Internal Medicine Information, Internal Medicine Information

What is Internal Medicine, and what does an Internist do?

Internal Medicine is a field dedicated to the prevention and treatment of diseases seen in adults. Internal Medicine doctors provide primary medical care to adult patients throughout their lifetimes. They see patients during regular (typically annual) wellness physical exams, in which the patient's current health is assessed and wellness guidance is provided, and sick visits, in which the physician diagnoses illness and underlying medical conditions, referring the patient to a specialist when necessary. Internal Medicine doctors may be specialists in general care, or may choose to subspecialize after their residency training in one of the thirteen subspecialties of internal medicine, which include cardiology, nephrology and endocrinology.

Where can I get more information?

For more information on Internal Medicine careers, finding an Internal Medicine doctor, and Internal Medicine education and training, follow the links on the left-hand side and top of this page. For further information about the profession, visit the website of one of the many regional and national internal medicine organizations. A particularly good site is maintained by the American College of Physicians, whose members include internal medicine physicians, subspecialists related to Internal Medicine, and medical students and whose website provides comprehensive information on the field. Other good resources include the American Board of Internal Medicine, and the American College of Physicians' Internal Medicine publication, Annals of Internal Medicine.