Alternate Names : Doctors - Different Types, Health Care Provider Types, Physicians - Different Types

Primary care

• Generalists include both medical doctors (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). These professionals usually specialize in family practice or internal medicine.
• Specialists who are frequently sought directly by women for general primary care needs include the following:
  • OB/GYNs are physicians who specialize in obstetrics and gynecology, including well women's health care and prenatal care.
  • Nurse practitioners (NPs) may be prepared in programs specific to women's health care including common gynecological concerns, routine health maintenance and screenings (such as a Pap smear), and family planning
• Registered nurses (RNs) have graduated from a nursing program, have passed state board examinations, and are licensed by the state.
• Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) are state-licensed caregivers who have been trained to care for the sick.
• Advanced practice nurses have education and clinical experience beyond the basic training and licensing required of all RNs:
  • Nurse practitioners (NPs) are RNs with graduate training in primary care. The profession includes family (FNP), pediatric (PNP), adult (ANP), and geriatric (GNP) specialties. In some states NPs can prescribe medications.
  • Clinical nurse specialists (CNSs) are RNs who have graduate training in a specialized clinical field such as cardiac, psychiatric, or community health.
  • Certified nurse midwives (CNMs) are RNs with graduate training in women's health care needs, including prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care.
  • Certified registered nurse anesthetists (CRNAs) are RNs with graduate training in the field of anesthesia.
• A physician assistant (PA) is trained in the family practice model for a primary care role.

Specialty care

Common specialty areas to which the patient is typically referred by the primary care provider:

• Anesthesiology -- anesthesia, either general or spinal block for surgeries and some forms of pain control
• Cardiology -- heart disorders
• Dermatology -- skin disorders
• Endocrinology -- hormonal and metabolic disorders, including diabetes
• Gastroenterology -- digestive system disorders
• General surgery -- common surgeries involving any part of the body
• Gynecology/obstetrics -- pregnancy (normal or problematic) and women's reproductive tract disorders
• Immunology -- disorders of the immune system and allergies
• Infectious disease -- infections affecting the tissues of any body system
• Nephrology -- kidney disorders
• Neurology -- nervous system disorders
• Oncology -- cancer and some other diseases that resist treatment
• Ophthalmology -- eye disorders and surgery
• Orthopedics -- bone and connective tissue disorders
• Otorhinolaryngology -- ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders
• Physical and rehabilitative medicine -- coordinate return to optimal functioning in individuals with musculoskeletal and neurological disorders (such as low back injury, spinal cord injuries, and stroke)
• Psychiatry -- emotional or mental disorders
• Pulmonary (lung) -- respiratory tract disorders
• Radiology -- X-rays and related procedures (such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI)
• Urology -- disorders of the male reproductive and urinary tracts and the female urinary tract