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How has the field of internal medicine physician changed since you started, and what changes do you anticipate in the future?
- 12th grade
- favorite classes are chemistry and anatomy
- college major is biomedical sciences
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4 answers
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babitha’s Answer
Hi Simran
Internal medicine has changed a lot over the years. Earlier, the focus was mainly on diagnosing and treating diseases with the available tools, but now the field has become far more patient-centered and technology-driven. There is a stronger emphasis on prevention, chronic disease management, team-based care, and using evidence-based guidelines. We now rely heavily on electronic medical records, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and advanced diagnostic tools. At the same time, patients are living longer and often come in with multiple chronic illnesses, making clinical care more complex.
Another major change is the growth of modern therapies. Today we have gene-replacement treatments, precision medicine, targeted and receptor-based therapies, and a wide range of biologics. We also use biomarkers much more frequently, which help us detect disease earlier and understand each patient’s individual genetic and molecular profile. This is pushing internal medicine toward highly personalized and customized care.
Looking ahead, I expect the field to become even more technology-focused. Telehealth, AI-based decision tools, remote patient monitoring, and genetic mapping will continue to expand. There will be greater attention on lifestyle medicine, preventive strategies, and catching diseases before they become severe. We will also rely more on interdisciplinary teams—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and care coordinators working together to improve outcomes.
Overall, internal medicine is moving toward more precise, proactive, and personalized care, aiming not only to treat disease but to improve long-term health and quality of life.
Internal medicine has changed a lot over the years. Earlier, the focus was mainly on diagnosing and treating diseases with the available tools, but now the field has become far more patient-centered and technology-driven. There is a stronger emphasis on prevention, chronic disease management, team-based care, and using evidence-based guidelines. We now rely heavily on electronic medical records, telemedicine, point-of-care ultrasound, and advanced diagnostic tools. At the same time, patients are living longer and often come in with multiple chronic illnesses, making clinical care more complex.
Another major change is the growth of modern therapies. Today we have gene-replacement treatments, precision medicine, targeted and receptor-based therapies, and a wide range of biologics. We also use biomarkers much more frequently, which help us detect disease earlier and understand each patient’s individual genetic and molecular profile. This is pushing internal medicine toward highly personalized and customized care.
Looking ahead, I expect the field to become even more technology-focused. Telehealth, AI-based decision tools, remote patient monitoring, and genetic mapping will continue to expand. There will be greater attention on lifestyle medicine, preventive strategies, and catching diseases before they become severe. We will also rely more on interdisciplinary teams—physicians, nurses, pharmacists, social workers, and care coordinators working together to improve outcomes.
Overall, internal medicine is moving toward more precise, proactive, and personalized care, aiming not only to treat disease but to improve long-term health and quality of life.
Updated
Rita’s Answer
I'm in family medicine but I can answer a little.
When I started, we had paper charts. I would go to residency with books. Now, you can google everything. That's good and bad because some patients "tell" you what they want because they googled it. With EMRs (electronic medical records), it's getting more challenging because you type your notes and patients want you to look at them. I had one patient put his head between me and the computer. I recently retired from clinical medicine and I'm helping my friend who is also in family medicine and the amount of coding and documentation is ridiculous. Insurances are playing games and when I went on a trip with her, she was up until 2-3 AM documenting. Most doctors are burning out....I did and that's when I quit.
When I started, we had paper charts. I would go to residency with books. Now, you can google everything. That's good and bad because some patients "tell" you what they want because they googled it. With EMRs (electronic medical records), it's getting more challenging because you type your notes and patients want you to look at them. I had one patient put his head between me and the computer. I recently retired from clinical medicine and I'm helping my friend who is also in family medicine and the amount of coding and documentation is ridiculous. Insurances are playing games and when I went on a trip with her, she was up until 2-3 AM documenting. Most doctors are burning out....I did and that's when I quit.
Updated
Martin’s Answer
The area of internal medicine has mostly morphed into a family practitioner, without children. I believe they will disappear as a specialty in the future. Either the resident will stay at the family practitioner level or will specialize in areas such as cardiology, infectious disease, etc.
Updated
Elyse’s Answer
The future will be impacted by AI, whether good or bad. Patients have a wide range of information at their fingertips, but does that mean that the information is always correct, appropriate, or the best treatment for them. Future providers will need to know how to work with their patients to find the best information for them.