Career Overview and Description
Physicians and surgeons play a crucial role in our communities. They not only make diagnosing and care for ill and injured patients, but also provide direct maintenance of our health by giving preventative healthcare methods.
D.O.s, or Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, and M.D.s, or Doctors of Medicine, are the different types of physicians. A D.O. differs from a M.D. because he focuses on holistic treatments, preventative medicine, and the musculoskeletal system. General pediatrics, general or family medicine, or general internal medicine are common areas of their practice. M.D.s are specialized in an allopathic form of medicine.
Areas of specialty for physicians include anesthesiology, family and general medicine, general internal medicine, general pediatrics, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and surgery.
Anesthesiologists provide patients with pain relief usually during surgery. They work alongside other physicians to ensure the best option of treatment for the patient is used. They must continually monitor the patient’s breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, and all other vital signs throughout surgery.
A family and general practitioner, or the conventional family doctor, is usually the first physician a patient sees when they have a problem. These physicians can treat a number of illnesses and injuries, but refer patients to specialists if further care is needed. They maintain a patient base that comes in to see them when medical assistance is needed.
General internists are specialized in treating the digestive tract, kidneys, internal organs, stomach, and liver. They use both hospitalization and medication for treatment, but not surgery. If surgery or other particular treatment is needed general internist refers patient to other physicians. They are involved in patients' primary care, and have patients referred to them.
Medical care to children ranging from birth through the teenage years is a primary function of general pediatricians. Monitoring patients’ growth, curing minor injuries and illnesses found commonly in children, administering immunizations are only some of general pediatricians' professional duties. They may also specialize in chronic ailments, pediatric surgery, or in autoimmune disorders.
Obstetricians and gynecologists, or ob/gyns, care about female health, treat women and fetuses throughout pregnancy, delivery, and provide postpartum care. Ob/gyns function area includes treating hormonal disorders, pelvic and urinary tract disorders, breast and cervical cancer, and other problems related to the reproductive system.
Treating mental health is psychiatrists' healthcare specific. After evaluation patient’s condition they can use hospitalization, psychotherapy, medication, or psychoanalysis as a treatment method. Psychotherapy is periodical discussions of psychiatrists and patients to help work through problems. Psychoanalysis is psychotherapy over long time periods. Discussing the patients' problems, psychiatrists can help them change their behavior and find solutions to problems.
The most difficult part of medicine is surgery. Surgeons correct deformities, to prevent conditions associated with disabling diseases, or to repair injured tissue and bones by performing operations on patients. To relieve the pain during surgery, patients are given local or general anesthesia. Common surgeons' areas of specialization:
- orthopedic surgery;
- plastic and reconstructive surgery;
- neurological surgery;
- otolaryngology;
- ophthalmology.
Surgeons provide diagnosing, treating problems and what is more important, teach patients preventative health care.
Except described above other specialized physicians exist, including pathologists, cardiologists, radiologists, dermatologists, gastroenterologists, and emergency physicians.
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