What is internal medicine?
Internal medicine is the largest primary care medical specialty in the United States. Specialists in internal medicine may be called internists, general internists or doctors of internal medicine.
Internists are specialists in caring for adults. Their training includes medical school and an additional three years of training in preventing, diagnosing and treating adult diseases.
Internists can provide care in an office or clinic, during a hospital stay (including intensive care) and in nursing homes.
These doctors may also subspecialize in allergy and immunology, cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, hematology, infectious disease, nephrology, oncology, pulmonology, rheumatology and other areas. A subspecialty requires an additional one to three years of training.
For more information on internists, visit the American College of Physicians website.
Reviewed 4/12/2024