Who is taking care of your health? The professional behind the abbreviation.

Tacoma, WA

Professionals in the health care field are well-known for using a jargon of acronyms and abbreviations. Every day HCWs (short for health care workers) face an array of hundreds of accepted word shortcuts that they use to communicate with each other.

For the consumer of health care, this abbreviation-laden language can be a minefield of confusion, as even those treating you abbreviate their titles. There is the MD, the PA, and perhaps a DO or NP.

Who is the professional behind the abbreviation?

MD: Most people know that MD is the medical doctor. The MD’s undergraduate education is followed by medical school and several years of residency. He or she is responsible for collecting medical histories, doing exams, ordering and interpreting lab tests, making a diagnosis, and prescribing the appropriate treatment. An MD may specialize in a practice area--one specialty is geriatrics, a focus on caring for older adults.

DO: According to the American Academy of Osteopathy, about 5% of physicians in the United States are Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine, also known as DO. Most commonly found practicing in primary care, the DO uses the same methods of treatment as an MD, but places special emphasis on the connection between the musculoskeletal system and disease. The DO has similar educational preparation to that of the MD, but the training programs are specifically geared to the teaching of osteopathic medicine.

Both the MD and Do must pass licensure exams in their respective states and, if desiring certification in a specialty, complete additional training and testing.

PA: The physician-assistant (PA) is licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a physician. A position developed in the 1960s to help overcome a shortage of primary care physicians, some of the early assistants were Navy corpsmen who had received extensive medical training during the Vietnam War. A PA generally has a health care background and college education before enrolling in the study program, averaging about 26 months in length, according to the American Academy of Physician Assistants. The program, based on the medical model, prepares the graduate to conduct activities similar to that of the physician with whom he or she practices; complex cases are referred to the physician. Upon graduation the PA must pass a national certification exam to become eligible for state licensure

NP: Another product of the 60s, the nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice registered nurse with specialized education and clinical training provided in a college or university setting. Most nurse practitioners have either master’s or doctorate degrees, and provide a range of services similar to that of physicians, from diagnosing and treating illness to lifestyle management. The NP practices in many settings including clinics, hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and public health organizations. The NP is licensed in the state of practice; most hold certification in specialty areas.

If you’d like to learn more about healthcare titles, abbreviations, acronyms, and medical terminology check out these resources:

Website sponsored by the American Accreditation HealthCare Commission. Healthcare worker abbreviations. www.caci.com/cacihealth/acronyms.shtml

A short course in medical terminology sponsored by Des Moines University, Des Moines, IA .www.dmu.edu/medterms/

Use for a comprehensive search of abbreviations or terminology. www.medilexicon.com

This article is provided courtesy of…

Randy Walden, CSA
Certified Senior Advisor
Heartwarming Care, LLC
(888) 927-6227
http://www.heartwarmingcare.com
10209 Bridgeport Way SW Ste. C-6
Lakewood, WA 98499