interní

Interní is a term used in Czech and Slovak medical contexts to denote internal medicine or the internal medicine department within a hospital. It derives from the Latin internus, meaning internal or inside.

In medical practice, interní refers to the wide range of non-surgical care for adults. Internists diagnose and treat diseases of many organ systems, including the cardiovascular, respiratory, gastrointestinal, endocrine and metabolic, renal, hematologic, infectious, and rheumatologic systems, as well as neurologic conditions. They often manage chronic illnesses, perform diagnostic evaluations, oversee hospital patients, and coordinate care with subspecialists. The field emphasizes comprehensive, evidence-based assessment and the longitudinal management of complex cases.

Education and training: In Czechia and Slovakia, physicians who wish to specialize in internal medicine pursue a dedicated residency or specialization in internal medicine, becoming internists. The hospital service is commonly organized as an interní klinika (internal medicine clinic) or interní oddělení (internal medicine ward) within larger departments. In everyday usage, an internista is the doctor who specializes in internal medicine, sometimes functioning as a primary care provider in outpatient settings.

Other uses: The term also appears in medical education and hospital organization to describe departments, clinics, or courses related to internal medicine. In English-language contexts, the term is translated as internal medicine.

See also: Internal medicine, Internist, Interní lékařství.