Internists: key innovators in tackling chronic diseases
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According to the Virginia Department of Health, southeast Virginia has some of the highest rates of adult obesity and diabetes, conditions that internal medicine physicians manage regularly.
These diseases have distinct management approaches, but also have a lot of crossover. And because internal medicine physicians, or internists, are familiar with these chronic medical diseases and how they affect people, they are also very focused on disease prevention.
“Department of medicine physicians are experts in managing multiple, complex chronic medical conditions,” said Jody King, MD (MD ’08), FACP, associate professor of Medicine at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and provider at EVMS Medical Group Department of Medicine. “Internists are able to take their knowledge of the entire body and see how each medical problem impacts everything else. They can "connect the dots" on what is going on physically, while at the same time consider each patient's individual circumstances to develop a comprehensive, longitudinal management plan.”
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by 2030, all baby boomers will be older than 65, leading to about one in every five residents being retirement age. Like many regions in the U.S., Hampton Roads is experiencing a growing aging population. This puts a strain on the healthcare system and is augmented by the fact that there is a shortage of healthcare providers.
Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University Department of Medicine physicians are critical in managing the complex care needs of older patients, offering preventive care and managing multiple chronic conditions.
“Internal medicine is the specialty with the most active physicians,” said Dr. King, “and given our training in hospital medicine, primary care medicine, and geriatric medicine, we have the best opportunity to address our region's needs. Our goal is to increase the number of health years in older populations by identifying risk factors that will predict disease development and providing access to high quality, cost-conscious care when patients do develop multiple chronic conditions.”
Brock Virginia Health Sciences at Old Dominion University and Sentara have each dedicated resources to providing direct patient care to underserved areas and equip students to fully assess patients. Instructors focus on ingraining into students the concept of addressing social determinants of health so that they may offer that individualized care for each and every patient.
Non-medical factors, or the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age, can create substantial healthcare impacts. “This has been an incredibly important aspect of patient care that was sorely lacking in training,” said Dr. King. “This can help improve access to care as well as adherence to management plans and prevent the development of chronic medical diseases.”
Make an appointment with Dr. King or her colleagues at Macon & Joan Brock Virginia Health Sciences EVMS Medical Group at Old Dominion University Department of Medicine by calling 757-446-8920.