Module 4: Medical Specialities

Notes

one-third (100 million)

how many Americans do not have a Primary Care Provider

Primary Care Provider

doctor you see regularly for preventive care, managing chronic conditions, and overall health

• associated with better health outcomes and can help prevent costly emergency room visits

Family Medicine Doctor

a doctor who is a pediatrician and an internal medicine doctor combined

• well-suited for rural areas

• they diagnose and treat diseases; provide care such as routine checkups, immunizations, screening tests, and manage chronic illnesses while coordinating care with specialties

Internal Medicine Doctor

specialists who apply scientific knowledge and clinical expertise to the diagnosis, treatment and compassionate care of adults across the spectrum from health to complex illness

• well-trained in the diagnosis of puzzling medical problems, in the ongoing care of chronic illnesses, and in caring for patients with more than one disease

Internal Medicine Doctor

they routinely see patients with chronic heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, obesity, and pulmonary disease and other medical professionals call upon them for their ability to connect the dots, help solve problems and identify solutions

General Practitioner (GP)

a doctor who usually treats patients with common medical conditions in a practice setting or an urgent care setting

• can quickly and efficiently assess, diagnose, and treat patients for acute and chronic illnesses

• refer you to a hospital or medical specialist when needed

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

a physician who uses a whole-body patient-centered approach to medicine

• they believe in the connection of the mind, body and spirit, and they work with the philosophy that all body parts and systems are interrelated and affect one another

• fully trained and licensed doctor/physician

Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO)

• believe in the power of touch to help heal

• trained to look past your symptoms to understand how environmental and lifestyle factors may impact your heath and well-being

• places a heavy focus on preventive healthcare and wellness

MDs

traditional allopathic approach, focused on diagnosing and treating diseases with conventional medical treatments

• focus on specific part of the body

DOs

a holistic approach to healthcare. focused on the body as an interconnected system

• focus on whole body

Physicians Assistant/ Associate

scope of practice: taking medical histories, examining patients, treating patients, ordering and reading lab tests, ordering and reading X-rays, making diagnoses, and providing treatment for minor injuries

• work under the supervision of a physician to provide preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic healthcare services

• licensed health professionals who must pass a certification exam administered by the National Commission on Certification of PA

• they do not choose a specialty

Nurse Practitioner

registered nurses who have a master’s or doctorate degree and clinical experience. they diagnose health conditions, reading test results, ordering tests, prescribing medications, providing primary care, and treating disease and illness

• provide care and educate patients with a focus on health maintenance, counseling, and disease prevention

• have a specialty area (family medicine, neonatal, pediatrics, geriatrics, obstetrics, and gynecology, acute (emergency or intensive) care, and occupational (workplace) health.

Obstetrician and Gynecologist (OB/GYN)

specialists combine both the obstetrics and gynecology specialties

Obstetrics

involves care during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period

gynecology

deals with reproductive health and the functions and diseases specific to women and girls

• pap smears, ultrasounds, pelvic exams, hysterectomies, birth control, ablations, biopsies

Pediatrician

a doctor who treats newborns, children, adolescents, and young adults. they monitor the child’s physical health and development

• broad spectrum of health services ranging from preventive health care to diagnose and treatment of acute and chronic diseases

Geriatrician

physician who specializes in caring for the medical needs of older adults. they diagnose and treat a wide range of conditions that can happen as you get older

• usually treat individuals after the age 65, and especially over age 75.

  • some centers work with people after they turn 50

50%

over __ of adults age 65 or above have at least medical conditions that require monitoring/ or treatment, with multiple conditions, your medical care becomes more complicated, thus a geriatrician becomes valuable