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Amanda holds a Masters in Science from Tufts Medical School in Cellular and Molecular Physiology. She has taught high school Biology and Physics for 8 years.
You're going to the doctor. What do you picture yourself saying on the phone? Do you have a stuffy nose? Need new contacts? Twisted your ankle in a basketball game? Although sometimes we think of 'doctor' as a single job, there are many specialties of physicians in the medical field.
There are doctors that treat physical ailments, like a surgeon or your primary care doctor, and doctors that treat mental illness, like a psychiatrist. Today, we're going to look at some examples of different doctors, their job description, and sample treatments they might prescribe.
To start, let's look at examples of physical physicians, or doctors that look at ailments of the body.
If you're visiting the doctor for a physical or a case of the flu, you're probably seeing your general practitioner. These doctors treat a variety of conditions and keep up with general patient health and prevention methods, like physicals, pap smears for women, and vaccines. They may treat adults or children. Some general practitioners specialize in working with children, called pediatricians.
They differ from internists who are trained to work with complex cases of common or rare diseases, specifically in adults. An internist may work with a patient with multiple conditions, or severe chronic issues that last their lifetime.
Since these doctors are working with patients for a long time, they develop meaningful relationships with their patients. Meeting with patients on a regular basis for checkups and physicals helps build rapport.
If the doctor works primarily in the hospital, the practitioner is called a hospitalist. Most hospitalists are internists and specialize in severe issues. Although hospitalists work with a patient during their hospital stay only, they can build report by checking in regularly and communicating with family members.
For example, a child with a broken leg will have concerned parents. Doctors should communicate the possible treatment plans in easy to understand language and review evidence for their treatment, such as X-rays and scans before implementing plaster or air-casts, pins, or surgery.
If you have a problem that is specific to a certain organ system, your general practitioner might refer you to a specialist, or a doctor that has a specific focus. Internists may also collaborate with specialists to provide appropriate care. Let's look at a few examples.
Joe comes to the hospital during a heart attack. The emergency physician delivers clot-busting medication to try to relieve the blocked artery, but does not have success. Emergency physicians treat any type of patient entering the emergency room.
If the emergency physician determines the patient needs surgery, a trauma surgeon is called in. Trauma surgeons are responsible for a wide range of surgeries in the emergency room. In Joe's case, he will undergo coronary bypass surgery to reroute blood around the blocked artery.
After surgery, Joe will need to be referred to a cardiologist, a doctor that specializes in heart medicine. The cardiologist might prescribe blood thinners or blood pressure medication to ease the stress on his heart. He'll also recommend Joe change his diet and exercise habits to promote heart health and check in with him on a regular basis. Joe will also see his general practitioner, who will collaborate with the cardiologist.
Although women usually see their general practitioner to keep their reproductive organs healthy, they may also see a gynecologist, who specializes in women's reproductive health. These doctors can recommend birth control, treatments for cervical cancer, fertility issues, and menstrual pain. If a woman wishes to have a baby, she also may see an obstetrician that specializes in child birth.
Reproductive health can be a sensitive issue and it's important for these doctors to build rapport with their patients. The doctor should consult a woman about her sexual history and identify any trauma before starting an exam. By continuing with the same patient for years, doctors can build trust around these delicate issues.
Patients also need care for their senses, such as the eyes and ears. An ophthalmologist specializes in eye care. They can provide general eye exams and diagnose diseases of they eyes, such as diabetic retinopathy, cataracts, and perform eye surgeries.
An otolaryngologist treats the ears, nose, and throat. A patient might see an otolaryngologist for hearing loss, infections of the nose and sinuses, chronic ear infections, laryngitis, and disorders that affect the general face, such as disfigurement. Some even perform plastic surgery.
Humans not only need doctors for their body, but also their minds. While social workers can do psychotherapy with clients, some patients require medication, which is prescribed by a psychiatrist. These types of doctors can do therapy with patients and prescribe medication for mental health.
Psychiatrists may specialize in certain mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or depression. Mental health conditions also have physical repercussions, such as eating disorders, which require psychiatrists to collaborate with general practitioners, internists, or specialists.
Psychiatry not only requires a vast knowledge of neurobiology, but also a trusting relationship with the patient. Psychiatrists need to slowly build trust, getting to know their patient and their problems before setting into a treatment plan. Multiple sessions may be needed before any problems can be addressed.
Physical physicians are doctors that treat body ailments. General practitioners practice general and preventive medicine in adults and children, such as vaccines and physicals. Internists specialize in treating complex diseases in adults and may work only in hospitals, called hospitalists.
Physical physicians can also become specialists, focusing on one area of the body such as emergency physicians, trauma surgeons, cardiologists (for heart health), otolaryngologists (for ear, nose, and throat), ophthalmologists (for eyes), or obstetricians (for child birth). Behavioral doctors are psychiatrists, who specialize in the neurobiology of mental health.
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