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Physician
Descriptions
Family Physician top
of page
A family physician is a physician who is educated and trained
in family practice - a broadly encompassing medical specialty.
Family
physicians possess unique skills and knowledge that qualify them
to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance,
and preventive services to each member of the family regardless
of sex, age or type of problem, be it biological, behavioral,
or social. These specialists, because of their background and
interactions with the family, are best qualified to serve as each
patient's advocate in all health-related matters, including the
appropriate use of consultants, health services, and community
resources.
Internist
top of page
An internist is a broadly trained specialist in adult medicine.
In-depth training in the diagnosis of diseases involving the organ
systems of the body is the "territory" of the internist.
Sometimes the internist is called a "diagnostician"
because of the broad training in diagnosing illness involving
multiple systems in the body.
Providing
both primary care and consultative care, internists place a strong
emphasis on prevention and the maintenance of a wholesome lifestyle,
which provides the framework for healthy patients. If illness
should occur, the internist is the first person to be contacted
for prompt and cost-effective diagnosis and treatment.
Pulmonologist
top of page
Pulmonologists are internists who have undergone further
years of training in the specialty of chest disease and critical
care. They are qualified to diagnose and treat complex diseases
of the chest and respiratory system including asthma, pulmonary
infections and a large variety of diseases of the lungs. In addition,
they possess the unique special skills needed for the management
of critically ill patients in the intensive care units of hospitals.
They may serve as the primary manager of a critically ill patient,
as a coordinator of the efforts of a team of highly skilled physicians
in a critically ill patient, or a consultant who confines his
care to a specific problem in pulmonary disease. The unique training
of such physicians commonly puts them in control of the management
of technical equipment such as ventilators and pulmonary endoscopic
techniques. Pulmonologists function in the inpatient setting as
well as through their outpatient offices in the care of patients
with complex respiratory problems.
Hospitalist
Physician top of page
The term "hospitalist" is used to describe a relatively
new category of internist (specialist in adult medicine). Hospitalists
confine their practice to the inpatient environment of hospitals.
Their training make them especially qualified in the diagnosis
and management skills required to meet the unique needs of sick,
hospitalized patients who often suffer from multiple illnesses.
The hospitalist serves as the "primary care hospital physician"
or as medical consultant during the period of confinement in the
hospital. At discharge, the care reverts to the primary care physician
of record. During the hospitalization, the hospitalist physician
coordinates with the outpatient primary care physician and with
other consulting physicians involved so as to provide for optimum
coordination and continuity of care of a hospital inpatient.
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