An internist is a medical doctor who specializes in treating adults. (Contrast this with pediatricians, who treat children.) Internists have expertise in the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of health conditions, including complex illnesses. They also specialize in disease prevention and promoting health and wellness for patients.
Internists are specialists who apply scientific knowledge and medical expertise to manage an adult patient’s healthcare needs effectively. Their main areas of expertise include:
- Diagnosing, treating, and managing acute, chronic, and complex conditions and illnesses in adults
- Recognizing “quiet” symptoms of a condition or an emerging disease
- Promoting health and well-being
- Preventing disease
- Coordinating care with other medical professionals when appropriate
Let’s talk about what an internist does, why it is in your best interest to have an experienced internist by your side, and where you can go in North Bethesda to see a skilled concierge doctor who will be easily accessible by you, day or night.
What Conditions Do Internists Treat?
Internal medicine covers a broad range of medical conditions that largely affect adults. Internists routinely see patients who have a wide variety of acute and chronic conditions, including:
- Heart disease
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Lung disease
- Arthritis
- Hyperlipidemia (high cholesterol)
- Kidney disease
- Osteoporosis
- Asthma
- Allergies/allergic reactions
- Abdominal pain
- Vomiting/diarrhea
- Infections
- Cold, flu, sore throat, sinus infections
- COVID-19 (Coronavirus Disease 2019)
- Fever
- Earache and ear infections
- Fractures
- Animal bites, including insect bites
- Insect stings
- Rashes
- Dehydration
- Sports injuries, such as sprains
- Pink eye
- Pneumonia and bronchitis
- Urinary tract infections (UTIs)
- Neurological conditions
An internist can provide ongoing care of a chronic illness, such as diabetes or heart disease, and can coordinate your care with other medical specialists when necessary. To offer a patient the appropriate care, an internist has an in-depth understanding of how particular medical conditions affect each patient.
Your internist will also conduct your regular checkups, administering flu shots and performing bloodwork and a urinalysis as necessary.
In-Depth Knowledge of Each Patient’s Personal Health
An internist gets to know each patient’s medical history inside and out. This allows the doctor to make accurate diagnoses, provide prescriptions that do not have contraindications (counteracting effects) with your other medications, provide recommendations, and spot red flags for emerging conditions or changes in your health.
Management of Chronic Diseases
Chronic health conditions often require a variety of approaches in order to control them properly. For example, a patient with diabetes may require medication, strict dietary and lifestyle adjustments, and preventive care measures – such as regular diabetic foot care and eye exams – to avoid complications of the disease.
Some people have multiple long-term conditions that require complex ongoing care, so an internist can coordinate your care and monitor your treatment. An internist takes a whole-person, integrated care approach to chronic disease management, which includes:
- Regular screenings
- Frequent health checkups
- Patient education and advice
- Coordination of care with other physician specialists
Concierge Care in North Bethesda, MD
Concierge medicine is a relatively new healthcare model in which patients pay an annual retainer fee in exchange for highly personalized, time-intensive medical care. These patients have unprecedented access to their doctor, who has the desire to get to know his patients fully – which enables more comprehensive medical care. Having a compassionate internist who offers convenience and availability, and takes the time for you, is a significant advantage of concierge medicine.
If you are looking for high-quality, personalized healthcare, consider North Bethesda Primary Care. Board-certified internist Dr. Adam Possner is dedicated to providing comprehensive concierge medicine, 24/7 for urgent issues.
If you would like to request a complimentary meeting with Dr. Possner to find out more about our membership-based medical practice, call us today at (301) 941-4414 or contact us via our simple online form now. We look forward to being your personal healthcare provider!
