Specialty Definition List


Primary care providers:

Family Practice: Traditionally, physicians dedicated to family practice are called upon to meet a wide variety of common healthcare needs. Their broad-based medical training is an asset in detecting the onset of serious medical problems. This assures you of timely treatment and referral to a qualified specialist, when required.

General Practice: A medical practitioner who devotes his practice to assessing and treating general medical ailments and provides preventive care and health education to patients. The General Practitioner diagnoses and treats a large variety of diseases and conditions, and has the option of referring certain conditions to a specialist for further investigation and management.

Pediatrics: The healthcare needs of children are often much more involved than those of adults. In choosing a pediatric physician as the primary care provider for your youngsters, you are selecting a “specialist” who is attuned to the latest breakthrough in child healthcare. You’ll find pediatricians are an excellent source of information for such parental concerns as child development, diet and immunizations. Furthermore, your children’s participation in pediatric well-child care programs is an invaluable asset during those important growth years.

Internal Medicine: In many instances, adults - especially those faced with debilitating chronic illness - may find it preferable to have an internist as their primary physician. Their extensive training and ability to treat complex medical problems make them well equipped to meet adult healthcare needs.

Obstetrics-Gynecology: Many women prefer to visit an obstetrician-gynecologist (OB/GYN) for their special healthcare needs. These may include breast exams, routine gynecological checkups and prenatal care.

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Specialty Providers:

Allergy: Allergists diagnose and treat allergic conditions and diseases of the immune system.

Anesthesiologist: A specialist who administers a drug for medical or surgical purposes, that induces partial or total loss of sensation and may be topical, local, regional, or general, depending on the method of administration and area of the body affected.

Cardiology: Cardiologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the heart and the circulatory system.

Cardiovascular/Cardiothoracic Surgery: A surgical specialty concerned with the treatment of disorders of the circulatory system as well as the heart, lungs, esophagus and other parts of the chest cavity.

Chiropractic Medicine: Chiropractic medicine is a drug free, non-surgical healing art and science which gives special attention to musculoskeletal, structural, spinal, neurological and nutritional relationships in health.

Colon and Rectal Surgery: Diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases of the rectum, anus and lower digestive tract.

Critical Care Medicine: The Critical Care Specialist manages life threatening disorders in intensive care units and other hospital settings.

Dermatology: Dermatologists diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the skin, as well as nails and hair.

Ear, Nose and Throat: Otololaryngologists are concerned with medical conditions of the ears, nose and throat and are trained to perform surgery in these areas: including head and neck surgery.

Emergency Medicine: Emergency Room physicians evaluate, diagnose, and treat urgent and emergent conditions arising from illnesses or accidents.

Endocrinology: Endocrinologists are Internists who have specialized training in diseases and disorders of the endocrine glands, such as diabetes, thyroid conditions and hormonal imbalances.

Family Practice: This medical specialty deals in the primary care of patients of all ages and family practitioners are concerned with the provision of continuing comprehensive health care for the entire family.

Gastroenterology: This subspecialty of Internal Medicine is concerned with problems related to the digestive system and related structures (esophagus, gallbladder, intestines, liver, pancreas and stomach).

General Surgery: General Surgeons are proficient in performing most kinds of surgery. Surgeons who specialize in a particular type of surgery are listed under those specific categories. Surgeons are most often called upon to treat traumatic conditions.

Genetics: Genetic counselors study and treat genetic transmissions of a particular trait or defect from parents to offspring.

Geriatrics: Geriatricians treat the elderly (see Internal Medicine, Family Medicine).

Gynecology and Obstetrics: Gynecologists specialize in disorders and diseases associated with the female genital tract, as well as infertility and female endocrinology. Obstetricians are medical-surgical specialists concerned with the care of women during pregnancy, childbirth and postpartum.

Hand Surgery: Hand surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases of the hand.

Hematology: This Internal Medicine subspecialty is concerned with the blood and blood-forming tissues and management of diseases related to the blood cells, such as anemia and leukemia.

Infectious Diseases: Internist who specialize in Infectious Diseases deal with the diagnosis, cause, treatment and prevention of contagious diseases.

Internal Medicine: Internists are primary care physicians for adults and are trained in the diagnosis and medical (non-surgical) treatment of the internal structures of the human body. Some internists have a subspecialty such as cardiology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, nephrology, oncology, pulmonary disease, and rheumatology and limit their practices to their subspecialty. Others combine the subspecialty with the practice of internal medicine.

Neonatology: Pediatricians who have specialized training in neonatology deal with the diagnosis and treatment of illnesses in high risk infants.

Nephrology: Nephrologists are internists who are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of kidney diseases and disorders.

Neurology: Neurology, a subspecialty of internal medicine, deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

Neurosurgery: Neurosurgeons specialize in surgery that involves the nervous system - the brain, spinal cord, nerves and muscles.

Nuclear Medicine: Diagnosis and treat diseases through the use of radioactive substances.

Oncology: Oncologists are internists who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer.

Ophthalmology: Ophthalmologists specialize in the care of the eye and the medical and/or surgical treatment of eye diseases.

Orthopaedics: Orthopaedics is the branch of medicine that deals with the correction or prevention of disorders of the musculoskeletal system through medicine, surgery, and/or therapy.

Pain Management: Anethesiologists trained in pain management specialize in methods which alleviate chronic and/or post surgical pain.

Pathology: Pathologists study and diagnose disease processes by examining human tissue and body fluids.

Pediatric Surgery: Pediatric surgeons specialize in the diagnosis and surgical treatment of children.

Physical Medicine: This medical specialty deals with the rehabilitation of patients with physical disabilities through appropriate physical therapy programs.

Plastic Surgery: This branch of surgery deals with cosmetic surgery and the reconstruction of defects or deformities caused by disease or injury. Some physicians in the field limit their practice to certain body parts.

Podiatry: Podiatrists are trained in the diagnosis, and care treatment of disorders of the foot.

Psychiatry: Psychiatrists are concerned with the study, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental/emotional illnesses.

Psychology: Psychologists specialize in the non-medical diagnosis and treatment of mental, emotional and behavioral problems.

Pulmonary Medicine: Pulmonologists specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of diseases that affect the lungs and the functioning of the respiratory system.

Radiology: Radiologists utilize diagnostic x-rays, nuclear medicine, ultrasound and other imaging techniques to diagnose and treat disease.

Radiation Oncology: Radiation Oncologists are trained to treat tumors and cancers, through the use of radiation therapy.

Rheumatology: Rheumatologists are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of diseases characterized by pain and inflammation of the joints and/or muscles.

Thoracic Surgery: Thoracic surgeons specialize in diagnosis and surgical treatment of diseases of the chest and lungs.

Urology: This branch of medicine is concerned with the diagnosis and medical and/or surgical treatment of disorders of the urinary tract and male reproductive system.

Vascular Surgery: Vascular surgeons specialize in the surgical treatment of disorders affecting the circulatory system.