I am an internal medicine physician, board certified. Internal medicine is the practice of medicine that deals with the non-surgical aspects of medical care. We focus on adult care, usually over 18 years old. Pediatricians do the internal medicine stuff for children. Internal medicine doctors usually either work in or out of the hospital. If an internal medicine doctor works in the hospital they are usually known as hospitalist. If they work outside the hospital it is usually as your primary care physician. Internal medicine physicians can also go for additional training and become a specialist for the heart or cancer and many other options.

If you are a healthy adult you see your physician mainly for preventive medicine tasks.

If you have medical problems, you see your physician for preventative medicine tasks, and for management of your chronic medical problems. Sometimes specialist will help with the management of chronic medical problems.