The hundreds of medical specialties available can confound you, especially when it comes to deciding who to see for a medical condition. No specialty induces a head scratch more than internal medicine. Their practitioners – internists – are not the interns who are in their first year of medical residency.
Internists are doctors who specialize and focus on adult illnesses.
It has been said that internal medicine draws the brightest and sharpest minds in the medical field. So what exactly does internal medicine concern and what does an internist do?
Defining Internal Medicine
Internal medicine originates from the German word “innere medizin,” meant to represent laboratory study (the study of diseases and bacteria) and the incorporation of their studies into the care and treatment of patients.
According to the American College of Physicians, internal medicine combines expertise in analyzing and examining laboratory science (taking a look at how systems in the body work together), with a compassionate approach to the treatment of patients. Furthermore, it means that the more knowledge one has of inner diseases, instead of just external symptoms, the better vantage point one has in seeing the bigger picture of a medical condition. Thus, the better-equipped one is to help a patient not only in treatment but also in prevention.
Internists are physicians who practice internal medicine. A general internist spends three years of training, after which some general internists may branch out into subspecialties of internal medicine that take another two to three years of training. An internist’s comprehensive knowledge of medicine and medical conditions allows them to provide care for patients with not just common illnesses but also complex ones that are chronic, such as diabetes and heart disease.
What Internists Treat
Internists come from different subspecialties and may treat:
- Allergies
- Blood Disease
- Diabetes
- Digestive Problems
- Endocrine Problems
- Heart Disease
- Lung Disease
- Mental Health Issues
- Obesity
- Respiratory Disease
However, another important thing that internists do is helping patients prevent diseases by controlling risk factors that make them susceptible to developing them. Their wide range of knowledge in adult diseases and how they relate to one another enables them to effectively administer preventive care especially to patients who have shown susceptibility to certain illnesses due to either family history and lifestyle factors. Internists also coordinate with other specialists to give patients the best care possible. The internist-patient relationship is ideally one that lasts a long time, from early adulthood to your senior years.
Doctors of Adult Diseases in South Carolina
Our physicians at SC Internal Medicine Associates and Rehabilitation specialize in internal medicine. We use only the best and most current medical science available to not only treat our patients but also prevent the progression of diseases. We believe in building a meaningful relationship with our patients, one that rests on compassion and trustworthiness.
In our patient-centered medical home (PCMH), our physician-led care team is responsible for providing all your health care needs and making available expanded hours, open scheduling, and honest, direct, and clear communication between us and our patients. We want you to take an active role in your care and progress by developing a health and wellness plan that is right for you.
If you have any questions about our services, please call us at l (803) 749-1111 or request an appointment online.
