A physician who specializes in Internal Medicine is called an Internist. An internist is a physician trained in the diagnosis and treatment of individuals of various ages ranging from teenagers to geriatrics (or the care of the elderly); this is the only specialty that covers the entire range of adult medicine. The internist is specially trained in preventive care and the early detection of disease, such as high blood pressure. Any condition that is diagnosed is treated when appropriate and referred to a specialist for additional management if specific expertise is required.

Regular check-ups are routine in this specialty with or without associated illnesses. The training of an internist involves three additional years of Internal Medicine training after medical school, and covers many sub-specialties. We are therefore often referred to as Primary Care Providers (PCPs).