Occupation Details
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.
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Interests
Realistic
Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.
Investigative
Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.
Social
Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.
Work Values
Achievement
Occupations that satisfy this work value are results oriented and allow employees to use their strongest abilities, giving them a feeling of accomplishment. Corresponding needs are Ability Utilization and Achievement.
Recognition
Occupations that satisfy this work value offer advancement, potential for leadership, and are often considered prestigious. Corresponding needs are Advancement, Authority, Recognition and Social Status.
Independence
Occupations that satisfy this work value allow employees to work on their own and make decisions. Corresponding needs are Creativity, Responsibility and Autonomy.
Salary & Job Outlook
Starting Salary
$74,920.00
New York StateMedian Salary
$133,110.00
New York StateExperienced Salary
$237,550.00
New York StateNational Average for Comparison
New York State Job Market Outlook
Jobs Right Now (2018)
9,850
professionals in NYFuture Job Growth (2030)
10,470
+62 jobs/yearNew Jobs Every Year
340
new opportunities yearlyGrowth Rate
0.1%
projected increasePreparation: Experience, Training, and Education
The list below outlines the prior educational experience required to perform in this occupation.
More School - Graduate or advanced degree
Experience Requirements
Extensive skill, knowledge, and experience are needed for these occupations. Many require more than five years of experience. For example, surgeons must complete four years of college and an additional five to seven years of specialized medical training to be able to do their job.
Education Requirements
Most of these occupations require graduate school. For example, they may require a master's degree, and some require a Ph.D., M.D., or J.D. (law degree).
Training Details
Employees may need some on-the-job training, but most of these occupations assume that the person will already have the required skills, knowledge, work-related experience, and/or training.
Transferrable Skills and Experience
These occupations often involve coordinating, training, supervising, or managing the activities of others to accomplish goals. Very advanced communication and organizational skills are required. Examples include pharmacists, lawyers, astronomers, biologists, clergy, physician assistants, and veterinarians.
School Programs
The following lists school programs which are applicable to this occupation.
Licensing & Certification
New York State requires workers in this occupation to hold a license or certification.
Physician
Learn MoreSkills
The list below includes the skills required by workers in this occupation; skills are what allow you to learn more quickly and improve your performance.
Reading Comprehension
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Active Listening
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
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.
Skill level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Knowledge
The list below includes knowledge items, the principles and facts required by this occupation.
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.
Biology
Knowledge of plant and animal organisms, their tissues, cells, functions, interdependencies, and interactions with each other and the environment.
Therapy and Counseling
Knowledge of principles, methods, and procedures for diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of physical and mental dysfunctions, and for career counseling and guidance.
Psychology
Knowledge of human behavior and performance; individual differences in ability, personality, and interests; learning and motivation; psychological research methods; and the assessment and treatment of behavioral and affective disorders.
Education and Training
Knowledge of principles and methods for curriculum and training design, teaching and instruction for individuals and groups, and the measurement of training effects.
English Language
Knowledge of the structure and content of the English language including the meaning and spelling of words, rules of composition, and grammar.
Knowledge level is measured on a seven point scale, where one means 'some competence required for this occupation' and seven means 'a high level of expertise required for this occupation'.
Work Environment
The list below includes the physical and social factors that influence the nature of work in this occupation.
Hover over or tap each factor to see its description.
Work Styles
Included in the list below are the personal work style characteristics that can affect how well a worker is likely to perform in this occupation.
Achievement/Effort
Job requires establishing and maintaining personally challenging achievement goals and exerting effort toward mastering tasks.
Adaptability/Flexibility
Job requires being open to change (positive or negative) and to considerable variety in the workplace.
Attention to Detail
Job requires being careful about detail and thorough in completing work tasks.
Concern for Others
Job requires being sensitive to others' needs and feelings and being understanding and helpful on the job.
Cooperation
Job requires being pleasant with others on the job and displaying a good-natured, cooperative attitude.
Dependability
Job requires being reliable, responsible, and dependable, and fulfilling obligations.
Initiative
Job requires a willingness to take on responsibilities and challenges.
Integrity
Job requires being honest and ethical.
Persistence
Job requires persistence in the face of obstacles.
Stress Tolerance
Job requires accepting criticism and dealing calmly and effectively with high-stress situations.
Tools & Technology
This list below describes the machines, equipment, tools, software, and information technology that workers in this occupation will use.
