Department of Internal Medicine: General Internal Medicine

Director: Gary E. Rosenthal, MD

• Acute Care Clinic. Provides urgent care for patients with acute illnesses and allows patients to receive same or next day services.
• Complementary and Alternative Medicine Clinic. A board-certified internist and a clinical pharmacist provide initial consultation and recommendations about the potential benefits of complementary and alternative therapies. The clinic evaluates concerns about interactions between drugs and herbal preparations. Therapies reviewed include herbal medicine, acupuncture, homeopathy, chiropractic, massage therapy, healing touch, and biofeedback. Complex problems are further discussed with alternative medicine providers in multi-disciplinary group sessions.
• General Internal Medicine Consultation Service. Provides in-depth outpatient and inpatient consultation for patients requiring complex evaluation or seeking second opinions. Also provides pre-operative risk assessment and evaluation for patients with underlying medical problems.
• General Internal Medicine Practices. Provide ongoing comprehensive medical and preventive care for adults. Screening and treatment are based on national professional guidelines, patient wellness counseling, and reduction of risk factors for cardiovascular disease and cancer. The practices also offer specialized services that address the unique preventive and behavioral health needs of women during pre-, peri-, and post-menopausal times.
• Geriatric Assessment Clinic. Provides specialized assessment for older patients with dementia, functional impairment, and other medical problems. The multi-disciplinary team includes a board-certified geriatrician, nurse practitioner, and social worker. The clinic provides ongoing follow-up care for older patients after the initial assessment.
• Medical Psychiatry Inpatient Services. Physicians who are board-certified in both disciplines provide care for patients with acute psychiatric and medical problems. The multidisciplinary team includes nurses and specialists in social services, nutritional support, and occupational and physical therapy.
• Nursing Home Outreach Services. Board-certified specialists in geriatrics provide ongoing primary care of patients in nursing homes, as well as administrative leadership and medical directorship of several area nursing homes.
• Health Services Research and Quality Improvement. The Division of General Medicine has a large, externally funded research program for measuring patient outcomes and improving the cost and quality of health care delivery. Several faculty are nationally recognized for their research and expertise in working with hospitals, health care systems, and clinical practices. Areas of expertise include:
  • assessing patient satisfaction and health status
  • designing protocols to improve the quality and efficiency of care
  • developing and implementing practice guidelines
  • evaluating quality of care