What Is an Internal Medicine Society?

An internal medicine society is a professional organization of physicians and allied health professionals with an interest in adult diseases. These may include complex multi-system disorders, critical care, and related topics. Members of such societies can use them for professional networking, continuing education, and general career development. The organization may restrict membership to people with specific medical credentials or experience, depending on its mission and policies.

One aspect of an internal medicine society is continuing research into clinical practice and education. Members may work on a variety of initiatives to improve the standard of care for patients through the development of new treatments and protocols for handling specific medical issues. The society can issue recommendations for the management of particular health conditions, along with bulletins on issues of interest to the field. Internists, as internal medicine specialists are known, were involved with the development of early diagnosis and treatment protocols for the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), for example.

Education includes continuing education for care providers to help them keep up with developments in the field along with training for people entering internal medicine. The society may publish a journal, hold conferences, and offer seminars for members. These allow people to develop additional clinical and professional skills. An internal medicine society can also contribute to curriculum development and the creation of new training materials for practitioners.

Such groups can also advance and maintain professional standards. Members may need to agree to specific codes of ethics, allowing membership to serve as a professional assurance that a care provider is committed to complying with membership requirements. An internal medicine society can recommend specific protocols for handling disease, as well as advocating for members. This advocacy can include cooperating with legislators on proposals to reform medical practice or increase safety for patients and care providers.

Public outreach may also be part of the mission of an internal medicine society. This includes the distribution of educational materials to familiarize members of the public with medical topics. Patient education can help people make empowered health care choices, in addition to promoting dialogue between patients and care providers. Furthermore, it can add to the demand for specialized practitioners, as patients may demand an internist if they’re aware of this option. Awareness campaigns from an internal medicine society might also make patients more familiar with common medical issues they can prevent or spot early to get treatment quickly, which can reduce the risk of complications.