Internal Medicine Physician Job Description

When considering the expansion of a medical practice, the addition of an Internal Medicine Physician can significantly enhance the level of care provided to adult patients. This strategic hire not only broadens the scope of services offered but also ensures that the practice can meet the growing healthcare needs of its adult clientele without compromising quality. 

For practice owners contemplating such a pivotal move, this article serves as a comprehensive template to streamline the hiring process. It offers a detailed job description tailored for an Internal Medicine Physician, insights into the role’s responsibilities, educational requirements, and the skills crucial for success. Additionally, it provides guidance on utilizing this template effectively for recruitment efforts and job board postings, ensuring that the practice attracts the right talent to elevate patient care standards.

Internal Medicine Physician Job Description

For those drawn to primary care but prefer working exclusively with adults, specializing in internal medicine presents an ideal career path. Known as internists, these physicians are experts in adult healthcare, focusing on the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of a wide array of conditions affecting internal organ systems.

What Is an Internal Medicine Physician?

Internists are pivotal in the healthcare continuum, adept at managing both common and complex illnesses. Their expertise spans treating chronic conditions, like heart disease, to providing acute care and wellness advice. This role demands a deep understanding of adult health, emphasizing disease prevention, management of chronic conditions, and patient education on health maintenance.

Core Responsibilities of an Internist

Internal medicine physicians have many responsibilities. An internal medicine physician job description might look like this:

• Prevent illness of internal organ systems and provide nonsurgical treatment/other medical procedures as necessary
• Immunize patients against preventable diseases, such as HPV and measles
• Discuss health concerns and test results for medical conditions with patients
• Prescribe medications and inform patients on how to take new medications if they have questions
• Administer medication for patients who cannot take prescribed treatments on their own
• Treat acute illnesses
• Control illness, disease, or injury with nonsurgical methods
• Collect the medical history and other official health documents of patients
• Make organizational reports as needed
• Solve problems using critical thinking skills
• Provide other specialized medical care as necessary

Educational and Licensing Requirements

The path to becoming an internist is rigorous, entailing a comprehensive educational and training regimen. Prospective candidates must hold a doctoral degree in medicine, complete a residency in internal medicine, and achieve board certification. 

This section of the job description should detail the required qualifications and certifications, highlighting any preferences or additional credentials that align with your practice’s standards.

• A bachelor’s degree in physical sciences, biology, or a related field
• A doctoral degree, which takes about eight to 10 years to achieve. You can become an internist with a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO) or Doctor of Medicine (MD) degree.
• Successful completion of the Internal Medicine Certification Examination
• Certification in Internal Medicine from the American Board of Internal Medicine (ABIM)
• Active medical license in the state where you want to practice
• Three to seven years of clinical residency training in the field of internal medicine. Some schools offer online training programs, but most require you to attend in person.

Skills and Qualities for Success

Success in internal medicine requires a blend of clinical expertise and interpersonal skills. This section should enumerate the essential skills for the role, such as analytical thinking, effective communication, and a patient-centered approach to care.

Highlighting these qualities will help attract candidates who not only meet the technical requirements but also embody the values and ethos of your practice.

• Sharp attention to detail and excellent listening skills. This is important because you don’t want to miss a thing when talking to a patient about their medical condition.
• Great research and analytic skills. As an IM physician, you’ll come across many different illnesses and chronic diseases. Your research abilities will come in handy if you run into a medical condition you’ve never heard of before.
• Solid communication skills to share your findings with patients, primary care doctors, and other medical professionals.
• Attention to detail when it comes to updating records and prescribing medication. If a patient has heart disease, for instance, you don’t want to accidentally prescribe them a cancer drug (this is a malpractice suit waiting to happen).
• Good writing skills, which allow you to give clear notes to patients about their medical conditions.

The Daily Life of an Internal Medicine Physician

Providing a glimpse into the day-to-day activities of an internist can offer candidates a realistic view of the job. This narrative should cover typical duties, the structure of the workday, and the collaborative nature of patient care within your practice. It’s an opportunity to showcase the supportive and dynamic environment that candidates can expect.

1. Perform a chart review to see how your patients are doing. Discuss concerning findings with senior residents if needed.
2. Talk with nursing staff to see whether they have concerns about any patients.
3. Meet with patients throughout the day.
4. Attend a daily conference if your practice or hospital holds one.
5. At the end of the day, sign any overnight patients over to a long-call resident. Every few days, internal medicine residents will serve in the long-call role themselves to look after patients overnight.

Challenges and Rewards of the Internist Role

Acknowledging the challenges alongside the rewards of the role provides a balanced perspective. This section should address the complexities of diagnosing and managing diverse medical conditions, the demands of maintaining a high standard of care, and the profound satisfaction derived from making a significant impact on patients’ lives. Here is an example on how to do this in your job description:

Internal medicine physicians face many challenges, including coming across a medical condition you may not have heard of before. As noted above, you’ll need excellent research skills to be a good general internal medicine doctor.

You may also find it challenging to balance your day. General internal medicine physicians have a jam-packed day, and you must have great time-management skills to succeed as a medical doctor.

Despite many challenges, general internal medicine physicians find their jobs to be very rewarding. Most general internal medicine physicians get a strong sense of satisfaction when they prevent illness or diagnose a medical condition.

Career Path and Advancement Opportunities

Outlining potential career trajectories within your practice can make the position more appealing to ambitious candidates. Whether it’s specialization opportunities, leadership roles, or continuous professional development, highlighting these prospects can attract candidates motivated by growth and advancement.

Most general internal medicine physicians stay in their role for many years. However, thanks to the skills they pick up on the job, there is an opportunity to specialize in a more specific field. For instance, some general internal medicine physicians may specialize in cancer treatment or gastrointestinal care.

The Evolving Field of Internal Medicine

Emphasizing the dynamic and evolving nature of internal medicine, with its rapid technological advancements and expanding treatment modalities, can appeal to candidates passionate about innovation and lifelong learning.

It’s an exciting time to be an internal medicine physician. Technology is advancing faster than ever, and internists have access to tools and diagnostic equipment that yesterday’s doctors could only dream of.

With medical advancements happening at such a rapid pace, you’re unlikely ever to be bored of your job. That’s why internal medicine is such a great field for people who love learning and crave variety.

Elevate Patient Care With Weave

Whether you’re in the process of hiring an additional Internal Medicine Physician or juggling administrative duties, Weave’s suite of communication tools is here to seamlessly integrate into your practice, acting as an extension of your team.

Discover how Weave can fill the gaps in your staff while you focus on the hiring process or other critical tasks. Our platform not only supports your current team by reducing administrative burdens but also prepares your practice for seamless integration with new hires, ensuring they can hit the ground running with effective communication tools at their fingertips.

Book your free demo now.