Practitioners
of medicine perform exams, diagnose illnesses, and treat patients with
diseases or injuries. They also teach and advise people about how to maintain
good health. Some perform research or teach in medical schools. Physicians
may be general practitioners, or they may specialize. Specialists work with
advanced technologies that require additional training and skills beyond what
is learned in medical school.
Podiatrists are practitioners trained to diagnose, treat, and
prevent foot problems using medicine or surgery. They attend schools of
podiatric medicine for their education.
Chiropractors diagnose problems and then use manipulation of the
spinal column and body parts as treatment. They also use water, light, heat, and
exercise in their treatments.
Physician Assistants perform medical exams and may assume many of
the responsibilities of physicians who supervise them. They may order laboratory
tests, initiate treatment or therapy, and counsel patients.
Many years of education and training are required to practice
medicine. A dedication to learning is essential because the medical practitioner
continually must acquire knowledge in order to keep up with the advances in
technology, equipment, techniques, and medications.
Chiropractor
Doctors of Chiropractic, also known as Chiropractors
or Chiropractic Physicians, are health practitioners who treat patients
by manual adjustment of parts of the body, giving special consideration to the
spine and the central nervous system. The chiropractic system of health care is
a drugless, non-surgical healing art based on the principle that the nervous
system governs the state of health of the human body and that many abnormal
functions and disorders are caused by interference with nerve transmission and
expression.
Work Activities
Analyzing
a patient’s condition by questioning the patient and using physical,
X-ray, and
laboratory tests
Advising
the patient of the course of treatment to be followed
Performing
spinal adjustments working from the base of the skull to the tip of the
spine using hand and finger manipulation
Treating
patients using exercise, water, light, and heat therapy
Recommending
nutritionally sound diets along with good sleeping and resting habits
Keeping
accurate case history records of all patients
Suggesting
that patients requiring drugs or surgery contact other health care
specialists
Work Settings
Most Chiropractors set up their own practices; however,
several Chiropractors may form a group practice in a private clinic or a
hospital setting. Some Chiropractors occasionally provide treatment at
patients’ homes. Many employ a nurse, a chiropractic assistant, or a
chiropractic technician to assist them in performing their work.Possible hazards of practice include the
effects of radiation from X-ray equipment if it is used improperly and the
risks of contagious diseases or infection.
Special Requirements
In general, state licensing boards require completion of a
4-year chiropractic college program. Chiropractic colleges require applicants
to have at least 2 years of undergraduate study, including courses in English,
social sciences, organic and inorganic chemistry, biology, physics, and
psychology. Most applicants have a bachelor’s degree. For licensure, a
chiropractor must pass a three-part test administered by the National Board of
Chiropractic Examiners. To maintain licensure, a certain number of continuing
education hours is required each year.
Physicians, or
Doctors, diagnose and treat human diseases and injuries and practice
preventive medicine. Some combine medical practice with research or teaching in
medical schools. Physicians receiving MD degrees are Doctors of Allopathic
Medicine or Doctors of Medicine. Those receiving DO degrees are Doctors of
Osteopathic Medicine or Doctor of Osteopathy.Programs in medicine provide the education needed by Physicians to meet
the changing health care needs of society. Medical programs are designed to use
the scientific disciplines so that the future practices of students will be as
scientifically based as possible. Programs in medical school include clinical
and laboratory work, observation, and hospital clerkships.
Work Activities
Diagnosing
patient’s condition on the basis of examination, tests, and reports
Ordering
or performing various tests, analyses, andX-rays to provide information on the patient’s
condition
Prescribing
and administering drugs and treatments
Vaccinating
patients to immunize them against communicable diseases
Providing
prenatal and postnatal care to pregnant women and delivering babies
Performing
surgery and related procedures
Conducting
research to aid in the control and cure of diseases
Developing
and testing new medical techniques
Reporting
births, deaths, and the outbreak of contagious diseases to governmental
authorities
Supervising
medical treatments of patients
Osteopathic Physicians diagnose, prescribe medications for,
and treat diseases of the human body relying on accepted medical and surgical
procedures and, when deemed beneficial, on manipulative therapy. They are
concerned particularly with symptoms that may be attributed to impairments of
the musculoskeletal
system.
Career Specialties
Primary Care Physicians
practice in most areas of medicine. They may refer complex
medical problems to other specialists. The areas of primary care are:
Family Medicine (
healthcare for the entire family, from newborns to elderly)
General Internal Medicine
(emphasis on adult health)
General Pediatrics
(emphasis on children’s health)
Other specialists diagnose and treat illnesses
and/or injuries related to specific branches of medicine or parts of the human
body. These include the following:
Anesthesiologists
administer anesthesia (numbness or sleep) to patients undergoing surgery.
Cardiologists treat
diseases of the heart.
Dermatologists
specialize in treating conditions of the skin.
Gastroenterologists
diagnose and treat ailments of the digestive system.
Gynecologists
specialize in the prevention and treatment of disorders of the female
reproductive system.
