Frequently Asked Questions About Internal Medicine

An internist is another name for a doctor of internal medicine who specializes in the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of adult diseases. They focus on internal organs and manage both routine wellness and complex long-term illnesses.

Both fields provide primary care, but they differ in patient age, focus and training. While family physicians treat all age groups with training across pediatrics and obstetrics, internists primarily treat adults age 18 and older, and their training emphasizes diagnostic cases, disease prevention, and multi-system chronic disease management.

Internal medicine is best for adults age 18 and older who need dedicated primary care, particularly those managing complex or overlapping medical issues.

• Chronic Conditions – Patients managing long-term issues, like diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease or thyroid disorders
• Multi-System Illnesses – Patients dealing with several overlapping diseases at the same time
• Complex Coordination – Patients who require careful management across various medical subspecialties

Internists provide routine checkups, assessments, immunizations and screening tests, as well as chronic disease management and complex problem-solving.

• Primary Care – Treat minor injuries and illnesses, perform wellness checkups, and give vaccines.
• Chronic Disease Management – Help patients control long-term conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and heart disease
• Complex Problem-Solving – Act like medical detectives to find the root cause of confusing or multiple overlapping symptoms

No, internal medicine doctors do not perform major surgeries. If a patient requires an operation, an internist will coordinate care and refer them to a qualified surgical specialist.

Internists treat a wide range of acute and chronic health conditions affecting adults, including the following:

• Diabetes (Type 1 and Type 2)
• High blood pressure
• Heart disease and high cholesterol
• Arthritis and osteoporosis
• Kidney disease
• Thyroid disorders
• Asthma
• COPD (chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
• Pneumonia and bronchitis
• Infections
• Minor injuries
• Digestive disorders
• Mental health concerns

Internists diagnose adult patients using a step-by-step approach. They review medical history, ask about current symptoms, perform physical exams, and order blood tests, urine tests and imaging, such as x-rays, ultrasound and MRI, to find the root cause of illness.