General internal medicine physicians diagnose and provide nonsurgical treatment for a wide range of diseases and injuries of internal organ systems. Provide care mainly for adults and adolescents, and are based primarily in an outpatient care setting.

 

 

  • Treat internal disorders, such as hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, or problems of the lung, brain, kidney, or gastrointestinal tract.
  • Prescribe or administer medication, therapy, and other specialized medical care to treat or prevent illness, disease, or injury.
  • Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
  • Manage and treat common health problems, such as infections, influenza or pneumonia, as well as serious, chronic, and complex illnesses, in adolescents, adults, and the elderly.
  • Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
  • Provide and manage long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
  • Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
  • Make diagnoses when different illnesses occur together or in situations where the diagnosis may be obscure.
  • Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
  • Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
  • Immunize patients to protect them from preventable diseases.
  • Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioner when necessary.
  • Advise surgeon of a patient's risk status and recommend appropriate intervention to minimize risk.
  • Provide consulting services to other doctors caring for patients with special or difficult problems.
  • Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
  • Prepare government or organizational reports on birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or the medical status of individuals.
  • Operate on patients to remove, repair, or improve functioning of diseased or injured body parts and systems.
  • Plan, implement, or administer health programs in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention and treatment of injuries or illnesses.
  • Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures to prevent or control disease or injury.
Work Context
  • Exposed to Disease or Infections — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Face-to-Face Discussions — 100% responded "Every day".
  • Freedom to Make Decisions — 92% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Structured versus Unstructured Work — 85% responded "A lot of freedom".
  • Telephone — 82% responded "Every day".
  • Importance of Being Exact or Accurate — 76% responded "Extremely important".
  • Contact With Others — 71% responded "Constant contact with others".
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Work Activities
  • Documenting/Recording Information — Entering, transcribing, recording, storing, or maintaining information in written or electronic/magnetic form.
  • Assisting and Caring for Others — Providing personal assistance, medical attention, emotional support, or other personal care to others such as coworkers, customers, or patients.
  • Making Decisions and Solving Problems — Analyzing information and evaluating results to choose the best solution and solve problems.
  • Updating and Using Relevant Knowledge — Keeping up-to-date technically and applying new knowledge to your job.
  • Interpreting the Meaning of Information for Others — Translating or explaining what information means and how it can be used.
  • Communicating with Supervisors, Peers, or Subordinates — Providing information to supervisors, co-workers, and subordinates by telephone, in written form, e-mail, or in person.
  • Analyzing Data or Information — Identifying the underlying principles, reasons, or facts of information by breaking down information or data into separate parts.
  • Performing for or Working Directly with the Public — Performing for people or dealing directly with the public. This includes serving customers in restaurants and stores, and receiving clients or guests.
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Detailed Work Activities
  • Treat chronic diseases or disorders.
  • Analyze test data or images to inform diagnosis or treatment.
  • Administer non-intravenous medications.
  • Prescribe treatments or therapies.
  • Prescribe medications.
  • Diagnose medical conditions.
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Knowledge

Medicine and Dentistry
  • Knowledge of the information and techniques needed to diagnose and treat human injuries, diseases, and deformities. This includes symptoms, treatment alternatives, drug properties and interactions, and preventive health-care measures.
English Language
  • Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Customer and Personal Service
  • Knowledge of principles and processes for providing customer and personal services. This includes customer needs assessment, meeting quality standards for services, and evaluation of customer satisfaction.
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Skills

Science
  • Using scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
Speaking
  • Talking to others to convey information effectively.
Critical Thinking
  • Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Judgment and Decision Making
  • Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
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Abilities

Problem Sensitivity
  • The ability to tell when something is wrong or is likely to go wrong. It does not involve solving the problem, only recognizing there is a problem.
Inductive Reasoning
  • The ability to combine pieces of information to form general rules or conclusions (includes finding a relationship among seemingly unrelated events).
Oral Expression
  • The ability to communicate information and ideas in speaking so others will understand.
Oral Comprehension
  • The ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences.
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Personality

People interested in this work like activities that include ideas, thinking, and figuring things out.
They do well at jobs that need:
  • Achievement/Effort
  • Persistence
  • Initiative
  • Leadership
  • Cooperation
  • Concern for Others
  • Social Orientation
  • Self Control
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Technology

You might use software like this on the job:

Medical software
  • MEDITECH software Hot Technology
  • Epic Systems Hot Technology
  • MedMath
  • Misys Healthcare Systems Mysis Tiger
  • Practice management software PMS
  • Practice Partner Total Practice Partner
  • SOAPware EMR
  • Allscripts Professional EHR
  • MedcomSoft Record
  • Brickell Research Brickell Medical Office
  • ChartWare EMR
  • e-MDs software
  • e-MDs topsE&M Coder
  • eClinicalWorks
  • Epocrates Essentials
  • GE Healthcare Centricity EMR
  • Greenway Health PrimeSuite
Spreadsheet software
  • Microsoft Excel Hot Technology
Office suite software
  • Microsoft Office Hot Technology
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Education

Get started on your career:

Job Outlook

New job opportunities are less likely in the future.
Salary
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