Internal medicine is the medical specialty dedicated to the diagnosis and medical treatment of all adults who are chronically ill, or the care of those who are healthy. The difference between a family doctor and an internist, is that internists will generally only treat adults, whereas a family medicine doctor will cover the whole family, including children.
An internist is a doctor who has completed a three-year internal medicine residency, following medical school. During their academic studies and hands-on training, Internists are charged with solving difficult medical issues. Because of their precise medical training, a doctor who practices internal medicine is able to diagnose and treat a number of various diseases and conditions. Internists are also trained to provide preventive care, for healthy living and disease avoidance. From cancer screenings to mammograms, an internist is qualified to help patients plan their schedules for check-ups, tests and exams, and establish a regular medical routine. Internal medicine is truly a patient-centered area of medicine.
While internists may continue to practice general medicine, many choose to subspecialize in one illness, or one part of the anatomy. When an internist wishes to further sub-specialize in a particular area, the doctor must complete what is called a fellowship. A fellowship is an additional two to four years of training where the physician will learn and practice more on a focused field.
There are eleven sub-specialties in internal medicine. They include:
- Pulmonology: Pulmonologists are trained to diagnose and treat conditions of the lungs, or other health problems that relate to breathing.
- Cardiology: Cardiologists are heart and blood vessel doctors. They treat patients with cardio-vascular diseases like heart attacks and congestive heart failure.
- Endocrinology: Endocrinologists are doctors who specialize in hormones and glands. Typically, they will focus on diseases of the thyroid gland, diabetes, and other hormone conditions.
- Gastroenterology: Gastroenterologists (often referred to as a GI) are doctors of the digestive system. This includes diagnosis and treatment of conditions affecting the esophagus, stomach, small intestine, large intestine, pancreas, and liver.
- Hematology/Oncology: Hematologists/Oncologists see patients with blood disorders and cancer. These specialists will often see patients with blood disorders such as anemia or breast, lung, or colon cancer. While they are likely to administer chemotherapy to treat cancer, they are not surgeons, and therefore do not perform surgery.
- Allergy/Immunology: Allergists/Immunologists perform allergy testing to see what food or environmental substances may be causing an allergic response in a patient. They can also treat immune deficiency conditions, where the body’s immune system is under-functioning.
- Nephrology: Nephrologists are kidney doctors. They treat patients with kidney damage (referred to as renal insufficiency) and kidney failure. The nephrologist also manages a patient’s dialysis.
- Rheumatology: Rheumatologists treat autoimmune diseases. These are conditions where the body’s own immune system attacks itself.
- Geriatrics: Geriatricians are doctors who specialize in treating elderly patients who are typically 80 years of age or older.
- Hepatology: A Hepatologist treats conditions of the liver. These physicians usually see patients with chronic or severe liver conditions.
- Infectious Disease: Infectious disease doctors treat chronic and severe infections. These may include HIV/AIDS, bone infections, and severe skin infections.
Should you feel that you are having a problem in any of the areas treated by an internal medicine physician, contact South Carolina Internal Medicine Associates & Rehabilitation at (803) 749-1111 for comprehensive, compassionate, and truly patient centered care. Call today, or request an appointment online.
