| An internal medicine doctor is basically a doctor who | | | | the study of kidney disease, oncology which is the |
| is dedicated to preventative care, diagnoses, and | | | | branch of medicine that deals with tumors or cancer, |
| treatment for disease that effect adults. Internists | | | | pulmonology which focuses on the lungs and |
| differ from other doctors is several aspects, and | | | | respiratory tract, rheumatology which is dedicated to |
| they are sometimes referred to as the "doctor's | | | | the diagnosis and therapy of muscles joints, and |
| doctor" because they often team up or act as | | | | bones, and sports medicine. A cardiologist, for |
| consultants for other specialized physicians to help | | | | example, is an internist who focuses on the care and |
| diagnose difficult cases. Sometimes called internists, | | | | prevention of heart disease; he is not a heart |
| these professionals, simply put are internal medicine | | | | surgeon, though the two physicians may have a |
| doctors for adults. Though he may practice family or | | | | close professional relationship. |
| general medicine, he differs from family or general | | | | An internal medicine doctor may work as a family |
| practitioners in that they may also be trained in | | | | practitioner, though he will not take young patients, |
| surgery, pediatrics, or obstetrics whereas an internist | | | | but his forte is to combine the science of medicine |
| is focused on whole life whole person care involving | | | | with patient care. If a patient brings an issue to him |
| prevention, diagnosis and treatment of most any | | | | that necessitates treatment from a specialist, he will |
| problem a patient can have. They work in several | | | | continue to work with the patient as the primary and |
| environments including offices, clinics, hospitals, and | | | | diagnostic physician and as the team and strategy |
| nursing homes. | | | | coordinator. |
| These doctors can have what is known as a | | | | Basic things that the job includes are advisement |
| sub-specialty which is usually obtained through a | | | | concerning diet, hygiene, and disease prevention |
| fellowship that involves two to three years of | | | | including all the collections and maintenance of records |
| training in addition to the already involved degree plan | | | | that this entails. An internal medicine doctor also |
| of medical school, internship, and residency, and | | | | treats common health problems making diagnoses |
| internist training. There are many sub-specialties, but | | | | and is responsible for the explanation of services and |
| some included possibilities for those who practice this | | | | for the referral process when other specialized |
| type of medicine are cardiology, gastroenterology, | | | | services are needed. Internists are known for |
| hematology which involves the study and focus of | | | | providing long term and comprehensive non-surgical |
| the blood, infectious disease, geriatrics, adolescent | | | | treatment of diseases and health care for adults. |
| medicine, immunology, endocrinology, nephrology or | | | | |