If you’re looking for a career in medicine that allows you to specialize, rather than focus on general practice, working as an internal medicine doctor could be a good fit. These physicians are experts called on for complex medical cases for adults. They’re the specialists that general practitioners often send patients to when they have more challenging medical problems that aren’t responding to traditional prevention and treatment protocols.
For many pre-med students, this type of specialty is appealing, but choosing the right one is not always easy at the start of an educational path. If you’re interested in this field, here’s what you need to know about it.
What Is an Internist Medicine Doctor, and Who Do They Treat?
What Does an Internal Medicine Doctor Do?
Where Do Internal Medicine Doctors Work?
What Education Is Required for Internal Medicine Doctors?
Is Internal Medicine the Right Path?
Get Expert Guidance to See if Working as an Internal Medicine Doctor Is Right for You
What Is an Internist Medicine Doctor, and Who Do They Treat?
An internist, also known as an internal medicine doctor, specializes in treating patients with chronic and often complex conditions. These physicians possess a unique ability to identify solutions that may elude other specialists. Unlike other medical specialties that concentrate on a single body system or area, internists provide comprehensive care across all systems, with a particular emphasis on managing chronic or intricate health issues.
Internists treat patients with chronic conditions, such as diabetes, obesity, and chronic heart conditions or pulmonary disease. They may also be called on to work on infectious diseases that are outside the practice area of a general practitioner. They are trained to see beyond the initial symptoms to find the underlying causes, and sometimes, they have to treat patients with multiple co-occurring or overlapping conditions.
What Does an Internal Medicine Doctor Do?
Internal medicine doctors apply knowledge that comes from research and their clinician experience to diagnose and treat adult patients with specific health conditions or diseases. They are not the doctor a patient visits if they have strep throat or the flu and need treatment for a temporary condition. Instead, they focus on adults with complex, multi-system, and chronic disorders. They, therefore, will often see their patients multiple times for the same condition as they work to get them on a path toward wellness. For patients with incurable diseases, they may focus on maintaining health while managing the condition.
Some internists will specialize yet again in a sub-specialty. For instance, these doctors could focus on cardiology, only seeing patients who have heart conditions. This specialization requires additional training but enables them to concentrate on a single area of medicine, enhancing their expertise in treating specific conditions.
One benefit of considering a career as an internal medicine doctor is the high potential salary in this field. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, these doctors earn a mean wage of $225,270 a year, which is higher than the $211,300 a year salary for general family medicine doctors.
Where Do Internal Medicine Doctors Work?
The majority of internal medicine doctors are employed in physicians’ offices, which may either operate independently or as part of hospital systems. Many more work in hospital settings. A few doctors will work in outpatient care centers or specialty hospitals, and a small portion of these doctors end up in academia.
What Education Is Required for Internal Medicine Doctors?
Internal medicine doctors receive a bachelor’s degree following four years of medical school. They then take a residency program in their specialty area, which can last around three years. This residency gives them the specific training they need to practice internal medicine.
Throughout their residency, internal medicine doctors primarily work in hospitals, providing care to patients with chronic conditions and gaining experience in intensive care units. While a segment of their training occurs in outpatient settings, the bulk of their residency is hospital-based, ensuring comprehensive exposure to inpatient care.
Is Internal Medicine the Right Path?
If you are considering a career in medicine and are eager to apply your problem-solving skills to complex medical cases, pursuing a career as an internal medicine doctor may be the perfect fit. This field is especially suited for those who desire to maintain ongoing relationships with their patients and are committed to investing substantial time in educating them about their health conditions. Educating patients is a pivotal aspect of providing comprehensive care for individuals with chronic health conditions.
Get Expert Guidance to See if Working as an Internal Medicine Doctor Is Right for You
If you’re intrigued by the prospect of working as an internal medicine doctor or are seeking information on various medical specialties, Advanced eClinical Training is here to assist. Our pre-med student advisors are dedicated to guiding pre-med students toward specialties that align with their interests and career aspirations. Through our student advisor program, pre-med students have the opportunity to work closely with mentors, enabling them to hone in on their preferred specialty early on. These advisors play a crucial role in helping students weigh the advantages and potential challenges of different medical fields, thereby allowing students to tailor their education effectively and maximize their time in both school and residency. For professional advice and support from the Advanced eClinical Training team, we invite you to enroll now.
