Internal medicine doctor or internist is a doctor who handles various complaints and health problems in adult and elderly patients. Treatment includes all internal body organs.
The title of specialist in internal medicine or SpPD is given to doctors who have taken and completed the Internal Medicine Specialization Education Program. Internal medicine is a medical science that treats adults and the elderly, including non-surgical diseases, covering almost the entire human body with various complaints and symptoms of disease.
Clinically, the field of internal medicine is divided into several subspecialties. Each subspecialist doctor (Consultant) in internal medicine will treat diseases according to their scientific field, namely:
- Allergy-Immunology Clinic (Sp.PD-KAI)
Consultant allergy specialists and immunologists have special expertise in dealing with various allergic diseases and immune disorders, including anaphylactic reactions, asthma, allergic rhinitis, urticaria or hives, angioedema, atopic dermatitis, allergic contact dermatitis, food allergies, drug allergies. drugs, pulmonary immunologic disease, and organ transplant reactions (graft versus host response).
- Nephrology; Kidney-Hypertension (Sp.PD-KGH)
Consultant kidney disease specialist - hypertension is a doctor who specializes in treating health problems related to the kidneys, high blood pressure, and fluid and mineral imbalances in the body.
Diseases treated include acute kidney failure, chronic kidney failure, diabetic nephropathy, glomerular diseases such as glomerulonephritis, prostate hyperplasia, hypertension, nephritic syndrome, polycystic kidney disease, urinary tract infections, pyelonephritis, and kidney stones.
- Gastroenterology-Hepatology (Sp.PD-KGEH)
This subspecialist in internal medicine is in charge of dealing with problems in the digestive system, such as the stomach, pancreas, intestines, liver, and gallbladder.
Some of the diseases treated include hernia, esophageal achalasia, gastritis, malabsorption, food intolerance, hepatitis, liver failure, fatty liver (fatty liver), liver cirrhosis, irritable bowel syndrome, pancreatitis, inflammation of the ducts and gallbladder, inflammatory bowel disease, hemorrhoids, constipation, and gastrointestinal cancers such as colorectal cancer.
- Geriatrics (Sp.PD-KGer)
Geriatric consultant internal medicine specialists are in charge of dealing with various complaints and health problems in the elderly, such as geriatric syndrome, malnutrition in the elderly, delirium, immobility, urinary incontinence, sleep disorders, dementia, sexual dysfunction, orthostatic hypotension, heart failure, hypertension, syncope. , infections in the elderly such as pneumonia and urinary tract infections, Parkinson's disease, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, and diabetes.
- Hematology – Medical Oncology (Sp.PD-KHOM)
A specialist in internal medicine consultant hematology - oncology has the task of dealing with various health problems related to blood, spleen, and various types of cancer. Some of the diseases treated include iron deficiency anemia, thalassemia, aplastic anemia, polycythemia, hemophilia, bone marrow disorders, lymphoma, leukemia, melanoma, and sarcoma.
- Cardiovascular (Sp.PD-KKV)
A specialist in cardiovascular disease consulting in charge of diagnosing and providing treatment for heart and blood vessel diseases in adults, such as heart disease, cardiogenic shock, cardiac arrest, myocarditis, angina pectoris, congestive heart failure, heart rhythm disorders, congenital heart disease, valvular disease heart disease, hypertension, vascular disorders, heart tumors, and idiopathic cardiomyopathy.
- Endocrine-Metabolic-Diabetes (Sp.PD-KEMD)
This subspecialty in internal medicine is in charge of dealing with various problems related to the endocrine system (glands) and metabolic disorders. Some of the health problems that are treated include hormonal disorders, hypothalamic and pituitary disorders, hypercalcemia, hypocalcemia, thyroid disorders, goiter, diabetes mellitus, adrenal gland diseases, reproductive disorders related to hormone disorders, and obesity.
- Pulmonology (Sp.PD-KP)
Consultant pulmonology specialists in internal medicine handle complaints and treatment related to respiratory system diseases. Several types of diseases that can be treated by a pulmonologist include pulmonary tuberculosis, pneumonia, lung cancer, bronchitis, bronchial asthma, COPD, emphysema, pulmonary embolism, respiratory failure, pleural effusion, and pneumonia. cystic fibrosis.
- Rheumatology (Sp.PD-KR)
Rheumatology consultant internal medicine specialists have special expertise in dealing with various health problems related to diseases of joints, muscles, bones, and connective tissues such as tendons. Some of the diseases treated include joint trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, SLE (lupus disease), systemic sclerosis, rheumatic fever, fibromyalgia, sarcoidosis, vasculitis, and osteomyelitis.
- Psychosomatics (Sp.PD-KPsi)
This subspecialty of internal medicine treats various psychosomatic disorders, such as anxiety disorders, panic disorders, chronic fatigue syndrome, sleep disorders, tension headache, erectile dysfunction and psychogenic sexual dysfunction, and pain or impaired bodily function related to psychological disorders.
- Tropical-Infectious Diseases (Sp.PD-KPTI)
Doctors who specialize in internal medicine consultant tropical-infectious diseases focus on dealing with infectious infectious diseases, whether caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites, as well as providing preventive medicine. Some of the diseases treated by this doctor include sepsis, dengue hemorrhagic fever, chikungunya, rubella, toxoplasmosis, rabies, malaria, helminth infections, filariasis, systemic fungal infections, typhoid fever, tetanus, anthrax, gastroenteritis and food poisoning due to infection.
