Why you need a good internist

When would you see an internist? If you have no idea, you're not alone. Most Americans don't know what an internist, officially a Doctor of Internal Medicine, does, according to a survey by the American College of Physicians. But if you're an adult, you might want to find one.

 Internists: are experts in adult health care period they don't deliver babies, they don't treat children, and they do not perform operations. They go through medical schools then three years of residency to learn how to prevent, find and treat illness in adults. They specialize in caring for the whole patient, from the teen years through old age, and they work with specialists to coordinate all a patient's medical care. They also advocate for their patients and help them navigate the health care system.

 The following information from the American College of

Physicians can be helpful in determining if an internist is right for you and how to find a good internal medicine physician:

 The basics: at least three of an internist’s seven or more years of medical school and post-graduate training are dedicated to learning how to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that affect adults. Internists are sometimes referred to as the “doctor’s doctor,” because they are often called upon to act as consultants to other physicians to help solve puzzling diagnostic problems. You might see internists referred to by several terms including “internists,” “general internists” and “doctors of internal medicine.” But don't mistake them with “interns,” who are doctors in their first year of residency training. Although internists may act as primary care physicians, they are not “family physicians,” “family practitioners,” or “general practitioners,” whose training is not solely concentrated on adults and may include surgery, obstetrics, and pediatrics.

 Caring for the whole patient:

Internist are specially trained to solve puzzling diagnostic problems and can handle severe chronic illnesses in 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 an effective treatment of common problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system, and reproductive organs.

 Caring for your life: In today's complex medical environment, internists take pride in the caring for their patients for life - - in the office or clinic, during hospitalization and intensive care and in nursing homes. When other medical specialists, such as surgeons or obstetricians, are involved, they coordinate their patients care and manage difficult medical problems associated with that care.

 Internal medicine subspecialist: Internists can choose to focus their practice on general internal medicine or take additional training to “subspecialized” in one of the 13 areas of internal medicine. Cardiologist, for example, are doctors of internal medicine who subspecialize in diseases of the heart. The training of internist receives to subspecialize in a particular medical area is both broad and deep. Subspecialty training (often called a fellowship) usually requires an additional one to three years beyond the standard three-year general internal medicine residency.

 What does capital FACP mean: When you see the letters FACP after your physician’s name, those letters mean that he or she is a Fellow of the American College of Physicians, the largest society of internist in the world. Fellowship is honorary designation given to recognize ongoing individual service and contribution to the practice of medicine. Fellowship in ACP is a mark of distinction. It says that your doctor has made special efforts to be a better doctor through activities such as teaching, hospital appointments, public service, continuing medical education, publishing scientific articles and advanced trainings.

This content was sponsored by Dr. Daniel Bendetowicz, an award-winning FACP internist who believes in taking care of the whole patient for health and life.