Internal medicine is the branch of medicine that deals with treating the whole patient. An internal medicine physician, also called an internist, can treat many illnesses and conditions, and is skilled in treating a patient who has several illnesses or disorders at the same time. This internist, who can be a primary care physician, emphasizes disease prevention and wellness, but can treat problems of the eyes, ears, skin, nervous system and reproductive organs, along with mental health or substance abuse issues.

The internal medicine physician can also treat cancer or diseases of the heart, blood, kidneys, joints, and digestive, respiratory and vascular systems, while concentrating on the wellness of the patient as a whole.

Physicians in this specialty treat patients suffering from numerous diseases and illnesses, but some of the most common are Emphysema, Broncho-Esophagology, Bronchitis, Pneumonia, Osteoarthritis , Hyper / Hypoglycemia, cystic fibrosis, Diabetes, Asthma, pectus excavatum, osteoporosis, Macular Degeneration, cancer, infection, Autism, Congestive heart failure, Herpes, Hypertension, Heart Attack, and Anemia.

Once properly diagnosed, practitioners can perform numerous procedures on patients including Lithotripsy, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP, dialysis, angioplasty, mechanical ventilation, endoscopy, cardioversion, Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP), cardiac ablation, and intra-aortic balloon pump.

To diagnose patients with possible illnesses and diseases, specialists will often perform one of many tests including FAA-Flight Physicial, physicial / check up, Bone density test, dialysis, physicial examination, Computed Axial Tomography (CT or CAT Scan), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), ultrasound, x-ray, biopsy, Blood Test, Electrocardiogram (ECG or EKG), Upper GI (Barium Swallow), electrolyte test, Lower GI (Barium Enema), stool test, pH probe test, and microbiological culture.

Doctor density varies by specialty and location. Florida has 6,240 practicing internal medicine doctors. Broken out by city, internal medicine doctor density in Altamonte Springs is 43, in Apopka is 33, in Arcadia is 6, in Atlantis is 28, in Aventura is 46, in Belle Glade is 13, in Boca Raton is 125, in Bonita Springs is 36, in Boynton Beach is 88, in Bradenton is 70, in Brooksville is 50, in Cape Coral is 53, in Clearwater is 121, in Clermont is 24, in Cocoa Beach is 26, in Coral Gables is 73, in Coral Springs is 50, in Crystal River is 10, in Davenport is 14, in Daytona Beach is 27, in Delray Beach is 85, in Deltona is 10, in Dunedin is 22, in Dunnellon is 10, in Eustis is 10, in Fort Lauderdale is 222, in Fort Myers is 121, in Fort Pierce is 28, in Fort Walton Beach is 27, in Gainesville is 314, in Haines City is 6, in Hialeah is 154, in Hollywood is 95, in Homestead is 15, in Inverness is 21, in Jacksonville is 398, in Jacksonville Beach is 22, in Jupiter is 42, in Kissimmee is 60, in Lady Lake is 16, in Lake City is 28, in Lake Mary is 29, in Lake Wales is 10, in Lake Worth is 89, in Lakeland is 112, in Largo is 72, in Leesburg is 35, in Longwood is 49, in Maitland is 17, in Margate is 31, in Melbourne is 103, in Miami is 663, in Miami Beach is 126, in Mount Dora is 19, in Naples is 131, in New Port Richey is 62, in North Miami Beach is 39, in North Port is 18, in Ocala is 79, in Ocoee is 21, in Orange City is 25, in Orange Park is 46, in Orlando is 263, in Ormond Beach is 29, in Oviedo is 5, in Palatka is 23, in Palm Beach Gardens is 38, in Palm Coast is 19, in Panama City is 39, in Pembroke Pines is 97, in Pensacola is 96, in Plant City is 21, in Plantation is 50, in Pompano Beach is 55, in Punta Gorda is 22, in Rockledge is 15, in Safety Harbor is 24, in Sanford is 21, in Sarasota is 153, in Sebastian is 19, in Sebring is 17, in Seminole is 18, in South Miami is 27, in South Pasadena is 11, in Stuart is 47, in Sunrise is 46, in Tallahassee is 64, in Tamarac is 30, in Tampa is 439, in Tarpon Springs is 6, in Tavares is 16, in Titusville is 23, in Venice is 44, in Vero Beach is 36, in Wauchula is 1, in West Palm Beach is 172, in Weston is 47, in Winter Haven is 39, in Winter Park is 59, and in Zephyrhills is 30.

Florida’s warm and humid subtropical climate makes it a winter destination for many. Population in 2000 was 15,982,378, according to census statistics. Tallahassee, located in the north panhandle area, is the state capital. Tourism is a major industry in Florida, with Cape Canaveral, Disney World, the Everglades National Park, Universal Studios, the Atlantic coast and the Gulf coast all destinations for visitors and residents. Year-round outdoor activities include camping, golf, scuba diving, snorkeling, fishing and boating.

According to 2005 Census estimates, Florida has a population of 17,789,864. Of this population, 3,975,071 are under the age of 18 and 2,978,335 are at or above the age of 65.