Types of health care providers

• A
• B
• C
• D
• E
• F
• G
• H
• I
• J
• K
• L
• M
• N
• O
• P
• R
• S
• T
• U
• V
• W
• X
• Y
• Z

(Page 2)

Types of health care providers

DRUG THERAPY

Licensed pharmacists have graduate training from a college of pharmacy.

Your pharmacist prepares and processes drug prescriptions that were written by your primary or specialty care provider. Pharmacists provide information to patients about medications, while also consulting with health care providers about dosages, interactions, and side effects of medicines.

Your pharmacist may also follow your progress to check the safe and effective use of your medication.

SPECIALTY CARE

Your primary care provider may refer you to professionals in various specialties when necessary, such as:

• Allergy and asthma
• Anesthesiology -- general anesthesia or spinal block for surgeries and some forms of pain control
• Cardiology -- heart disorders
• Dermatology -- skin disorders
• Endocrinology -- hormonal and metabolic disorders, including diabetes
• Gastroenterology -- digestive system disorders
• General surgery -- common surgeries involving any part of the body
• Hematology -- blood disorders
• Immunology -- disorders of the immune system
• Infectious disease -- infections affecting the tissues of any part of the body
• Nephrology -- kidney disorders
• Neurology -- nervous system disorders
• Obstetrics/gynecology -- pregnancy and women's reproductive disorders
• Oncology -- cancer treatment
• Ophthalmology -- eye disorders and surgery
• Orthopedics -- bone and connective tissue disorders
• Otorhinolaryngology -- ear, nose, and throat (ENT) disorders
• Physical therapy and rehabilitative medicine -- for disorders such as low back injury, spinal cord injuries, and stroke
• Psychiatry -- emotional or mental disorders
• Pulmonary (lung) -- respiratory tract disorders
• Radiology -- X-rays and related procedures (such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI)
• Rheumatology -- pain and other symptoms related to joints and other parts of the musculoskeletal system
• Urology -- disorders of the male reproductive and urinary tracts and the female urinary tract

Review Date: 10/24/2006
Reviewed By: Daniel R Alexander, MD, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, Leonardtown, MD. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.