What in the World Does a General Internist Do?
General Internists treat and diagnose patient’s diseases and disorders that affect all the internal organs of the body. This can range anywhere from the brain, to the stomach and liver to the lungs. Because this is a “primary care” sort of job you would be dealing with every patient with every kind of problem. Typically, in a hospital that means you’re working in an emergency clinic or a free clinic seeing everyone who has needs. When you diagnose and prescribe treatment that may all that the patient needs if you are capable of dealing with their situation. Sometimes the patient needs a specialist and you are responsible for referring them to the right specialist for their condition. In this way you are the “conduit” for referrals because many medical professionals will send patients to you so you can determine how to treat them OR determine which specialist they need to see. Either way, it’s almost as if everyone is coming through your office on the way to getting better.
