What is Internal Medicine?
According to the American College of Physicians (ACP), 'Doctors of internal medicine focus on adult medicine and have had special study and training focusing on the prevention and treatment of adult diseases.' Internists, as internal medicine physicians are commonly known, are focused on the care of the adult patient.
Internists are specially trained to solve puzzling diagnostic problems and can handle severe chronic illnesses and situations where several different illnesses may strike at the same time. They also bring to patients an understanding of wellness (disease prevention and the promotion of health), women's health, substance abuse, mental health, as well as effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs.
We are specialized in treating complex illnesses, yet we prefer to focus on preventive care and encourage routine physical exams, timely health screenings, and maintaining an active and healthy lifestyle. As the old saying goes, prevention is better than cure.
Preventive Care
The purpose of preventive care is to take measures to prevent illness or limit the extent of illnesses. Preventive care may include examinations and screening tests tailored to an individual's age, health, and family history. For example, a person with a family history of certain cancers or other diseases would be screened at an earlier age and/or more frequently than those with no family history. Timely recognition and purposeful intervention have been shown to be beneficial in reducing morbidity and mortality. It is important to adhere to proven guidelines issued by the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF).
