Everybody Needs a Doctor

Primary care doctors help you stay healthy. They provide a local home base for all your medical needs, and they take care of you when you're sick.

There are five kinds of primary care doctors. For the easiest and most reliable way to find the right doctor, call 610-402-CARE.

• What kind of primary care doctor do you need?
• M.D. or D.O.?
• More new abbreviations at the doctor's office

What kind of primary care doctor do you need?

It used to be that a doctor was a doctor. Today, it's different. Many different people with different types of training can provide health care. Adults in your family could see an internist. Children could go to a pediatrician, or the whole family could see a family medicine doctor. You could have a family medicine doctor and an obstetrician/gynecologist, or an internist and a geriatrician. If it's right for you, it's the right choice. Here's a guide to the five kinds of primary care doctors.

• Family medicine doctors, also called family practice doctors, take care of patients from infants to old age. They are trained and board-certified in their knowledge of the body at all ages.
• Internal medicine doctors, also called internists, generally take care of patients age 14 and up (the starting age can vary by practice). They are trained and board-certified in the understanding of the internal organs of the adult body. Some internal medicine and family medicine physicians also can provide care that you might not expect, like routine gynecologic care, dermatology and sports medicine.
• For many women, a gynecologist or obstetrician is a key health resource. Through the reproductive years and afterward, your obstetrician or gynecologist has the knowledge and experience to promote your well-being as a woman. They recommend tests and exams necessary at different stages of your life.
• Geriatricians have special education to address the specific needs of adults over the age of 60. They provide routine primary care, as well as medication management, physical and mental assessments related to falls, memory issues and other aspects of aging.
• Every child needs to see a doctor—in fact, more often than adults. Pediatricians are trained specifically to treat children, ranging from newborns through age 21. If your child needs special care, our pediatricians work closely with our specialists so your child can receive the best care.

M.D. or D.O.?

So, you've narrowed down the type or primary care doctor you'd like to see. Now you may have questions about whether you'd prefer an M.D. or a D.O. Here is some information to help you choose.

M.D. stands for medical doctor, a doctor who trained at a medical school. D.O. stands for doctor of osteopathic medicine, who trained at a college of osteopathic medicine. They represent two branches of medicine that started out completely separate but have grown more alike over 125 years. Both types of physicians spend the same number of years training, must pass a licensing exam, and are licensed to provide all types of medical care, including surgery.

Most people are familiar with how medical doctors are trained in understanding the body and treating disease. Osteopathic medicine was founded in 1874 based on a "whole person" approach that emphasizes preventive care and wellness. Osteopaths also receive ongoing training in the musculoskeletal system, and some but not all osteopaths perform osteopathic manipulative treatments. Because of this "whole person" approach, about two-thirds of osteopaths choose to become primary care doctors.

Today, the two branches of medicine seem more alike than different. M.D.s emphasize preventive care and wellness, and a growing number of osteopaths are choosing to become specialists.

More new abbreviations at the doctor's office

C.R.N.P. - A certified registered nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (R.N.) who has received additional training to provide more care under the supervision of a doctor. A C.R.N.P. is licensed to perform physician examinations, diagnose and treat health problems such as infections and injuries, order and interpret diagnostic tests, prescribe medications, provide prenatal care and family planning, provide well child care, and more.

P.N.P. - A pediatric nurse practitioner has advanced education in caring for children. A primary care P.N.P. is licensed to provide a wide range of care for your child, including well-care examinations and other health maintenance, perform routine developmental screenings, diagnose and treat common childhood illnesses, provide anticipatory guidance about common child health concerns, provide childhood immunizations and perform school physicals.

P.A. - A physician assistant has completed an intensive 26-month medical course, usually after completing college, and is licensed to practice under the supervision of a doctor. A P.A. can conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, assist in surgery and prescribe medications.

M.A. - A medical assistant has completed a one- or two-year program and may perform many medical activities, such as taking your blood pressure, giving you medication and refilling prescriptions.

L.C.S.W. - A licensed clinical social worker has a master's degree in social work and is licensed to diagnose and treat emotional and mental disorders.