Competencies or Medical Actions that can be Performed by Internal Medicine Specialists
The following are medical actions that can be performed by internal medicine specialists, including:
- Evaluating symptoms in patients, to diagnose a disease.
- Provide basic preventive health services, such as adult vaccination, make efforts to reduce disease risk factors, assess the success of therapy, and plan follow-up actions.
- Perform a physical examination and assess the results of supporting examinations, such as blood tests, electrocardiogram (ECG), pulmonary function tests, analysis of body fluids such as urine and phlegm, X-rays, ultrasound, and CT scans.
- Provide treatment related to the patient's diagnosis and condition.
- Together with a nutritionist, manage nutritional intake and nutritional management related to certain diseases, such as diabetes mellitus, malnutrition, obesity, and chronic kidney disease.
- Provide treatment in critical situations and medical emergencies.
The following is a list of some of the clinical skills of internal medicine specialists according to their field of specialization:
- Clinical immunology allergy field: adult vaccination, allergy testing for example with prick test and skin test to certain drugs and substances.
- Diabetic metabolic endocrinology: blood glucose examination, treatment of diabetic foot wounds, monitoring of blood sugar levels during administration of antidiabetic drugs, and aspiration of thyroid cysts.
- Gastroenterohepatology: insertion of a nasogastric tube (NG), taking fluid in the abdominal cavity, ultrasound of the abdomen.
- The field of geriatrics: assessment of elderly patients, treatment of pressure sores, treatment of medical disorders in the elderly including nutritional and psychological aspects.
- Hypertensive kidney field: catheter insertion foley, hemodialysis (dialysis).
- Hematology-medical oncology: bone marrow aspiration, bone marrow biopsy, assessment of imaging and radionuclear examination results, performing blood transfusions, treating active bleeding, administration of anticancer agents (standard chemotherapy), biologic therapy and supportive therapy for cancer.
- Cardiovascular: electrocardiography (ECG), basic cardiac life support, peripheral venous catheter insertion, and treatment of heart and blood vessel disease.
- The field of pulmonology: pulmonary function tests, taking fluid in the lung cavity with or without ultrasound guidance, steam therapy, oxygen therapy, interpretation of chest X-rays.
- Psychosomatic field: psychotherapy and tracing the physical and psychological condition of patients.
- The field of rheumatology: taking joint fluid and administering injections to joints in various large joints such as the knee, providing treatment related to rheumatology.
- Tropical infections field: sampling of blood, urine, pus, and feces in infectious diseases, prevention of nosocomial infections, use of antibiotics, and control of antibiotic resistance.
Roles and Duties of Internal Medicine Specialists
The following are some of the roles and duties of an internal medicine specialist:
- Diagnosing and treating diseases in adults and the elderly, both acute and chronic, through non-surgical measures.
- Provide recommendations for treatment of diseases suffered by adult and elderly patients.
- Provide an understanding of general health to patients, including how to maintain health and prevent disease.
When Should You Visit an Internal Medicine Specialist?
Usually a person needs to see an internal medicine specialist based on a referral from a general practitioner regarding the symptoms experienced. Internal medicine doctors can also refer patients to consultant internal medicine specialists if needed. For example, when a doctor finds that your gallbladder has cancer, an internist can refer you to a gastroenterologist for consultation and decide what treatment is right for you. A gastroenterologist may then refer you to a surgeon for gallbladder removal if necessary.
In addition to a referral from a general practitioner, you can also see an internal medicine doctor directly if you are sure that the symptoms and diseases you are experiencing require the treatment of an internal medicine doctor, or when you need an internal medicine doctor. second opinion to the previous diagnosis.
Considering that internal medicine specialists treat almost all diseases related to organs and organ systems, it is recommended that you see or consult with an internal medicine specialist when:
- You have any complaints or symptoms that affect the body's systems and organs. For example, if the symptoms experienced are related to disorders of the digestive system, respiratory system, or heart and blood vessels (cardiovascular).
- The symptoms you are experiencing are broad and complex.
- You need long-term comprehensive care.
- You need preventative treatment for certain diseases, whether due to genetic risk factors or environmental risk factors.
What to Prepare When You Meet an Internal Medicine Specialist
Important things that need to be prepared before meeting an internal medicine specialist include a record of the questions you want to ask and a history of complaints or symptoms suffered. If there is, also bring the results of the examinations you did previously, for example the results of blood tests, X-rays, or CT scans. Don't forget to ask about the available treatment options, and the success and risk levels of each.
In addition to these preparations, several things you should consider when choosing an internal medicine doctor include:
- The location and distance of the hospital or doctor's office from home, considering that at any time the symptoms you experience require emergency medical action.
- You can ask for recommendations from several internal medicine doctors, either from general practitioners who examine you or from relatives. Make sure the doctor you choose is able to communicate well in explaining things related to your disease and the treatment steps you need.
- The facilities and services are good, complete, and friendly.
- If you want to take advantage of BPJS or your insurance, make sure the hospital is affiliated with BPJS or your insurance provider.
The thing to remember, do not delay the time to see a specialist in internal medicine if you experience health complaints, even if they feel mild. If detected early and treated quickly, the disease you are suffering from will be easier to treat and have a high cure rate