Internal medicine is a medical specialty that focuses on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide variety of health conditions. An internist only treats adults. Some internists deliver primary care in hospital settings, while others provide outpatient care. Some general internists choose to work in long-term care facilities and rehabilitation centers.
Alternatively, some internists choose to provide concierge medical services to have more control over their schedules and create stronger bonds with their patients. Read on to learn more about internists and how to find the best one for your needs.
What is an Internal Medicine Doctor/Internist?
Internal medicine doctors are trained to:
- Accurately diagnose and treat different health conditions
- Provide guidance to their patients, helping them improve their health
- Perform minor surgeries
- Offer life-long comprehensive and palliative care, and
- Provide comprehensive primary care for patients
Benefits of Seeing an Internist
There are several compelling reasons for seeing a doctor who practices internal medicine. An internal medicine doctor provides preventive care services. Preventive care helps reduce healthcare costs by diagnosing and treating health problems early. Many health conditions that internists treat can snowball into major concerns and if left untreated, can land people suffering from them in the ER.
During routine checkups, an internist looks for any abnormalities. If they notice any symptoms of a health problem, the professional probes deeper and starts treatment immediately once a health condition is diagnosed. Timely medical intervention improves health outcomes.
The female body undergoes various changes during the life stages of women. These changes can affect a woman’s physical and mental health. Internists help women maintain good health and reduce their risk of health complications.
An internist can perform a health risk assessment and recommend lifestyle changes to reduce your risk of health conditions. Internists are great at communicating with each other. Your internist can refer you to another internal medicine doctor with a subspeciality if necessary and can help you with hospital transfers.
Education and Training
In order to become a board-certified internist, a doctor must complete a three-year residency program in internal medicine after earning their bachelor’s degree. Internal medicine doctors can choose to subspecialize in one of several areas of internal medicine.
Some internal medicine subspecialties include oncology, nephrology, hematology, sports medicine, and rheumatology. An internist’s specific medical training enables them to provide precise and comprehensive medical care, which is important for disease prevention and management.
Internists vs. Family Practice Doctors
Many people confuse internal medicine doctors with family physicians. Internists and family practice doctors are similar in many ways as they are both primary care physicians. Both internists and family practice doctors treat a number of health problems.
The main difference between them is that internists only tend to be adults. On the other hand, family doctors help people of all ages care for their health. In order to earn a certification to treat adults as well as children, a professional must complete a med-peds residency.
Dr. Guy is the best internal medicine doctor near you. His professionalism and expertise set him apart from his peers. To make an appointment with him, call (707) 938-1255.
