Where we fit in today's primary care
picture. Where we fit in today's primary care
picture.Of all primary care physicians, we "doctors of internal medicine" (also called "internists") are unique in our focus on adult medicine. We spend all of our time diagnosing and treating adults.
We don't deliver babies. We don't treat children. We don't do surgery. At least three of our seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training are dedicated to learning how to prevent, diagnose and treat diseases primarily affecting adults.
Our training is both broad and deep. We are equipped to deal with whatever problem the patient brings - no matter how common or rare, or how simple or complex.
To do this, we continually update our knowledge in many areas, including diseases of the heart and blood vessels, diabetes, digestive diseases, hormonal disorders, infections, kidney diseases, respiratory disorders, allergies, blood diseases, and arthritis - from adolescence to the elderly; from the office to intensive care.
We also bring to patients and understanding of wellness (disease prevention and the promotion of health), women's health, substance abuse, mental health, as well as effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs.
We are specially trained to solve puzzling diagnostic problems. We handle severe chronic illnesses. And situations where several illnesses may strike at the same time.
In today's complex world, we aim to take care of our patients for life - in the office or clinic, during hospitalization and intensive care, and in nursing homes. When other medical specialists, such as surgeons or obstetricians, are involved, we coordinate their care for our patients and manage difficult medical problems associated with that care.
In fact, we so often serve as medical consultants to physicians in other specialties that we've earned the nickname, "the doctor's doctor."
Some of us choose to focus our practice on one area of internal medicine and take additional training to "subspecialize". Cardiologists for example are doctors of internal medicine who subspecialize in diseases of the heart. A look at our list of subspecialties underscores the breadth of expertise under the internal medicine umbrella: cardiology, gastroenterology, pulmonology (lungs), rheumatology (arthritis), nephrology (kidneys), hematology (blood), endocrinology (diabetes and other glandular disorders), infectious diseases, and allergy and immunology.
We doctors of internal medicine are also known as "internists" or "general internists". This should not be confused with "interns" who are in their first year of training after medical school. Nor are we the same as "general practitioners" (GPs), or "family physicians" (FPs), whose practices may include surgery, obstetrics and pediatrics, and whose training is not solely concentrated on adults.
The American College of Physicians, with headquarters in Philadelphia, represents more than 100,000 doctors of internal medicine and medical students.
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This page last updated: 02/27/05