What is an Internist?
If you're looking to become an internist, you will be responsible for internal medicine. Some people confuse them term with an intern, but the two are completely different things. An intern is a doctor that is in their first year of residency after graduating from medical school.
Who Can See an Internist?
An internist is similar to a primary care physician, but the only patients they are able to treat are adults. They work in the area as a family or general doctor.
Conditions Treated by an Internist
In this field, you will be required to provide prevention and non-surgical treatments for chronic and complex diseases that are found in adults, such as high blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease. In some cases an internist is able to treat multiple conditions at once.
What is a General Practitioner?
A general practitioner is also sometimes referred to as a family doctors, who gives primary health care to children, infants and adults.
Conditions Treated by a General Practitioner
As a general practitioner, you will be responsible for providing health care, such as routine gynecological and obstetrical care, along with preventative care and pediatrics.
Education and Training
To become an internist or general practitioner, you will have to go to a college or four year medical school in order to obtain a degree in the field. Afterward, you will have to do a residency where you will work underneath a fully licensed doctor. Internists also have the option of obtaining sub-specialties, such as geriatrics and rheumatology.
