Internal Medicine

Internists at HMC in Sugar Land & Houston

What is Internal Medicine?

Internal Medicine is “a branch of medicine that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases not requiring surgery,” according to Merriam-Webster Dictionary.  Doctors who practice internal medicine, often referred to as “Internists,” specialize in the treatment and prevention of disease in adults of both genders.  Internists may act as the primary healthcare provider for adult patients but they are not “general practitioners” or “family practitioners.”

What an Internist Does

Internists are trained to handle any problem a patient brings, no matter how simple or complex.  They are equipped to deal with complex diagnoses, chronic illnesses, and an understanding of disease prevention and healthy living to instruct the patient in how to stay healthy.  Internists are also able to diagnose and treat common problems with the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs.  Like a family practitioner, internists work together with specialists to provide follow-up care for patients and monitor their progression through treatment plans to ensure their recovery goes smoothly.

Education Requirements for Internal Medicine

Like all physicians, an internist must have obtained a medical degree — either an M.D. (Doctor of Medicine) or D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) from a medical school.  They must then complete a one-year internship and 3 years of residency training.  Internists then must take the the United States Medical Licensing Examination and any state licensing exams to receive their medical license.  Board examination exams are also required before being able to practice internal medicine.