Specialty Doctors

Specialty Doctors For many people that are not in the medical profession, it can be confusing to connect the specialty title of a physician with the medical condition that needs to be treated.

It is the unfortunate truth that not every patient takes their health as seriously as they should, and may not comprehend a specialty name for a doctor they are being referred to. In this case the patient had no urgent problems; however, his lack of attention could have caused a delay in needed treatment. It's always a good idea to provide the patient with a doctor's name and number, or medical practice group; they may not retain specialty names as in this case.

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Specialty Fields                 

Allergist or Immunologist - conducts the diagnosis and treatment of allergic conditions.

Anesthesiologist - treats chronic pain syndromes; administers anesthesia and monitors the patient during surgery.

Cardiologist - treats heart disease Dermatologist -treats skin diseases, including some skin cancers Gastroenterologist - treats stomach disorders Hematologist/Oncologist - treats diseases of the blood and bloodforming tissues (oncology including cancer and other tumors) Internal Medicine Physician - treats diseases and disorders of internal structures of the body.

Nephrologist - treats kidney diseases.

Neurologist - treats diseases and disorders of the nervous system.

Neurosurgeon - conducts surgery of the nervous system.

Obstetrician - treats women during pregnancy and childbirth Gynecologist - treats diseases of the female reproductive system and genital tract.

Nurse-Midwifery - manages a woman's health care, especially during pregnancy, delivery, and the postpartum period.

Occupational Medicine Physician - diagnoses and treats workrelated disease or injury.

Ophthalmologist - treats eye defects, injuries, and diseases.

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon - surgically treats diseases, injuries, and defects of the hard and soft tissues of the face, mouth, and jaws.

Orthopedic Surgeon - preserves and restores the function of the musculoskeletal system.

          

Otolaryngologist (Head and Neck Surgeon) - treats diseases of the ear, nose, and throat, and some diseases of the head and neck, including facial plastic surgery.

Pathologist - diagnoses and treats the study of the changes in body tissues and organs which cause or are caused by disease Pediatrician - treats infants, toddlers, children and teenagers.

Plastic Surgeon - restores, reconstructs, corrects or improves in the shape and appearance of damaged body structures, especially the face.

Podiatrist - provides medical and surgical treatment of the foot.

Psychiatrist - treats patients with mental and emotional disorders.

Pulmonary Medicine Physician - diagnoses and treats lung disorders.

Radiation Oncologist - diagnoses and treats disorders with the use of diagnostic imaging, including X-rays, sound waves, radioactive substances, and magnetic fields.

Diagnostic Radiologist - diagnoses and medically treats diseases and disorders of internal structures of the body.

Rheumatologist - treats rheumatic diseases, or conditions characterized by inflammation, soreness and stiffness of muscles, and pain in joints and associated structures Urologist - diagnoses and treats the male and female urinary tract and the male reproductive system

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Many specialty names sounds similar to one another, yet the conditions they treat are nothing alike. When a specialist is suggested for a patient, it may be necessary when providing physician's instructions to use different terminology to ensure their patient knows exactly what type of doctor they will be seeing. Instead of just saying the patient will be seeing a Rheumatologist, stress that this doctor specializes in the treatment of arthritis, so the patient is sure who they are seeing and for what.

Sometimes those of us that work in the medical profession take things second nature, and yet for a patient not familiar with medical terms, they may have, no idea what the specialty name was mentioned. Valuable treatment time could be wasted if they don't visit the correct physician for their needs.

Another suggestion is to have pre-printed literature, or make a variety of information sheets yourself for your practice. Each can pertain to a specialist, and read, “you are being advised to see a specialist in the field of Pulmonary Medicine.” Then followed by the specialty field, a short description of what this type of specialist treats, and perhaps a preferred

medical group name along with their number, to make it easier for the patient. When time is of the essence, it's important to get the patient to the correct doctor as soon as possible.

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