Internal medicine consists of diagnosing, treating, and preventing the entire spectrum of illness and issues that may affect adults. The physicians who practice such a discipline are called internists or general internists who use medical sciences and their abilities to deal with any problem that a patient may be dealing with. The general internists practice internal medicine in primary care, long-term care facilities, or other centers due to their training qualifying them for a vast number of specialities and settings.
To become an internist or specialized physician in internal medicine, 3 years after undergraduate school should be dedicated to learning preventions, how to diagnose, and how to treat diseases that specifically affect adults. Numerous assessments or exams are required including the Longitudinal Knowledge Assessment, MOC Assessments, and certification exams. Doctors will generally call internists to consult the doctors or physicians and assist in finding solutions to unique problems that may arise.
Subspecialities in internal medicine also exist, as many internists wish to specialize in specific areas. The training or fellowship for a subspeciality requires 1-3 more years after residency. Such specialized training allows them to still have a fairly broad spectrum of specialities while being able to look into complex issues that arise in one specific area of medicine, such as cardiology.
By Rushil Khadilkar
