Internal medicine is a branch of medicine that deals with disorders of the internal body structures of adults. Doctors who practice internal medicine are called internists. A patient goes to an internist with a specific problem or for a checkup. In either case, the internist does a complete evaluation of the patient.
If the patient has a problem, the internist begins the evaluation by asking the patient questions relating to the problem and to all the organ systems. The internist also asks questions about the patient’s background, such as past medical problems, illnesses in the patient’s family, and the patient’s life style. Next, the internist gives the patient a thorough physical examination. Blood tests are conducted and X rays and an electrocardiogram may be taken. The internist also may order specialized tests, such as ultrasound, radionuclide scan, and computerized axial tomography (CAT scan) (see Computed tomography ; Radiochemistry ; Ultrasound ; X rays (In medicine) ).
The internist interprets all this information in order to make a final evaluation and to decide on treatment. The internist may prescribe medications and also may decide that further procedures, such as surgery, are needed.
Many internists concentrate in a particular area of internal medicine. For example, they may specialize in cancer or infectious diseases, or in specific organ systems, such as the heart and blood vessels, the lungs, or the digestive system.
