Internal medicine is a specialty that is interested in the diagnosis and overall management of adult patients presenting both common pathologies such as influenza or pneumonia, as well as more complex or rare diseases with a predilection for autoimmune and systemic diseases, such as lupus. It also takes care of patients with conditions that overlap between several specialties of medicine.

Internal medicine is a specialty that is most often practiced in consultation at the request of a general practitioner, in case of hospitalization where the internal medicine specialists plays the role of coordinator of the opinions of the various medical physicians in order to organize the appropriate treatment, or on an outpatient basis in order to give an opinion at the request of fellow specialists. The internal medicine physician has therefore an important role in the overall patient-centered care where he/she performs analysis and synthesis.

General internal medicine training provides the specialist with comprehensive know-how and all the expertise necessary to ensure optimal care allowing the patient to avoid the binding circuit of a classic fragmented approach. The internal medicine specialist is familiar with the usual examination methods such as laboratory analysis or radiography. He/She regularly performs health check-ups for his/her patients, actively participates in the prevention and research of disease complications (metabolic and chronic) and implements diagnostic and / or therapeutic strategies, which can be complex in some cases.

In certain medical situations requiring special treatment, the internal medicine specialist directs his/her patient to other specialized services with more appropriate tools for management, such as cardiology, gastroenterology or also immunology. Nevertheless, he/she continues to follow his/her patients throughout their care journey, and over an extended period in the case of chronic illness.