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If you have a medical problem, it helps to know
what kind of specialist your family doctor may refer
you to.
The most common varieties
of specialists and their functions are as follows:
Allergist - A doctor
who specializes in preventing, diagnosing and treating
allergies and asthma.
Anesthesiologist
- A doctor who specializes in administering anesthetics,
drugs or agents that produce a complete or partial
loss of feeling to relieve pain, commonly, but not
always, during surgery.
Cardiologist - A
physician who specializes in disorders of the heart.
Dermatologist - A
doctor who specializes in diseases and problems
of the skin. Emergency Medicine
doctor: A doctor who specializes in the rapid
recognition and treatment of trauma or acute illnesses.
Endocrinologist: A doctor who specializes
in disorders of the hormonal system, including diabetes
mellitus.
Family practitioner:
A doctor who specializes in family medicine.
Gastroenterologist: A doctor who specializes
in disorders of the stomach, esophagus, intestines
and liver.
Geneticist: A professional
who specializes in the study or application of genetics,
the science that examines the principles and mechanics
of heredity.
Geriatrician: A medical
specialist in the field of geriatrics, i.e., the
branch of medicine dealing with the physiology of
aging and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases
affecting the elderly.
Gynecologist: A doctor who specializes in
disorders of the female reproductive system.
Haematologist: A
doctor who specializes in the field of haematology,
i.e., the study of blood and blood-forming tissues.
Infectious disease specialist: A doctor who specializes
in the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of infectious
or communicable diseases.
Internist: A doctor who specializes in internal
medicine, i.e., the branch of medicine concerned
with the physiology and pathology of the internal
organs and with the medical diagnosis and treatment
of disorder of the internal organs.
Neonatologist: A doctor who specializes in the care
of an infant from birth to four weeks and in the
diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the newborn.
Nephrologist: A physician who specializes in the
prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of the kidneys.
Neurologist: A physician who specializes in disorders
and treatment of the brain and the nervous system.
Obstetrician: A doctor who specializes in pregnancy
and childbirth.
Oncologist: A surgeon who specializes in the diagnoses
and treatment of cancer .
Ophthalmologist: A surgeon who specializes in the
comprehensive care of the eyes and in the prevention
of eye diseases and injuries.
Orthopedic surgeon: A doctor who specializes in
disorders and diseases of the skeletal system.
Otolaryngologist: A doctor who specializes in diseases
and disorders of the ear, nose and throat. Also
known as a head and neck.
Pediatrician: A doctor who specializes in the care
of infants and children.
Pathologist: A doctor who studies and analyses tissues,
samples and body fluids in the laboratory.
Pharmacologist: A specialist who studies the preparation,
properties, uses and actions of drugs or medications.
Plastic surgeon: A doctor who performs surgery to
repair bodily defects. He also performs cosmetic
or aesthetic surgery, i.e., the alteration of visible
parts of the body to improve the external appearance.
Proctologist: A doctor who specializes in the prevention,
diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the colon,
rectum and anus.
Psychiatrist: A doctor who specializes in the prevention,
causes diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional
and behavioral disorders. Psychiatrists differ from
other types of mental health professionals, (such
as psychologists and psychoanalysts) in that they
have earned a medical degree and specially training.
As such, they are the only mental health specialists
who are authorized to prescribe medication.
Pulmonologist: A
doctor who specializes in disorders of the lung.
Radiologist: A doctor
who specializes in radiology, i.e., the branch of
medicine concerned with imaging the human body,
using X-rays and scans.
Rheumatologist: A
doctor who specializes in disorders of connective
tissue and related structures; largely, they diagnose
and treat inflamed and diseased joints and arthritis.
Surgeon: A doctor
who specializes in diseases and trauma that require
operative procedures. Surgeons can be general surgeons
as well as specialized surgeons in specific branches
of medicine: for example, cardiovascular surgeons,
neurosurgeons and pediatric surgeons.
Thoracic surgeon: A doctor who performs chest
and lung surgery
Urologist: A doctor
who specializes in the diagnoses and treatment of
diseases of the urinary tract in males and females,
and those of the genital tract in males, including
prostate problems.
Vascular surgeon:
A doctor who specializes in the surgical treatment
of arteries or veins.
One should remember that often a specialist is an
expert who knows more and more about less and less.
Therefore, it is your primary care doctor who should
guide your medical care!
Given the increasing complexity of modern medical
care, there are likely to be many other varieties
of health-care workers you will encounter, and you
should be aware of their functions as well:
Audiologist: A health professional who diagnoses
and treats hearing problems and helps provide rehabilitation
to individuals with hearing loss.
Dietitian: A person trained in the nutritional care
of group and individuals.
Emergency medical technician (EMT): A person trained
in, and responsible for, the administration of specialized
emergency care and transporting acutely ill or injured
individuals to a medical facility. EMTs are yet
to become popular in India.
Nutritionist: A person who studies and applies the
principles and science of nutrition.
Occupational therapist (OT): A health professional
who evaluates and treats individuals who are limited
in their ability to function fully, due to physical
injury or illness. Ots encourage 'purposeful activity'
(for example, teaching how to cook a meal or use
public transportation) in their 'clients' to maximize
independence, prevent disability and maintain overall
health.
Paramedic: A person who is trained in certain emergency
medical procedures and assists a doctor during such
procedures.
Pharmacist: A qualified professional who formulates
(prepares) and dispenses medications. Licensed pharmacists
must procure at least a Bachelor's degree in pharmaceutical
science (B Pharm).
Phlebotomist: A technician trained in drawing blood
and starting intravenous lines.
Physical therapist (PT): A health professional who
examines and treats individuals with physical limitations
or disabilities. PTs must obtain a Bachelor's degree
as a minimum requirement.
Psychologist: A person who studies animal and human
behavior. A clinical psychologist must hold a graduate
degree in psychology. A psychologist provides testing
facilities and counseling to people with mental
or emotional disorders.
Social worker: A professional with advanced education,
generally a Master's degree in social work, or MSW,
who tackles social, emotional and environmental
problems in association with illness or disability.
Social workers about counsel individuals and families
community resources, and depending on their area
of specialization and training, on coping with mental
illness or disorders. They also often assist in
providing financial assistance to poor patients.
Speech therapist: A practitioner trained in speech
pathology who treats people with disorders that
affect speech.
X-ray Technician: Also called a radiologic technologist,
an X-ray technician is a person who operates radiologic
equipment and assists radiologists.
Remember that if you know who does what in the world
of medicine, you are likely to be able find the
right person to help you in resolving your problems!
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