Tools
- Adult Magill forceps
- Angiocaths
- Auditory testing equipment
- Automated external defibrillators AED
- Blood collection syringes
- Colposcopes
- Cryosurgical units
- Dermal curettes
- Desktop computers
- Dictation equipment
- Dressing forceps
- Ear curettes
- Ear forceps
- Electrocardiography EKG machines
- Electronic blood pressure units
- Electrosurgery units
- Flexible fiberoptic endoscopes
- Glucometers
- Holter monitors
- Laboratory specimen containers
- Laptop computers
- Manual blood pressure units
- Mechanical stethoscopes
- Medical examination protective gloves
- Medical lasers
- Medical tuning forks
- Microscope slides
- Mosquito clamps
- Nasogastric tubes
- Neurological hammers
Technology
- Allscripts Professional EHR
- Billing software
- ChartWare EMR
- Email software
- MedcomSoft Record
- Medical reference software
- MicroFocus GroupWise
- Microsoft Excel
- Microsoft Internet Explorer
- Microsoft Office
- SOAPware EMR
- Scheduling software
- Web browser software
Duties
Duties are job behaviors describing activities that occur on multiple jobs. The generalized and detailed work activities described in the list below apply to this occupation.
- use medical equipment in direct patient care
- order medical laboratory tests
- prepare patient reports
- prepare required government reports
- prepare reports for management
- counsel patients concerning diet
- refer patients to community resources
- prescribe or recommend drugs, medical devices or other forms of treatment
- communicate technical information
- make presentations on health or medical issues
- conduct patient assessments
- observe patient condition
- monitor patient's condition
- calculate medical dosages
- identify body response variations
- understand properties or composition of drugs
- understand technical operating, service or repair manuals
- recognize childhood diseases
- recognize physical or emotional abuse
- interpret medical laboratory test results
- interpret x-rays
- write technical health or medical documents
- collect clinical data
- obtain information from clients, customers, or patients
- analyze medical data
- analyze patient activity
- make decisions
- record medical history or data
- document medical prognosis
- use clinical problem solving techniques
- follow confidentiality procedures
- use counseling techniques
- use emergency medical procedures
- use emergency medical treatment procedures
- use grief counseling techniques
- follow infectious materials procedures
- follow institutional care procedures
- use interpersonal communication techniques
- follow life support procedures
- use medical diagnostic techniques
- follow dental or medical office procedures
- follow operating room procedures
- follow patient care procedures
- use research methodology procedures in health care
- use sanitation practices in health care settings
- use knowledge of medical terminology
- follow examining room procedures
- use knowledge of investigation techniques
- follow surgical procedures
- administer anesthetics
- administer injections
- administer medications or treatments
- conduct complete physical examinations
- diagnose or treat oral injuries
- draw blood
- perform minor surgery
- conduct medical tests
- treat medical condition of patient
- take vital signs
- diagnose medical condition of patient
Tasks
The list below outlines specific tasks that a worker in this occupation is called upon to do regularly.
- Analyze records, reports, test results, or examination information to diagnose medical condition of patient.
- 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.
- 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.
- Provide and manage long-term, comprehensive medical care, including diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases, for adult patients in an office or hospital.
- Explain procedures and discuss test results or prescribed treatments with patients.
- Advise patients and community members concerning diet, activity, hygiene, and disease prevention.
- Make diagnoses when different illnesses occur together or in situations where the diagnosis may be obscure.
- Refer patient to medical specialist or other practitioner when necessary.
- Monitor patients' conditions and progress and reevaluate treatments as necessary.
- Collect, record, and maintain patient information, such as medical history, reports, or examination results.
- Provide consulting services to other doctors caring for patients with special or difficult problems.
- Advise surgeon of a patient's risk status and recommend appropriate intervention to minimize risk.
- Immunize patients to protect them from preventable diseases.
- Direct and coordinate activities of nurses, students, assistants, specialists, therapists, and other medical staff.
- Operate on patients to remove, repair, or improve functioning of diseased or injured body parts and systems.
- Conduct research to develop or test medications, treatments, or procedures to prevent or control disease or injury.
- Plan, implement, or administer health programs in hospitals, businesses, or communities for prevention and treatment of injuries or illnesses.
- Prepare government or organizational reports on birth, death, and disease statistics, workforce evaluations, or the medical status of individuals.
Learning Resources
More information on this occupation may be found in the links provided below.
Cornell University Summer College Program: Biological Research and Health Professions
<p>Biological research and the health professions are the hottest fields in science. From biotechnology to rediscovering ancient methods of healing and making brand-new medical breakthroughs you'll learn about different career options, hear what it takes to get the necessary training, and find out what everyday life is like as a researcher or doctor.</p>
Learn MoreCornell University Summer College Program: Body, Mind, and Health - Perspectives for Future Medical Professionals
Are you a Sophomore, Junior, or a high school Senior? Spend 3 weeks and earn 3 credits at Cornell University exploring the fascinating past, present, and future of American medicine.
Learn MorePhysicians and surgeons
Visit this link for additional information on this career from the Occupational Outlook Handbook; a publication produced and maintained by the United States Department of Labor.
Learn MoreWomen Are Scientists Video Series
"Women Are Scientists" is a series of FREE video presentations that showcases successful female scientists in their respective specialties, and informs students about educational requirements, rewards, and challenges of careers in the biomedical sciences
Learn More