teens and young adults
- Geriatric medicine: Provides age-appropriate care to older adults
- Endocrinology: Deals with the endocrine system, which secretes hormones
- Gastroenterology: Diagnoses and treats problems related to the digestive system
- Infectious disease: Focuses on infections from bacteria, viruses, fungi, etc.
Becoming an internist encompasses a robust educational foundation, intensive hands-on training, and the potential for specialization, all geared toward offering comprehensive medical care to adult patients.
Comparing internists and family physicians
Distinguishing between family physicians and internists often calls for clarification, as both play vital roles as primary care providers overseeing general health. However, notable distinctions exist between these two medical professionals. Their patient focus sets them apart, with internists concentrating mainly on adult patients. At the same time, family physicians offer care to individuals spanning all age groups, including both children and adults.
Internists specialize in primary care, encompassing the screening and treatment of prevalent adult health issues. These may range from thyroid imbalances, diabetes, and hypertension to intricate interplays of conditions like rheumatoid arthritis. In contrast, family physicians possess extensive training that equips them to address common health concerns spanning the entire family unit. Their scope includes addressing the flu, fever, and other similar ailments.
Additionally, family physicians place a strong emphasis on disease prevention strategies, lifestyle adjustments, and the administration of immunizations through vaccines.
Common chronic conditions treated by internists
Different chronic ailments affect adults as they get older. A majority of these conditions don't show any symptoms initially. Regular preventive health check-ups are the best way to detect these ailments early and prevent them from becoming significant health complications. Some of the most common disorders managed and treated by an internist near you are as follows:
- High cholesterol levels cause fatty deposits in the blood vessels, obstructing normal blood flow. This condition does not produce symptoms and increases your chances of heart attack, heart disease, or stroke.
- Hypertension, or high blood pressure, occurs when the heart pumps more blood into narrow arteries, which resist the flow. Untreated hypertension can lead to many complications, such as heart attack and stroke. Generally, there are no symptoms, but some may experience headaches, shortness of breath, and nosebleeds.
- Coronary heart condition occurs when the blood vessels fail to supply nutrient-rich and oxygenated blood to the heart. It is usually a result of high blood pressure and cholesterol. Complications include blood clots, angina, or a heart attack.
- Heart failure occurs when the heart is not able to pump adequate blood throughout the body. Symptoms include shortness of breath, fatigue, weakness, leg swelling, irregular heartbeat, rapid weight gain, and nausea.
- Arthritis is a painful disorder of the joints. Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis are among the most prevalent types. Arthritis causes swelling, inflammation, pain, and joint stiffness that can worsen with time and age.
- Diabetes occurs when the body either cannot produce the necessary insulin or becomes resistant to it. When left untreated, it may result in severe complications like blindness, kidney disease, or heart disease.
- Depression is a treatable mood disorder that leads to symptoms such as perpetual sadness, loss of interest in daily activities, hopelessness, angry or emotional outbursts, fatigue, difficulty making decisions, changes in appetite, and sleep disturbances.
- Chronic kidney disease occurs when the normal functioning of the kidney gradually declines, resulting in severe kidney damage. High blood pressure(BP) and Type 1 and type 2 diabetes are the primary reasons for chronic kidney disease.
What tests do internists perform?
Doctors specializing in internal medicine utilize various diagnostic tests to assess your health. These tests include:
- Blood tests: Blood tests help reveal underlying signs of various medical concerns. They can also indicate how organs function and detect genetic disorders or risk factors for severe conditions like heart disease.
- Urine tests: Urine tests help doctors identify early signs of kidney disease, urinary infections, diabetes, and liver problems. By analyzing urine contents, an internist can quickly identify potential issues that are yet to translate into observable symptoms that could trouble the patient.
- MRI scans: These scans produce highly detailed images, allowing doctors to examine your body more closely and detect subtle abnormalities that X-rays and other screening methods might miss.
Other procedures performed by internists include:
- Pulmonary: Ventilator management, bronchoscopy, and chest tube thoracostomy
- Endocrinology: Thyroid biopsy, bone density testing, and dynamic hormone testing
- Cardiology: Cardiac stress testing and echocardiogram (ECG)
- Rheumatology: Joint aspiration and therapeutic injections
- Nephrology: Placement of urinary catheters
- Allergy: Skin testing and rhinoscopy
They also perform common diagnostic procedures, such as venipuncture, to draw and test blood and arterial puncture to assess blood gasses.
How do you keep your internal organs healthy?
Maintaining the health of your internal organs is crucial for overall well-being. Here are seven effective ways to keep your organs in optimal condition:
- Stay hydrated: Drinking sufficient water is essential. It helps kidneys remove waste from the blood. Aim for at least four to six glasses of water daily. Proper hydration prevents toxin buildup and ensures your organs, like the liver and kidneys, function efficiently.
- Eat a balanced diet: Opt for a diet rich in natural sugars from fresh fruits rather than refined sugars. Incorporate plenty of fiber from fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid high fructose corn syrup, saturated fats, and refined carbohydrates. Limiting salt intake can also help prevent high blood pressure, which poses risks to the heart and kidneys.
