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Q : What is a primary care physician? A : A primary care physician is a doctor who can help you with a wide range of medical problems, as well as routine physicals, immunizations and other exams. He or she can refer you to a specialist if specific problems arise. Primary care physicians are licensed general practitioners, internists, family practitioners or pediatricians. Osteopaths are also fully licensed primary care physicians, but they are licensed as DOs (Doctors of Osteopathy) rather than MDs (Medical Doctors). Check out “Questions to Ask When Selecting a Physician” for more information on selecting your primary care physician. |
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A : A specialist is a physician who concentrates on a specific field of medicine. A specialist may be consulted if there are questions about treatment for a specific illness or condition. For instance, a cardiologist, who specializes in diseases of the heart, would be consulted if a patient has had a heart attack. Q : What is preventive medicine? A : Preventive medicine means accepting the ultimate responsibility for our own health. It is similar to taking in your car for a tune-up and oil change. At this time, there is nothing wrong with your car, but this “preventive maintenance” can help keep your car in good shape and running well for a long time. Preventive medicine encourages us to exercise, eat a balanced diet and diagnose disease early by scheduling regular “check-ups” and having routine screening exams. Learning how to keep our bodies healthy and recognizing the early signs of problems help the medical profession serve us better. Q : What is the difference between “acute” and “chronic?” A : Acute describes a condition which comes on quickly, with severe symptoms, then goes away quickly. An example is acute appendicitis. Chronic describes a condition that is long and drawn out, usually without sharp or severe symptoms. An example is a chronic backache. Q : What is the difference between inpatient and outpatient facilities? A : Generally, when we talk about inpatient services, we are referring to those services you receive as a patient who has been admitted to the hospital. These include services such as inpatient surgery, physical and respiratory therapies and inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation. Outpatient services refer to health care services you receive when you are not an admitted hospital patient. This broad array of services includes urgent care, outpatient diagnostic testing, cardiac rehabilitation, chemotherapy and many more. |
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