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Top 10 Reasons to be an Internist
September 26, 2007
I have blogged in the past for and against taking care of children. I take care of both adults and kids, so now I’ll give the same treatment for those "longer in tooth."
- LOL - Little Old Ladies - I never knew my grandmothers, but I have about 200 of them in my practice. I am doted on by them - one brought me a cake this morning.
- Challenges - I think I would go crazy taking care of just kids as the vast majority of the care is acute or well-child. I like the mental challenge of tough cases.
- "Thank You." - My elderly patients are almost always very gracious and grateful for the care I give. They don’t take it for granted.
- Making "Good Catches" - I love picking up the atypical presentation for heart disease or picking up cancer early. It is very gratifying to really save someone’s life.
- Subspecialists - Although I have talked negatively in the past, I actually have a very good relationship with my subspecialist colleagues. In pediatrics you are more isolated as a physician. I am regularly on the phone with colleagues discussing cases.
- They don’t look at you and scream - at least it hasn’t happened yet.
- Chatting - I like to know patients over the years and build friendships. I am genuinely happy to see a large number of my patients (except when they are sick).
- Being "The Man" - there are bad times when people are very sick and die. It is a privilege to be the one who helps people through those situations. It is hard, but it leaves you with immense satisfaction and purpose.
- Turfing pap smears to anyone else who will take them - Being an internist lets you send it to the GYN or the FP partner. Yeah!!!!
- Respect - I think overall the general internist gets respect from colleagues. People look at them and think, I wouldn’t want to be one, but I sure am glad someone likes that stuff. Now, if only that respect would translate into income….
(2 votes, average: 5 out of 5)
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September 26th, 2007 at 5:17 pm
Nice list. I’m a psychiatrist - how do you feel about psych issues? Turf or treat?
September 26th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
Oh dear, am I supposed to take cakes? asks the LOL.
Dr Dork is back!
September 26th, 2007 at 8:38 pm
Great list. Your #2 is why I chose family medicine. I loved peds, but after a 4 week rotation I thought I would rather count grains of sand than see another snotty nose or sports physical.
If I never did another pelvic I wouldn’t miss it.
September 27th, 2007 at 2:34 am
As a lay person, seems to me that a competent internist somewhat reduces the need for specialists.
The people who I think are working on thin ice are speech therapists. I don’t believe any of them understand “stuttering”, when the cause is right there staring them in the face.
September 27th, 2007 at 10:05 am
Like the website - like the spam protection (letters are maddening), like your top 10 - keep flourishing.
September 27th, 2007 at 3:19 pm
Your list (believe it if you choose) could be mine, with the word “internist” swapped out for “surgeon”. Leave the word “general” in.
September 27th, 2007 at 5:48 pm
Dr. Rob, this LOL would be bringing pies, instead! ;o)