- Exercise consistently: Regular physical activity lowers blood pressure and cholesterol. It also boosts muscle strength, improves sleep, and helps manage body weight. You don't need an intense workout routine—simple activities like walking, running, walking stairs, and playing volleyball or basketball can also do the trick.
- Be cautious with supplements and medications: Overuse or mixing medications can harm your liver, which metabolizes most drugs. Excessive use of certain vitamin supplements and herbal remedies might also damage your kidneys. Always consult a doctor about the medications and supplements you take.
- Maintain a sleep schedule: Getting 7-9 hours of regular sleep has many benefits and can improve your cognition, concentration, productivity, motor skills, muscular endurance, and problem-solving abilities. It also reduces the chances of heart disease and high blood pressure. Creating a soothing sleep environment and maintaining a consistent schedule can help you achieve better and more regular sleep.
- Don't smoke: Smoking causes arterial hardening, reducing blood flow to the kidneys and heart, and can lead to high blood pressure, affecting both organs. Limiting alcohol consumption also helps protect your liver from damage.
- Check blood sugar levels: High blood sugar potentially damages the heart, blood vessels, and kidneys. Monitor your blood sugar regularly and adopt a healthy lifestyle to lower it naturally.
- Regular health checks: If you suffer from conditions like diabetes and heart and kidney disease, regular check-ups are vital.
How can internists help manage chronic illnesses?
Chronic illness can majorly affect your quality of life. However, continuous medical care can dramatically improve your daily life and routine. An internist can help manage chronic conditions, prevent further disease complications, and reduce healthcare costs through regular check-ups, health screenings, physical examinations, and health education.
On your first visit to the internist, they will ask about your detailed medical history and conduct a thorough physical examination. Next, they will perform diagnostic tests to ascertain the ailment and discuss appropriate treatment. The internist can suggest diet and lifestyle changes such as losing weight, daily exercise, quitting alcohol and smoking, and healthy eating habits to improve your body's response to treatment. They help you understand the symptoms that may need urgent medical attention and guide you on monitoring your health at home.
During your follow-up visit, the internist will conduct health screenings and other tests to assess your body's response to treatment and evaluate the effectiveness of the treatment plan in managing your chronic illnesses. After which, if required, they may recommend necessary changes or modifications. Suppose you experience mental health issues or side effects related to your treatment or management of chronic ailments. In that case, you must discuss it with the internist during your follow-up visit. The internist may also refer you to a specialist doctor if they feel your ailment requires expert intervention.
Find the best internist near you in Staten Island, NY
With Zocdoc, you can easily find the best and most experienced internist doctor in Staten Island, New York.
The process is simple. Create a free account on Zocdoc. Next, choose the specialty or condition, location, date, and insurance plan. A comprehensive list of qualified internists will appear based on your search criteria. Zocdoc has partnered with experienced internists in Staten Island, New York, who provide comprehensive patient advice and treatment. You can even use the Zocdoc insurance detector if you need clarification on your insurance plan.
If you can't find your insurance plan on Zocdoc, you can upload a photo of your medical insurance card (not available for vision or dental insurance). We will scan your card and show your likely plan. If you have trouble uploading the photo, contact our service team or visit Zocdoc's patient help center.
Each internist on Zocdoc has a profile that includes a brief introduction, education qualification, practice location, visit reasons, and, most importantly, patient reviews. After completing an appointment, Zocdoc asks the patient to leave a review. Therefore, the best way to find the best internist in Staten Island, New York, is to read updated patient reviews on Zocdoc. Furthermore, you can filter the results by gender if you're looking for a female internist in Staten Island, New York.
You can 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 appointments with the best internist near you who accepts your insurance plan in real time. All Zocdoc bookings are simple, secure, and free!
Tuberculosis and diabetes statistics New York, USA
As per the May 2021 data by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, America had about 58,260 active general internal medicine practitioners or internists, and New York state was the highest among all states with 10,190 internists. Internal medicine practitioners and internists are often the first medical professionals to encounter patients with a new diagnosis of serious diseases such as tuberculosis. The 2020 annual report of the New York State Department of Health estimates 606 tuberculosis morbidity cases in New York State (New York City - 445 cases, rest of the state - 16 cases).
Diabetes is one of the major chronic diseases that afflict people in New York. The New York State Department of Health also reported that the percentage of adults in the state who have diabetes increased from about 6.3 in 2010 to 10.3 in 2020. The disease reduced the quality of life of around 1.6 million people in the state.
Sources
WebMD
European Federation of Internal Medicine
National Council on Aging
University Hospitals
New York State Department of Health[1]
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[1]
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention[2]
New York State Department of Health[2]
St. George’s University
Orlando Clinical Research Center
Cleveland Clinic
Castle Connolly Top Doctors
Healthline
Millenium Medical Care
Truworth Wellness
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