Internist

An internist, or a practitioner of internal medicine, is a medical specialist who focuses his or her medical care on adult medicine. After the completion of medical school, it takes three to seven years of internal medicine residency to be trained in the fields of preventing, diagnosing, and treating diseases that affect adults. An internist can take the option of specializing in different fields of general medicine, or can take more training to subspecialize (often referred to as a fellowship of one to three years) in one of 13 areas, generally organized by organ system. Specialties range from adolescent medicine to geriatric medicine. Other specialties include specific fields of medicine such as pulmonlogy, hematology/oncology, gastroenterology, and cardiology. For medical practitioners in the United States, there are two main organizations accredited to certify internists within their respective fields: the American Board of Internal Medicine and the American Osteopathic Board of Internal Medicine.

An internist is a medical specialist who focuses his or her medical care on adult medicine.

Internists are equipped with the education and knowledge to deal with whatever problem a particular patient suffers from, no matter how common or rare, or how simple or complex. They are specifically trained to solve complicated diagnostic issues and can deal with severe chronic illnesses and situations where several different illnesses may present at the same time. Internists also are trained to help their patients help themselves by maintaining health and wellness. Internists to ensure the best healthcare for their patients follow issues such as disease prevention and the promotion of health, women's health, substance abuse, mental health, as well as regular maintenance treatment of common problems for the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs.

In the principles of diagnosis, the essential tools of any physician are the medical history and the physical examination (this is especially true for the internist.) Descriptions of certain diseases or physical signs and symptoms are important in guiding the internist to a [Page 944]diagnostic conclusion. Included in the medical history is a review of systems, which helps to identify conditions experienced by the patient that might not have been mentioned previously but might help to diagnose. Next, the internist will conduct a physical examination, which includes focused exams to a pertaining problem mentioned by the patient as well as a complete checkup. At this point, the internist is most likely able to create a differential diagnosis list, a variety of possible diagnoses that fit the mesh of signs and symptoms. However, this list is often highly specific and exhausting, therefore the internist might narrow down the list by ordering various blood tests, cultures, and medical imaging tests. Often, these tests also serve as screening tests, especially in older patients, to help maintain health maintenance. After this process has been completed, the internist has arrived at a specific diagnosis and is ready to initiate a treatment plan. Most often these treatments include medications; however sometimes they require a more extensive plan, which is addressed and handled at that time.

In today's busy medical environment, most internists will take the time and pride in caring for their patients for life through continuity of care. Whether it is in the office or the clinics, during hospitalizations or intensive care, in nursing homes or assisted living facilities, internists will usually follow through and keep their patients as top priority.

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