Neurologists specialize
in disorders of the brain and central nervous system.
Obstetricians care for
pregnant women and deliver babies.
Oncologists specialize
in working with malignant, or cancerous, tumors.
Ophthalmologists
diagnose and treat disorders associated with the eye.
Orthopedists specialize
in correcting or preventing skeletal deformities or ailments.
Otolaryngologists treat
ailments of the ears, nose, and throat.
Pathologists interpret
and diagnose the changes in tissue caused by disease.
Physiatrists are
specialists of physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Psychiatrists deal with
the study, treatment, and prevention of mental illness.
Pulmonologists treat
the lungs and respiratory system.
Radiologists use X-rays
to diagnose and treat diseases.
Surgeons perform
operations to correct deformities, repair injuries, treat diseases, and improve
functions of patients.
Urologists treat
ailments of the urinary tract.
Work Settings
Physicians may be supervised by a health administrator. They
may work alone, with other Physicians, or with a nursing staff. They may
supervise interns or residents as well as the nursing staff. The majority of
doctors work in hospitals, clinics, nursing homes, or in private practice
offices. Physicians may be exposed to infections from patients, to cuts and
burns from equipment, and to radioactive materials used in diagnosis and
treatment.
Special Requirements
Upon completion of medical school, the MD degree or the DO
degree is granted. Most Physicians then enter a period of post-graduate
training called a residency during which time (one to four years) they receive
their specialty training. To become licensed as a Doctor of Medicine or
Osteopathy, an applicant must be at least 18 years of age, meet all the
educational and training requirements of the Board of Medicine, and pass an
examination. Also required is completion of one year of satisfactory
post-graduate training at a hospital in the United
States or Canada
approved by the Liaison Committee on Medical Education, or another official
accrediting body recognized by the American Medical Association or the American
Osteopathic Association for internships or residency training.
The most common requirements for entering
schools of medicine are completion of a premedical college or university
program or its equivalent with an acceptable grade average; application through
the centralized services of the American Medical College Application Service
(AMCAS), managed by the Association of American Medical Colleges, or the
American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine Application Service,
managed by the American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine; and
passing the association’s Medical College Admissions Test (MCAT) with a
competitive score. A personal interview, additional applications, and further
testing may be required.
Educational Institutions Doctor of medicine: UAMS (D)
Doctor of osteopathy: (ACM) Oklahoma State University; Des Moines University,
Pikeville College, The University of Health Sciences-Kansas City
Physician Assistants
provide medical care services to patients while under the direct supervision
and responsibility of a doctor of medicine or osteopathy. Physician Assistants
may work alone or directly with the supervising physician, but they can do only
what is permitted by the physician and the laws of the state in which they
practice. Programs for Physician Assistants prepare individuals—some with past
experiences as health care professionals—to assist licensed physicians in a
variety of health care settings. One or more years of direct patient care is a
common prerequisite. The curriculum consists of courses in the basic medical
sciences with clinical clerkships.
Work Activities
Taking
detailed medical histories and performing physical examinations on
patients of all ages
Ordering
laboratory tests, X-rays, EKGs, and other diagnostic studies
Identifying
normal and abnormal findings on histories, physical examinations, and
common
laboratory tests
Making
diagnoses and decisions regarding the management and treatment of patients
Initiating
therapy or treatment
Suturing
wounds, assisting in surgery, applying and removing casts, and performing
other
therapeutic procedures
Making
hospital rounds to observe and record the progress of patients, to update
and summarize
charts, and to order or carry out indicated therapy
Assisting
in providing services to patients who require continuing medical care at
home, at a
nursing home, or at another extended health care facility
Coordinating
and supervising the work of some health care professionals
Counseling
patients and their families on preventive care, medical problems, and
prescribed treatments and drugs
Physician Assistants may have special training in a
particular medical specialty, such as geriatrics, surgery, neonatology,
pediatrics, or occupational medicine.
Work Settings
Physician Assistants work under the supervision and
direction of a licensed physician. Some Physician Assistants work in satellite
offices away from the direct supervision of the physician and communicate with
the physician by telephone or radio. They may work alone or with other health
personnel, such as registered nurses and licensed practical nurses.Physician Assistants usually work in
physicians’ offices, clinics, or hospitals. They may be exposed to infection,
communicable diseases, and contaminated materials.
Special Requirements
Admission requirements vary, but many programs require 2
years of college and some work experience in the health care field. About half
of all applicants hold a bachelor’s or masters degree. Physician
Assistant programs generally last 2 years.To become licensed as a Physician Assistant,
an applicant must complete an accredited formal education program. Also, the
applicant must pass an examination given by the National Commission for
Certification of Physician Assistants.
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Practitioners
of medicine perform exams, diagnose illnesses, and treat patients with
diseases or injuries. They also teach and advise people about how to maintain
good health. Some perform research or teach in medical schools. Physicians
may be general practitioners, or they may specialize. Specialists work with
advanced technologies that require additional training and skills beyond what
is learned in medical school.