internal medicine

Internal medicine, also known as general medicine in Commonwealth nations, is a specialty for medical doctors focused on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases in adults. Internal refers to the "treatment of diseases of the internal organs".

Practitioners of internal medicine are referred to as internists in North America and physicians in Britain and most Commonwealth nations. Internists possess specialized skills in managing patients with undifferentiated or multi-system disease processes. They provide care to both hospitalized (inpatient) and ambulatory (outpatient) patients, as their patients are frequently seriously ill or require extensive medical tests. Internists often have subspecialty interests in diseases affecting particular organs or organ systems, and often contribute significantly to teaching and research. The certification process and available subspecialties may vary across different countries.