A Physician, also known as the primary care consultant is the first point of contact for all medical conditions and routine investigations. They specialize in primary care medicine and are trained to provide comprehensive healthcare for people of all ages, genders, and backgrounds. They focus on maintaining and restoring a person’s overall physical and mental health. They function as a part of a larger team that includes nurses, dietician, physiotherapist and others to support holistic care. As advocates for preventive care and health, they play a significant role in reducing disease occurrence and improving overall quality of life.

Roles of General Physicians

General physicians are considered very responsible doctors due to several key factors that are part of their role in preventing illnesses and promoting health.

Their responsibilities include: 

• Assessment: They conduct through health assessment to keep people healthy and avoid hospital admission. 
• Prevention:

1. They advise routine health screenings such as mammograms, pap smears, blood pressure checks, cholesterol screenings, blood sugar levels. 
2. They offer guidance on lifestyle changes, including diet modification, exercise, and change of habits (alcohol consumption, smoking, etc.).

• Diagnosis: They evaluate symptoms and perform physical examinations to identify potential risk factors and diagnose early signs of disease.
• Disease Management: They treat and monitor acute conditions and manage chronic conditions to prevent progression.
• Collaboration: They refer people to other specialists for further evaluation or if urgent or specific treatment is required.
• Education: They educate people about their health conditions and encourage them to cooperate and participate in the treatment process.
• Emergency Care: During medical emergency, a general physician can provide life-saving treatment and stabilize the patient.

Conditions Treated by General Physicians

• Infections: General physicians can treat all infections like colds, flu, sinusitis, urinary tract infections, and skin infections.
• Chronic Illnesses: They help manage chronic conditions such as diabetes, hypertension (high blood pressure), asthma, arthritis, heart disease, COPD, CKD, bowel disease – IBS etc.
• Injuries: They can attend to minor injuries like sprains, strains, cuts, and burns and are also equipped to provide wound care and suturing.
• Mental Health: General physicians can diagnose and treat common mental health conditions like depression and anxiety.
• Gastrointestinal Problems: They can diagnose and treat health conditions like acid reflux, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), and food allergies.
• Respiratory Issues: They can diagnose and treat conditions like asthma, bronchitis, and pneumonia.

Why are General Physicians Important? 

Their expertise in managing a wide range of health issues and their role in collaborating with specialists as well as advocating for patient health makes general physicians an important part of the health ecosystem. The below-mentioned reasons define the scope of the work of a general physician. 

• General physicians are trained to handle all kinds of non-surgical general diseases (both simple and complex) as they are knowledgeable about all body parts, unlike specialists who specialize in only a single organ or system. 
• General physicians go through a more rigorous and extensive training program as part of their education than specialists. 
• They offer the surgeon a comprehensive report on risk factors that the patient might have related to the surgery and can assist in post-operative care.
• They build long-term relationships with patients and offer advice for general health and well-being, while specialists solve the problem through intervention.

What to Expect While Consulting a General Physician? 

An appointment with a general physician appointment may last 5 to 30 minutes. With emerging advanced trends in health care services, they can also provide consultation over the phone or through a video call in special circumstances 

Neurologic issue: migraine, chronic Headache, Cerebrovascular accident etc.

Cardiac issue: CCF, myocardial in fraction, myocarditis etc.

This includes:

• Initial assessment of the condition through a physical examination
• Discussion about symptoms and medical history
• Prescription of diagnostic tests
• Diagnosis of the health condition
• Development of a treatment plan (medicines or lifestyle changes)
• Referral to a specialist or arranging a follow-up appointment

 General physicians are the backbone of healthcare, providing essential services ranging from preventive care to managing chronic conditions. Understanding the role of a physician and awareness about when to approach a general physician can help a person oversee their health and well-being effectively. Sarji Hospital, an eminent healthcare provider with a team of highly skilled and experienced general physicians and clinical staff, offers differential and comprehensive services to ensure the health and well-being of its patients.

Internal Medicine

Often referred to as “general medicine,” internal medicine encompasses a wide range of diseases and disorders affecting multiple organ systems in the body. Internal medicine physicians, are trained to handle complex and chronic conditions affecting various organ systems. They offer comprehensive care for the people, unlike specialists who focus on a specific organ or disease.

Components of Internal Medicine

Internal medicine takes a holistic approach to the treatment of adult diseases. Its components include:

• Preventive Medicine: Internal medicine focuses on preventive healthcare to decrease the risk of chronic diseases by promoting wellness through lifestyle changes and immunizations.
• Primary Care: The specialty addresses acute and chronic health conditions through timely intervention, stabilization, and management to reduce complications and improve a patient’s quality of life. 
• Subspecialty Care: There are various subspecialties within internal medicine. Subspecialists undergo additional training to develop expertise in treating specific organ systems or diseases.
• Geriatric Care: Internal medicine includes the healthcare of older people and helps manage age-related issues, chronic conditions, cognitive impairment, and functional decline through assessments, medication management, and fall prevention.
• Palliative Care: Palliative care is included in internal medicine. It includes symptom management, pain relief, and enhancing quality of life. The patients’ physical and emotional needs are handled throughout the illness.
• Research and Education: Internal medicine contributes to medical research by encouraging and facilitating clinical trials, publishing scientific papers, and advancing knowledge in various areas of internal medicine. This specialty also includes medical education and mentoring medical students.

