INTERNAL/GENERAL MEDICINE PHYSICIAN

An Internal/General Medicine Physician's job involvesproviding comprehensive medical care to adults, including diagnosing and treating a wide range of acute and chronic illnesses, conducting physical exams, ordering and interpreting tests, and developing long-term care plans. They manage conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and hypertension, focusing on disease prevention, health promotion, and patient education, and often serve as the primary doctor for adult patients, maintaining a long-term relationship to manage complex or multiple health issues.

Key responsibilities

• Patient diagnosis and treatment:

  Assess patient symptoms and medical history, conduct thorough physical exams, and analyze test results to make accurate diagnoses.

• Chronic and acute illness management:

  Treat a wide range of conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, and pulmonary diseases, and manage acute illnesses.

• Prescription and care planning:

  Prescribe medications, treatments, and lifestyle changes. Develop and modify long-term care plans to manage chronic conditions and promote overall health.

• Patient and family communication:

  Clearly explain diagnoses, treatment plans, and test results to patients and their families.

• Health promotion and prevention:

  Focus on preventative care, health promotion, and advising patients on wellness.

• Collaboration and referrals:

  Work with other specialists (e.g., endocrinology, cardiology) and refer patients to them when necessary.

• Record keeping:

  Maintain accurate and detailed patient records.

Required skills and qualifications

• A Doctor of Medicine (MD) or Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) degree.
• Successful completion of a residency in internal medicine.
• Board certification in internal medicine is often required.
• An active medical license in the state where they practice.
• Exceptional critical thinking and problem-solving skills.
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills for patient education and collaboration.
• Ability to manage complex cases, often involving multiple chronic diseases.