With approximately 200,000 Internists practicing in the United States, Internal Medicine seems to be the world’s largest medical specialty.
Internal medicine emphasizes a comprehensive understanding of the science that underlies medical practice combined with the ability to gather rigorous disease knowledge through observation, in-depth research, and clinical experience for patients.
Consequently, it helps internists develop expertise in complex interrelationships between science and disease.
Moreover, if we talk about doctors, Internal Medicine Doctors are often mistaken for general practitioners or family doctors. Read on to find how Internists are not “Interns” or “General Doctors” and what treatments they could be providing.
Who are Internal Medicine Doctors?
Internists, often known as internal medicine doctors, use scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to diagnose, treat, and compassionately look after individuals ranging from primary-care to tertiary-care illness.
They are particularly skilled in identifying perplexing medical issues and are experts in the continual care of medical conditions and patients with co-morbidities. Internal Medicine Doctors also specialize in health promotion and preventive therapies.
Internists play a key role in applying basic scientific information to clinical practice and actively participate in scientific discoveries.
They get up to two-thirds of all clinical research funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and the Departments of Medicine play an important role in research.
Difference between Internal Medicine Doctors and General/ Family Practitioners
Although the names are commonly interchanged, internists and general practitioners/family physicians are not the same. One of the most significant distinctions is that internists only treat adults, whereas family practitioners treat both adults and children.
General internists are specially qualified to provide primary care to patients and follow them throughout their adult life. Some internists serve as hospitalists, providing primary care in hospitals; others only provide care to outpatients. Internal medicine doctors also work in long-term care settings and rehabilitation centers.
General family practitioners, unlike internists, do not specialize in adults only and may handle pediatrics obstetrics and conduct minor surgeries.
Patients can see a family physician for various medical conditions, acute or chronic diseases, and wellness therapy.
What do Internal Medicine Doctors Treat?
Internal medicine is concerned with analyzing, diagnosing, and treating diseases affecting the internal organs, such as cardiovascular disease, high blood pressure, diabetes mellitus, obesity, and pulmonary disorders. Internal medicine doctors frequently treat complex, chronic, or multi-system conditions.
Internal medicine doctors are involved in diagnosing, treating, and managing a wide range of medical conditions. Here are a few complex medical conditions that internists treat:
- Abnormal uterine bleeding
- Acute aortic dissection
- Bacterial Meningitis
- Calculous Cholecystitis
- Cardiogenic shock complicating acute myocardial infarction
- Exercise-associated hyponatremia
- Syncope
- Vertigo
Diagnostic Test, Treatment Plans, and Surgeries
Internal medicine doctors conduct or order tests, suggest therapies, and perform surgeries based on the condition of the patient, their overall health, and their wellness objectives.
Internists are well-trained to perform various medical procedures, including diagnostics and treatment-oriented methods requiring relevant knowledge, hands-on experience, and skills to perform with minimum patient discomfort, lesser side effects, and positive results.
Such technical procedures requiring expert knowledge of Internal medicine based on systemic category may include:
- Pulmonary: Bronchoscopy, intubation, and administration of ventilator, chest tube thoracostomy
- Cardiology: Echocardiograms, pacemaker installation, stent insertion, cardiac stress testing, electrophysiology, angioplasty
- Gastroenterology: retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), endoscopic ultrasound, liver biopsy.
- Oncology: Stem cell transplant, bone marrow, biopsy, plasmapheresis
Paracentesis, Lumbar puncture, and Thoracentesis are more complicated therapeutic and invasive procedures that internists are skilled for.
Internal Medicine Doctor near Boynton Beach
If you are a resident of Florida near Boynton beach and are looking for an expert Internal Medicine Doctor in your vicinity, MMR Healthcare can facilitate you with quality healthcare facilities and skilled Physicians.
MMR Healthcare is located at 2015 Ocean Dr, Suite 11 Boynton Beach, FL 33426,
You can visit their website: https://www.mmrhealthcare.com/ or call at (561) 364-8056 to make an appointment right away.