Internal medicine is the medical specialty concerned with the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment diseases. Specialists in internal medicine are commonly called internists (North America), Physicians, Consultant Physicians (Commonwealth) or Specialists in General Internal Medicine (GIM).
Internists who have further specialized in one of the many areas of internal medicine are subspecialists: For example, gastroenterologists and cardiologists specialize in diseases of the gut and the heart, respectively. In some cases, where a specialist has not formally sub-specialized but yet has special experience or expertise in a subspecialist area (through years of work or study), the specialist may be said to have a special interest in a particular subspecialty.
At Eureka Medical Clinic, we evaluate and treat medical conditions involving the whole range of internal medicine and related subspecialties: cardiology (heart and circulation), respiratory problems (sinuses, lungs, pulmonary problems), gastroenterology (stomach, gut, small and large intestines, colon , rectum, gall bladder and pancreas), nephrology (kidneys, bladder and prostate), hematology (blood), dermatology (diseases of the skin), neurology (brain and nervous system), endocrinology (thyroid problems, diabetes, other hormone related or metabolic problems), rheumatology (joints, bones and muscles), allergies, and infectious diseases.
While internists at our clinic are able to manage most internal medicine problems, if there is a need for investigations or treatment that are outside the scope of our facility, we will work with our patients to find the appropriate subspecialist or facility (usually off-island: in neighboring islands, USA, Canada or UK).
Common conditions for which Dr. Vanterpool and Dr. Tangutoori are consulted in their capacities of General Internists, include:
- Hypertension, shortness of breath, palpitations, and chest pains, cardiac or heart related conditions; for which ECGs are performed, and when necessary, referral for other cardiac assessment and tests such as echocardiography, treadmill exercise stress tests, stress echocardiography, or 24 hour Holter ECG monitoring.
- Bronchial asthma, sinus problems, post nasal drips and other allergic respiratory conditions, chronic bronchitis, COPD, other respiratory (Lung) related problems; indigestion and other digestive disorders, peptic ulceration, diarrhea and constipation, blood in the stool.
- Urinary tract infections and urinary disorders such as blood in urine (hematuria), kidney stones, and other kidney diseases; (as part of our prostate- cancer screening program, Dr. Vanterpool also performs prostate biopsies under ultrasound guidance).
Arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, gout and other joint problems; collagen vascular disorders for instance Lupus erythematosus. - Diabetes, cholesterol and other lipid related disorders, other metabolic disorders; thyroid problems- including over active thyroids (hyperthyroidism ) and underactive thyroid problems (hypothyroidism).
- Neurological disorders, strokes, TIAs, all types of headaches, including Migraine headaches, seizures, or epilepsy.
Dr. Tangutoori performs allergy testing and lung function assessments. Ear syringing for impacted ear wax is also a frequently performed procedure.