What Is Internal Medicine?

Internal medicine physicians, or internists, focus on diagnosing and treating adults. They can also provide preventative care, helping patients avoid serious health problems. Internists treat healthy adults, those with complex, long-term illnesses, and those with multiple chronic conditions. This blog aims to give patients a better understanding of internal medicine and whether it is right for them.

Understanding internal medicine

Internal medicine gets its name from how it focuses primarily on the body’s internal systems. It is often likened to family medicine, but they are not the same. Family medicine is concerned with the health of patients of all ages, from children to older adults. On the other hand, internal medicine is only concerned with the health of adults — not children or teenagers. Internists treat patients starting in early adulthood right up into their golden years.

Doctors of internal medicine may offer services such as annual physical examinations, mental health evaluations and referrals, and geriatric care. They can also help manage complex or chronic conditions, such as:

• Diabetes
• Blood disorders
• Endocrine disorders
• Kidney problems
• Infectious disease
• Cardiovascular disease
• Gastrointestinal disease
• Neurological disorders
• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)

General internal medicine

After graduating from a four-year university, an aspiring internal medicine doctor will need to complete an additional seven years of medical school. Three of these years must be focused on internal medicine itself. General internal medicine doctors are those who have completed this basic training. General internists can treat the wide range of conditions listed above, providing both outpatient and inpatient care. 

Specialties in internal medicine

Internal medicine physicians may complete additional training, known as a fellowship, in a specialized area of medicine. Fellowships can take anywhere from one to three years to complete. The most common internal medicine subspecialties include:

• Cancer or oncology
• The heart or cardiology
• The blood or hematology
• The kidneys or nephrology
• The musculoskeletal system or rheumatology
• The gastrointestinal system or gastroenterology
• The endocrine system or endocrinology

Internists with a subspecialty in cardiology, or cardiologists, may treat a variety of heart diseases. For example, some cardiologists focus on heart failure and transplants, while others are more concerned with interventional cardiology. Similarly, internists with a subspecialty in endocrinology may also help patients manage diabetes and metabolism.

How to see a doctor of internal medicine

Many people see a family doctor as their primary care physician or PCP. However, general internal medicine doctors may also serve as PCPs — their years of specialized training make them a fitting option for adults looking for preventative care or long-term care for a chronic condition. Internists also often work at urgent care centers. That said, patients looking to see an internist with a subspecialty, like an oncologist, will typically need a doctor’s referral.

Learn more about internal medicine

Internists aim to help patients prevent serious health problems and manage chronic conditions. To learn more about internal medicine, call our team today. We look forward to helping you maintain your health.

Request an appointment here: https://hillendale.millenniummedicalcare.com or call Millennium Medical Care Woodbridge at (703) 945-1942 for an appointment in our Woodbridge office.

Check out what others are saying about our services on Yelp: Internal Medicine in Woodbridge, VA.