Types of health care providers

• Generalists:
  • "Doctor" includes both physicians (MDs) and doctors of osteopathic medicine (DOs). These professionals usually specialize in family practice or internal medicine. See MD profession, and doctor of osteopathy profession (DO).
  • Nurse Practitioner profession (NP) includes advanced practice nurses prepared for primary care role. The profession includes family (FNP), pediatric (PNP), adult (ANP), and geriatric (GNP) specialties.
  • The Physician Assistant profession (PA) is prepared in family practice model for primary care role.
• Specialists who are frequently sought directly by women consumers for general primary care needs:
  • OB/GYN--physician specializing in obstetrics and gynecology, including well women's health care.
  • CNM (certified nurse midwife)--an advanced practice nurse specializing in women's health care needs throughout life, including prenatal, labor and delivery, and postpartum care of women through "normal" pregnancies.
  • NP--some nurse practitioners (advanced practice nurses) prepared in programs specific to women's health care including common gynecological problems, routine GYN health maintenance and screenings (such as a pap smear), and family planning. .
• Areas of primary care where consumers often seek specialty care directly:
  • visual care--ophthalmologist (MD) or optometrist
  • mental health care--psychiatrist (MD), psychologist, social worker (MSW), or psychiatric/mental health nurse specialist (MSN)

• 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
• gastroenterology--digestive system disorders
• general surgery--common surgeries involving any part of the body
• gynecology/obstetrics--pregnancy, both 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 malignant (growing worse - resisting treatment) diseases
• ophthalmology--eye disorders and surgery
• orthopedics--bone/connective tissue disorders
• otorhinolaryngology--ear, nose, 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 victims)
• psychiatry--emotional or mental disorders
• pulmonary (lung)--respiratory tract disorders
• radiology--evaluation of X-rays and related procedures (such as ultrasound, CT scan, and MRI)
• urology--male reproductive tract and both male and female urinary tract disorders