Traveling for medical care can bring patients into contact with a number of medical professionals and acronyms: a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, to name a few. . So what are the differences between all these providers? And which one is best for you?
This content is sponsored by MedStar Washington Hospital Center.
Traveling for medical care can bring patients into contact with a number of medical professionals and acronyms: a doctor, nurse, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant, to name a few. . So what are the differences between all these providers? And which one is best for you?
MedStar Washington Hospital Center Chief Medical Officer Dr. Jeffrey Dubin breaks it down so patients can understand both the different positions and how they all work collaboratively at MedStar Washington Hospital Center to put patient care first.
There are different types of doctors, Dr. Dubin said. A physician is a physician trained in the practice of medicine. After earning a bachelor’s degree, physicians typically study for four years in medical school, followed by an additional three to seven years in a residency program. After that, some doctors receive subspecialty training, which can last anywhere from one to three years, he added.
There are two main types of doctors – a Doctor of Medicine (MD) and a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (DO). The Doctor of Medicine degree indicates that a physician is trained to diagnose and treat diseases and disorders with preventative care and evidence-based therapies such as medications and surgery. The doctor of osteopathic medicine receives training similar to that of a medical doctor. DOs undergo an additional 200 hours of osteopathic training to learn how the disease affects the musculoskeletal system and how to provide treatment by manipulating joints, bones and muscles, Dr. Dubin said.
Both types of doctors go to medical school and “learn the same thing,” Dr. Dubin added.
“They’re all licensed physicians, and they’ve all been trained, they’ve all gone through residencies deemed equivalent in that regard,” he said.
A surgeon is a subset of physicians who specialize in the evaluation and treatment of conditions that may require surgery or physical modification of the human body. Surgeons and physicians perform many similar tasks — surgeons also use surgical techniques to treat conditions and restore function, Dr. Dubin said.
Advanced Practice Providers (also known as APPs) are another group of healthcare providers that patients often come into contact with. Advanced practice providers have advanced degrees, but are not physicians. These people include: Physician Assistants (PAs), Nurse Practitioners (NPs), and Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetists (CRNAs).
A physician assistant is a medical professional who can serve as a primary health care provider. Physician assistants can diagnose illnesses, manage treatment plans and prescribe medications, Dr. Dubin said.
NPs are registered nurses who undergo advanced postgraduate education and clinical training that prepares them to practice independently in conjunction with or under the supervision of physicians.
A CRNA is an advanced practice nurse who works with other healthcare professionals to provide anesthesia care for all types of surgeries and procedures.
“So at the hospital center, it’s really collaborative work,” Dr. Dubin said of the different types of APPs.
Nurses are often on the front lines of patient care, and there are some nuances between the different types. A certified practical nurse (CNA) often works in home care and long-term care facilities and can be the main point of contact between a patient, their family and the healthcare system, Dr. Dubin said.
A licensed practical nurse (LPN) often serves as the primary means of communication between the patient and the healthcare team. They monitor health status and perform tasks such as taking blood pressure, starting intravenous medications and changing dressings.
A registered nurse (RN) typically administers medications and works with physicians and APPs to coordinate patient care.
With regard to the training of doctors, there are also residents and fellows. Residents are all medical school graduates, and this stage serves as a type of long learning program, Dr. Dubin said. Residents have graduated responsibilities and can practice medicine independently, but there is always an attending physician who is there to oversee their work.
Fellows are people who have completed their residency in a major field and are taking additional training to become a specialist in their chosen field. A fellowship can be one to three additional years of training, Dr. Dubin said.
“In medical school, you learn a bit of everything, then you cut it down a bit as a resident, and then you can more…specialize or subspecialize depending on the fellowship programs,” he said. he declares.
MedStar Washington Hospital Center is a teaching hospital, which means it provides medical education for the next generation of healthcare providers. This can translate into state-of-the-art care for patients.
“In an educational setting, I think the benefit for patients is that academic centers are generally at the forefront of medical knowledge and really treat you with the most up-to-date care pathways…. it’s technology or know-how there,” Dr. Dubin said.
At MedStar Washington Hospital Center, healthcare providers work together to ensure that patients not only receive the best care, but also to ensure that patient needs are met in a timely manner. The most experienced person may not always be available, but there are other healthcare providers who are equipped to provide the best possible care.
For example, if a patient comes into a care center with an injury, a surgeon can see you, but can focus on their highest level of care, a procedure. An APP can spend more time with the patient, develop a care plan and work collaboratively with the surgeon, Dr. Dubin said.
“The patient may actually have someone who can spend that extra time with them. You know, taking your history, talking about … what the plan of care will be and especially if they don’t need a surgeon, they can manage that,” he said.
Ultimately, it’s about working together to focus on the patient’s needs, Dr. Dubin said.
“Physicians and advanced practice providers all work collaboratively,” he said. “It’s a collaborative practice, with the benefit of providing the best patient care.”
Learn more in an article by Dr. Dubin on the MedStar Washington Hospital Center website.
