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What Is General Medicine?

Rachel Burkot
Rachel Burkot

General medicine is the branch of medicine that focuses on adult care. It refers to the diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the internal organs. An internist may work with a patient’s heart, lungs and brain, among other organs. These doctors treat illnesses of the internal organs with methods other than surgery.

A specialist in this field is referred to as a general medicine physician. These doctors work with patients age 18 or older, as doctors who work with children are called pediatricians. General physicians become experts at diagnoses, thanks to their extensive training and medical school. Often, they must identify multiple diagnoses, as diseases that involve several internal organs are not uncommon.

A general medicine doctor can perform comprehensive physicals and help with many health concerns.
A general medicine doctor can perform comprehensive physicals and help with many health concerns.

Medicine as a practice is the process of maintaining or restoring a patient’s health through diagnosis and treatment. As this category is intentionally broad, the word general is applied before it when classifying any type of adult patient care. General internal medicine is a slightly narrower field because there is more of a focus on the body’s organs.

A general practitioner typically reviews the patient's lifestyle patterns, including smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
A general practitioner typically reviews the patient's lifestyle patterns, including smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.

A general medicine practice typically consists of a consultant, registrar and house officer. The consultant is the specialist, or the general practitioner. The registrar is a doctor in training to become a specialist, and the house officer is a qualified doctor in training. Medical students may also work on the team as interns to gain hands-on experience in general medicine.

General medicine doctors are often a part of a larger health care team that includes a number of specialists.
General medicine doctors are often a part of a larger health care team that includes a number of specialists.

The house officer usually sees the patient first, and then presents the condition and symptoms to the consultant and registrar. The patient usually does not meet the consultant until the second day, when the whole team evaluates the patient together. Tests and treatments are usually not be performed unless the consultant is present. The surgical medical team evaluates patients who have medical problems, not those with surgical problems. If a patient comes to a general medicine doctor with an illness that needs to be treated by surgery, the doctor should send the patient to a hospital for further analysis and treatment.

Medical students may work as interns to gain hands-on experience in general medicine.
Medical students may work as interns to gain hands-on experience in general medicine.

General medicine doctors are responsible for recording a patient’s symptoms, inquiring about previous diseases, allergies and medication, and asking questions about the patient’s lifestyle choices, including the abuse of cigarettes and alcohol. A comprehensive medical exam is required before any diagnosis can take place. During the exam, the doctor is responsible for answering any questions the patient has. Finally, treatment of problems and counseling for healthy living and avoiding similar problems in the future takes place.

Discussion Comments

aLFredo

@amysamp - I was in the same boat! And I waited a year or two before I started looking for a general physician. I mostly started looking for a physician to call my own because my husband suggested it.

I have found even though I am young and healthy as well it has been completely worth it.

Here is why - my co-pay to see my doctor is only twenty dollars; yet my urgent care co-pay is fifty dollars! I think (but I am not sure) this is typically how co-pays will work.

Also, it was nice when I found a small lump on my breast (it ended up being nothing thank goodness) it was great to see a familiar face when I was freaking out than again going into the urgent care where no one knew me.

Also yearly physicals make sure that you are as healthy as you think, and you get physicals from a general practice physician.

So the general physician is important, so make sure you shop around as much as you did for your new job and be able to reject any doctors that do not fit your rigorous standards!

amysamp

I was in college for so long getting my bachelor's degree and then my master's degree that I did not think about having a doctor that I see regularly, knows my history, etc. for years!

Now that I have completed my schooling and am earning a salary (yay). But now I am wondering if this is even necessary...

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    • A general medicine doctor can perform comprehensive physicals and help with many health concerns.
      By: Igor Mojzes
      A general medicine doctor can perform comprehensive physicals and help with many health concerns.
    • A general practitioner typically reviews the patient's lifestyle patterns, including smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
      By: Photographee.eu
      A general practitioner typically reviews the patient's lifestyle patterns, including smoking and excessive alcohol consumption.
    • General medicine doctors are often a part of a larger health care team that includes a number of specialists.
      By: Andres Rodriguez
      General medicine doctors are often a part of a larger health care team that includes a number of specialists.
    • Medical students may work as interns to gain hands-on experience in general medicine.
      By: sepy
      Medical students may work as interns to gain hands-on experience in general medicine.
    • A general medicine doctor will send a patient for further testing if they believe surgery may be required.
      By: llhedgehogll
      A general medicine doctor will send a patient for further testing if they believe surgery may be required.
    • General medicine typically refers to care for adults.
      By: Monkey Business
      General medicine typically refers to care for adults.
    • General medicine refers to the diagnosis and treatment of the internal organs using methods other than surgery.
      By: reineg
      General medicine refers to the diagnosis and treatment of the internal organs using methods other than surgery.
    • A comprehensive medical exam is required before a general medicine physician can diagnose a patient.
      By: forestpath
      A comprehensive medical exam is required before a general medicine physician can diagnose a patient.
    • A general medicine doctor may work with a patient's heart.
      By: pathdoc
      A general medicine doctor may work with a patient's heart.