Internal medicine

File:Doctor consults with patient (7).jpg

Doctor consults with patient (7)

Internal medicine, also called general medicine (in Commonwealth nations), is the medical specialty dealing with the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. Physicians specializing in internal medicine are called internists or physicians.

Overview[edit]

Internal medicine encompasses a broad range of medical knowledge and patient care. Internists are trained to diagnose and treat a wide variety of medical conditions, from acute illnesses to chronic diseases. They also provide preventive care, health education, and management of ongoing medical issues.

Hospitalists and primary care[edit]

Internists play a critical role in managing patients with undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes. They can work in various settings, such as outpatient clinics, hospitals, and academic institutions.

Primary care physicians: Internists who primarily care for patients in an outpatient setting are called primary care physicians. They manage routine checkups, vaccinations, and common medical problems, as well as coordinating care with other specialists.

Hospitalists: Internists who focus on taking care of hospitalized patients are called hospitalists. They manage inpatient care, including admission, treatment, and discharge, and often work with other specialists to provide comprehensive care.

What do Internal Medicine physicians do?[edit]

Internal medicine physicians diagnose and provide non-surgical treatment of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. They care mainly for adults who have a wide range of problems associated with the internal organs. Subspecialists, such as cardiologists, gastroenterologists, pulmonologists, endocrinologists, hematologists, oncologists, nephrologists, etc., are internal medicine physicians who have undergone additional training in a specific field after completing their internal medicine residency.

Procedures[edit]

Internal medicine physicians can perform various procedures depending on their practice scope. Some common procedures include:

Venipuncture for blood draws
Arterial puncture or (ABG)
Endotracheal tube placement or intubation
Flexible sigmoidoscopy
Intravenous (IV) line insertion
Nasogastric tube (NG tube) placement
Urinary catheters placement (Foley's catheter)

Other procedures include Abdominal paracentesis, Arterial line placement, Central venous line placement, Arthrocentesis, Electrocardiography, Incision / drainage of an abscess, Lumbar puncture, and Thoracentesis, among others.

Top internal medicine journals[edit]

Internists follow various academic journals to stay updated with the latest studies and research in the field of internal medicine. Some of the top journals include:

Choosing the right internist[edit]

When selecting an internal medicine physician, consider factors such as their experience, qualifications, communication style, and office location. For more tips on choosing a doctor, visit Choosing a Doctor: Quick Tips.

Education of internal medicine physicians[edit]

Internal medicine physicians complete a four-year medical degree (MD or DO) followed by a three-year internal medicine residency program. During residency, they gain hands-on experience in various medical subspecialties, such as cardiology, gastroenterology, infectious diseases, and more. They learn to manage patients with diverse medical conditions and coordinate care with other specialists.

Internal medicine residency training[edit]

Internal medicine residency programs typically last three years and provide comprehensive training in the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of a wide range of adult diseases. Residents rotate through various medical subspecialties, inpatient and outpatient settings, and critical care units. They also receive training in evidence-based medicine, medical ethics, and patient communication.

Subspecialties of internal medicine[edit]

After completing an internal medicine residency, physicians can choose to pursue additional training in a subspecialty through fellowship programs. These fellowships typically last 1-3 years and offer specialized training in fields such as:

Cardiology: Heart and vascular conditions
Endocrinology: Hormonal and metabolic disorders
Gastroenterology: Digestive system disorders
Hematology: Blood disorders
Infectious diseases: Diagnosis and treatment of infections
Nephrology: Kidney diseases
Oncology: Cancer care
Pulmonology: Lung and respiratory conditions
Rheumatology: Joint, muscle, and autoimmune diseases

Job opportunities and prospects[edit]

Internal medicine physicians can work in various settings, including private practices, hospitals, academic institutions, and research facilities. They may also choose to focus on specific populations, such as geriatric or adolescent medicine. According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, job prospects for physicians are expected to grow, with an increasing demand for healthcare services due to an aging population and advancements in medical technology.

For more information on job profiles and outlook, see BLS.GOV

Board certifications[edit]

Upon completion of their residency training, internal medicine physicians can become board-certified by the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM) or the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine (AOBIM). Board certification demonstrates that the physician has met rigorous standards of knowledge and practice in their field. Additionally, subspecialty certifications are available for those who complete fellowship training in a specific area of internal medicine.

Professional organizations[edit]

Professional organizations for internal medicine physicians offer networking opportunities, continuing education, and advocacy for their members. Some prominent organizations include:

American College of Physicians (ACP)
Society of Hospital Medicine (SHM)
American Society of Internal Medicine (ASIM)
European Federation of Internal Medicine (EFIM)
Royal College of Physicians (RCP) in the UK

These organizations provide resources, guidelines, and updates on the latest research and best practices in internal medicine, helping physicians stay current in their field.

Find an internal medicine (world)[edit]

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WikiMD's Internist Finder (USA)

Need help finding an Internist in the United States?

