The medical speciality is dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment of adults.
A physician who specializes in internal medicine is referred to as an internist. They are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment, and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness.
Internists routinely see patients with conditions such as:
An internist may consult with doctors in other fields of medicine or may be called to consult on a patient by another specialist.
Internal medicine specialists also take a close look at how all the systems in the body, work together as a whole because a problem in one area could cause complications in another. Internists are trained in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer, infections, and diseases affecting the heart, blood, kidneys, joints and digestive, respiratory, and vascular systems. They are also trained in the essentials of primary care internal medicine which incorporates an understanding of disease prevention, wellness, substance abuse, mental health, and effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs. Internists are sometimes referred to as the “doctor’s doctor,” because they are often called upon to act as consultants to other physicians to help solve puzzling diagnostic problems.