Conditions Treated Through Internal Medicine

Internal medicine helps diagnose, manage, and treat various conditions ranging from simple to rare and complicated. They include:

• Allergies: They include allergic rhinitis, hives, and food allergies.
• Cardiovascular Issues: These include hypertension, coronary artery disease, heart failure, arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), peripheral vascular disease, pericarditis (Swelling of tissue surrounding the heart), heart defects, stroke, and transient ischemic attack (TIA).
• Endocrine Disorders: These include conditions like diabetes mellitus (Type 1 and Type 2), thyroid disorders (hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism), adrenal disorders (such as Addison's disease), and pituitary disorders.
• Respiratory Conditions: Internists treat conditions such as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia, bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis, and sleep apnea.
• Gastrointestinal Problems: These include gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, inflammatory bowel disease (such as Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis), liver diseases (such as hepatitis and cirrhosis), and pancreatitis.
• Rheumatologic Disorders: Autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, Soren’s syndrome, and vasculitis are managed by internists.
• Infectious Diseases: Internists help diagnose and treat various infectious diseases, like bacterial infections (such as urinary tract infections and pneumonia), viral infections (such as influenza and HIV/AIDS), fungal infections, and parasitic infections.
• Nephrological Complications: These include chronic kidney disease, acute kidney injury, nephrotic syndrome, glomerulonephritis, and electrolyte imbalances. Internists also treat urinary health issues, including bladder and urinary tract infections.
• Neurological and Cognitive Issues: Internists treat conditions like stroke, dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, multiple sclerosis, epilepsy, cognitive impairment, peripheral neuropathy (damaged nerves), migraine, Bell’s palsy, meningitis, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), neuromuscular diseases like Myasthenia Gravis, etc.
• Hematological Disorders: They include anemia, clotting disorders (deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism), bleeding disorders (hemophilia), and blood cancers (leukemia, lymphoma, and multiple myeloma).
• Oncological Problems: Internists help manage various cancers, collaborating with oncologists to diagnose, treat, and provide supportive care for cancer patients.
• Psychiatric Disorders: Internists treat common mental health conditions, such as depression, anxiety disorders, bipolar disorder, substance abuse disorders, and cognitive impairment.
• Geriatric Syndromes: Internists treat conditions such as frailty, falls, polypharmacy, cognitive impairment, and end-of-life care in elderly patients.
• Dermatological Issues: These include abscesses, cysts, cellulitis, skin cancer, and acne.
• Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) Problems: These include problems like sinusitis, pharyngitis, rhinitis, strep throat, and vertigo.
• Gender-Specific Health Issues: Internists help treat prostate disease, erectile dysfunction, and obstetric and gynecological problems.
• Metabolic Complications: These include metabolic alkalosis, metabolic acidosis, and metabolic mineral and bone diseases.
• Orthopedic Issues: These include strains, sprains, fractures, and minor injuries, along with pain and inflammation in the joints. Acute and chronic pain and pain related to cancer and other medical problems are also treated.

Sub-Specialties of Internal Medicine

• Cardiology 
• Allergy and Immunology
• Critical care for multiple organ failure
• Endocrinology (diabetes and other metabolic and glandular disorders)
• Gastroenterology (gastrointestinal system, liver, and gallbladder)
• Hematology (blood)
• Infectious and inflammatory diseases
• Nephrology (kidneys)
• Oncology (cancer)
• Pulmonology (lungs and respiratory system)
• Rheumatology (joints and musculoskeletal system)
• herpetology (liver)

Diagnosis and Treatment Protocol of Internal Medicine

• Patient Evaluation: Collecting detailed history and conducting a thorough physical examination
• Diagnostic Testing: Prescribing tests based on symptoms and disease signs.
• Diagnosis: Considering potential causes and ruling them out step by step
• Treatment: Developing a personalized treatment module for symptomatic relief. Definitive treatment and disease control.
• Medication: Prescribing medicines based on their efficacy and safety
• Lifestyle Changes: Advising modifications in the diet, exercise, and habits
• Patient Education: Informing patients regarding their ailment, therapeutic alternatives, and self-care
• Follow-Up: Regularly monitoring progress and reviewing treatment
• Coordination: Collaborating with other healthcare teams for optimum patient care

Internal medicine is a dynamic and essential specialty that takes care of the diverse healthcare needs of adults across their lifespans. Fortis, with its team of highly skilled and experienced Internists, is a frontline provider of comprehensive and personalized medical care to patients with a wide range of conditions.