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poly 643 371 666 452 621 458 621 473 606 468 604 374 Internists in Alabama poly 152 457 153 540 177 548 205 576 205 589 183 588 158 553 117 547 100 567 12 578 66 547 41 517 52 469 72 449 107 437 Internists in Alaska poly 132 396 190 434 229 441 245 325 161 309 157 326 148 326 140 347 151 364 Internists in Arizona poly 490 346 489 404 499 419 551 419 566 373 574 353 560 347 Internists in Arkansas poly 27 164 91 181 73 243 140 339 138 346 149 363 134 394 91 389 41 334 13 194 Internists in California poly 257 235 369 248 364 331 247 320 Internists in Colorado poly 818 185 819 206 845 195 842 180 Internists in Connecticut

poly 794 239 799 270 813 270 808 255 Internists in Delaware

poly 731 453 776 545 757 583 739 584 714 520 688 472 663 485 624 471 624 460 666 454 666 460 Internists in Florida poly 644 368 686 364 736 417 730 455 668 457 Internists in Georgia poly 219 507 216 552 259 588 339 590 343 557 292 508 Internists in Hawaii poly 169 48 154 107 161 116 145 140 137 190 226 206 236 157 206 154 200 127 189 131 192 105 175 72 182 50 Internists in Idaho poly 555 221 539 263 563 291 560 304 582 330 595 328 605 291 601 227 591 209 552 215 Internists in Illinois poly 603 229 602 312 631 305 650 284 644 222 Internists in Indiana poly 461 197 454 215 469 258 535 258 544 244 553 225 540 198 Internists in Iowa poly 368 268 361 333 488 336 488 291 481 285 484 277 471 269 Internists in Kansas poly 581 343 677 330 697 310 682 289 652 281 633 309 602 313 Internists in Kentucky poly 504 488 510 458 498 440 501 421 553 421 555 435 546 461 574 461 585 475 593 499 547 504 Internists in Louisiana poly 836 111 850 149 854 157 897 106 887 89 872 60 849 56 Internists in Maine poly 732 253 732 263 756 254 778 266 776 275 788 278 798 296 811 268 797 268 793 242 Internists in Maryland poly 816 170 817 186 849 180 857 187 878 189 878 171 854 160 Internists in Massachusetts

poly 544 114 555 131 596 149 613 224 664 219 674 191 647 128 581 85 Internists in Michigan poly 448 79 456 143 453 147 461 156 461 196 541 196 541 186 513 168 510 150 520 126 556 96 483 86 478 71 Internists in Minnesota poly 568 376 603 373 606 472 585 473 573 459 546 459 556 427 555 415 Internists in Mississippi poly 470 259 471 269 486 288 488 345 566 344 561 353 571 353 582 334 559 305 562 294 536 261 Internists in Missouri poly 184 49 179 70 194 104 190 127 200 123 209 152 235 154 237 147 342 158 351 75 Internists in Montana poly 340 203 337 244 368 247 368 265 475 269 460 217 426 208 Internists in Nebraska poly 92 182 180 200 156 324 146 323 141 342 73 244 Internists in Nevada poly 829 114 825 168 852 160 835 109 Internists in New_Hampshire poly 801 207 799 225 806 231 797 240 809 254 823 224 815 218 815 211 Internists in New_Jersey

poly 245 320 347 330 337 436 245 431 242 443 226 439 Internists in New_Mexico poly 727 177 716 205 789 190 799 204 815 209 815 216 823 221 847 202 821 205 817 185 817 167 803 124 777 128 754 166 Internists in New_York poly 706 328 666 366 716 357 748 359 768 375 817 333 803 309 Internists in North_Carolina poly 351 76 345 138 455 144 447 80 Internists in North Dakota poly 653 281 679 285 686 292 714 243 710 213 675 224 663 220 645 223 649 275 Internists in Ohio poly 347 331 488 337 494 407 430 397 397 388 397 347 345 345 Internists in Oklahoma poly 60 79 26 145 26 162 136 188 142 137 157 118 150 104 99 104 73 97 72 83 Internists in Oregon poly 708 210 716 255 791 240 804 230 797 223 799 205 788 191 Internists in Pennsylvania poly 849 179 855 187 847 195 841 183 Internists in Rhode_Island

poly 686 363 738 418 765 376 749 361 716 356 Internists in South Carolina poly 346 138 456 144 452 149 459 157 459 195 456 214 425 207 375 202 341 201 343 182 343 160 Internists in South_Dakota poly 569 374 667 366 705 327 575 344 Internists in Tennessee poly 346 342 337 439 274 432 306 485 331 501 347 484 368 488 407 560 440 572 440 532 507 489 511 457 498 412 483 404 397 389 396 345 Internists in Texas poly 182 201 228 209 224 232 256 234 244 321 162 307 Internists in Utah poly 803 123 816 168 825 168 828 120 Internists in Vermont poly 698 310 677 331 803 308 789 280 775 276 778 267 765 258 753 258 731 277 726 304 Internists in Virginia poly 57 76 73 85 73 95 111 102 158 109 168 49 88 25 60 34 Internists in Washington poly 763 260 753 259 743 278 732 276 728 297 717 308 700 312 689 297 694 275 709 262 712 241 715 257 734 254 734 262 753 253 761 254 Internists in West_Virginia

poly 522 129 520 140 513 146 513 169 538 184 539 210 549 216 592 210 600 156 593 153 585 143 548 126 538 120 Internists in Wisconsin poly 239 148 223 232 337 244 343 157 Internists in Wyoming

rect 883 272 953 290 Internists in Delaware rect 882 291 951 315 Internists in Maryland rect 675 33 785 60 Internists in New_Hampshire rect 867 244 950 269 Internists in New_Jersey rect 680 88 774 113 Internists in Massachusetts rect 871 222 955 243 Internists in Connecticut rect 848 316 955 339 Internists in Washington_DC rect 858 340 953 361 Internists in West_Virginia rect 727 63 780 86 Internists in Vermont rect 863 195 954 220 Internists in Rhode_Island

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