Internist

Internists are specialists who specialize in a wide range of diseases. It is part of their area of ​​responsibility that they diagnose ailments and diseases of the patients both preventively and repressively and initiate appropriate treatment methods. Since medical progress also creates an intensive increase in knowledge, internists specialize in individual specialist areas, with sub-specialization always being the linchpin of a medical discussion.

What is an internist?

Internists are specialists who specialize in a wide variety of diseases. You have to diagnose ailments and illnesses of the patients preventively as well as repressively and initiate appropriate treatment methods.

Around Internist To be able to become, who is also known as a specialist in internal medicine in Germany, doctors must complete further training.

The qualification must be in the medical field of internal medicine. Only when the participant has passed the special specialist examination that he practice as an internist. Since internists deal with a variety of clinical pictures, the training is designed over a period of five years.

If the specialist wants to specialize in a core area straight away, he even has to undergo six years of further training. The completion of the additional training is an oral examination, whereby each chamber district can design the training regulations at its own discretion. During his training, the internist can not only focus on one topic, but also take various additional qualifications.

In this respect, many trainees decide to obtain the title of specialist in emergency medicine or infectious diseases. Since the training measure takes a lot of time, it is all the more astonishing that doctors are still ready to expand their specialist knowledge after the strenuous medical studies. On the other hand, this is necessary in order to be able to guarantee the patient the best possible care.

Treatments & therapies

Of the Specialist in internal medicine deals with numerous diseases. Core areas are complaints of the respiratory organs, the cardiovascular system, the kidneys, the vascular structures of the body, the metabolism and secretion, the digestive organs, the immune system, the blood circulation and when the connective and supporting tissue is stressed.

In addition, the internist takes care of poisoning, infectious diseases, tumors and the monitoring and treatment of intensive care patients. Finally, the specialist can also practice as an internist for sports medicine. Since the diseases often result in an invasive procedure, the internist can, as it were, carry out small surgical interventions. Such measures are particularly conceivable in the case of diseases of the cardiovascular system or an attack on the digestive organs. It seems to be the case that the internist is an all-round physician, with the individual departments, especially in large hospitals, being staffed by special specialists.

In smaller institutions, on the other hand, the specialist in internal medicine regularly takes over the department. However, internists are not only active in hospitals, but also care for people in a general practitioner practice. However, the skills of general practitioners are often limited. This is mainly due to the fact that the medical specialists usually only have limited technical options.

Diagnosis & examination methods

Of the Internist must first record the patient's complaints via an anamnesis. Then he will examine the person concerned superficially.

To be able to define the disease in more detail, he can fall back on a few tools. These include, above all, the electrocardiogram, the ultrasound device, various endoscopy equipment and small surgical tools. Furthermore, the doctor will usually order a blood count, which can also provide information about the diseases. The gastroscopy, colonoscopy, bone marrow puncture, cardiac catheter examination, liver and lung biopsy, and lung function examination are covered by the scope of services.

Since medicine is subject to a constant innovation process, the technical devices are also continuously renewed in order to guarantee even better diagnostic procedures. In this respect, the ultrasound examination in particular is divided into various sub-areas. With the help of contrast medium ultrasound, echocardiography or endosonography, the internist can carry out special examination methods if this is necessary to research the symptoms.

On the other hand, all treatment measures can also be initiated preventively. This is particularly useful if preventive medical examinations are to avoid the outbreak of an illness in advance.

What should the patient pay attention to?

The basic basis that is necessary to enable an optimal course of therapy is trust. In this respect, an understanding basis must be built between the doctor and the patient.

It is also important that those affected can trust the professional qualifications. Serious diseases in particular should be able to be treated at the highest medical level. While hospitals usually have a large number of technical aids at their disposal, general practitioners are limited in this regard. However, this does not justify any doubts about the professional quality.

However, a minimum standard of examination options should be available, since the sick would otherwise have to go to other examination facilities in order to be able to present specific results. Patients who are looking for a specialist in internal medicine should also consult their general practitioner. As a rule, this should be able to make the choice considerably easier.

Finally, the overall impression should also be right. Sick people should always be treated in a friendly manner by both doctors and qualified specialists. A harmonious relationship forms the basis for interpersonal trust. This not only makes the diagnosis process easier, but can also have a positive effect on the actual treatment.