Internal Medicine is the medical specialty devoted to adult health, from routine prevention to the fine-tuned management of complex, multi-system diseases. At UAB Medical West’s Bessemer campus and ten neighborhood clinics around Birmingham, board-certified internists deliver evidence-based care that keeps West-Central Alabama healthy in every life stage.
Whether you need an annual physical, help balancing diabetes and high blood pressure, or a single point of contact to coordinate subspecialty care, our physicians provide the continuity that busy adults value. Let’s take a look at what internists do and how it may be just what you need.
What Does an Internist Do?
Whole-Body Diagnostics & Preventive Exams
Internists act as detectives for adult physiology. During a comprehensive exam, they review medications, family history, vaccination status, and lifestyle factors, then order targeted labs—lipid panels, thyroid tests, A1C—to catch disease in its earliest stages.
Advanced diagnostic tools such as on-site EKGs and bone-density scans mean results return the same day, reducing patient anxiety and letting treatment start sooner. By tracking biometrics year over year, your internist spots subtle trends, like creeping blood-pressure elevations or declining kidney function, and intervenes before issues become emergencies.
Managing Complex, Multi-System Conditions
Juggling hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, and COPD can feel like spinning plates. Internists specialize in overlapping diseases, adjusting medications so one treatment doesn’t sabotage another. They fine-tune insulin doses when steroids flare asthma, monitor kidney labs when ACE inhibitors control blood pressure, and stage proactive foot-care visits to prevent diabetic ulcers.
Because many UAB Medical West internists also round at the hospital, transitions from inpatient to outpatient care happen seamlessly, with discharge summaries and medication changes hitting your chart before your follow-up appointment.
Coordinating Specialty Referrals & Hospital Care
Adult health seldom fits in one box, so internists maintain a wide referral network—cardiology for arrhythmias, gastroenterology for reflux that resists proton pumps, or endocrinology for hard-to-control thyroid disorders.
Your internist orders only the imaging and consults you truly need, attaches clinical notes, and follows each referral until results circle back. When hospitalization is unavoidable, they interface with hospitalists, ensuring treatment plans align with your long-term goals and outpatient regimen.
Post-discharge, they reconcile medications, schedule labs, and set telehealth check-ins so recovery stays on track without redundant or missed care steps.
Benefits of Choosing Internal Medical Care at One Location
#1—Continuity of Records & Lab Integration
With UAB Medical West’s networked electronic health record, every lab, imaging study, and specialist note flows back to your internist’s desktop in real time. That closed loop eliminates duplicate testing and ensures medication changes are reconciled instantly, which is vital when managing multi-drug regimens for heart failure or rheumatoid arthritis.
Because internists see you for preventive visits and acute concerns alike, they spot patterns like recurring UTIs or creeping cholesterol long before fragmented care would.
#2—On-Site Imaging & Pharmacy
Time is a scarce commodity. At the Bessemer main campus, you can move from the exam room to diagnostic imaging for an X-ray, fill prescriptions at the retail pharmacy, and schedule a follow-up in one trip.
Digital Tools That Simplify Follow-Up
- MyMedWest patient portal for 24/7 test result access
- Telehealth video visits for medication checks and post-hospital follow-ups
- E-prescribe refills are sent directly to your preferred pharmacy
- Remote monitoring devices that upload blood-pressure or glucose data to your chart
When Should You See an Internist?
Adults should schedule an annual exam to review vaccinations, update cancer-screening timelines, and benchmark vitals like BMI and blood pressure. Internists tailor these visits to age and risk: cholesterol screening every five years starting at 20, bone-density scans at 65 for most women, and colon-cancer screening at 45. By consolidating labs and imaging under one roof, Medical West minimizes follow-up tasks and helps you leave with a clear action plan, not a stack of requisition slips.
New Symptoms That Span Multiple Systems
If shortness of breath arrives with ankle swelling and unexplained fatigue, or abdominal pain is accompanied by weight loss and anemia, an internist is your best first stop. Their broad training covers cardiology, pulmonology, gastroenterology, and more, enabling them to order focused tests before looping in subspecialists.
The American College of Physicians suggests combinations of symptoms, like chest pain plus jaw numbness, warrant immediate evaluation. Early assessment by an internist can shrink diagnostic timelines, prevent ER trips, and start treatment sooner.
How to Prepare for Your First Visit to an Internist
Arrive empowered, not overwhelmed. Start by downloading our patient forms and filling them out ahead of time if possible. This can shave 15 minutes off check-in and ensure accurate allergies and insurance details.
Bring a current medication list with dosages, over-the-counter supplements, and past adverse reactions. Jot down three top health concerns so they don’t slip your mind under time pressure.
Finally, get key documents together, like a photo ID, insurance card, recent hospital discharge papers, and your vaccination record.
Trust Your Health to UAB Medical West Internists
From preventive screenings to complex chronic-disease management, our board-certified internists deliver whole-person care backed by the resources of UAB Medical West. Integrated labs, imaging, and digital follow-ups mean answers arrive fast and treatment starts sooner, so you spend less time in waiting rooms and more time living life.
Leading Internal Medicine Provider in Alabama
Serving Bessemer, Hoover, and communities across west-central Alabama, our internal medicine team combines university-level expertise with neighborly bedside manner, coordinating seamlessly with specialists, hospitals, and on-site diagnostics to keep your care under one roof and your health on track.
Call UAB Medical West at 205-481-7000 now or reach out through our online form to book your appointment and experience adult care centered entirely on you.