meet the…
It takes a team of
healthcare pros to get
you back on your feet.
interpret diagnostic tests like X-rays
and lab work; prescribe medication;
and counsel patients. They often
specialize in a particular area, like
gerontology (elderly patients),
oncology (cancer) or mental health.
Palliative Doctor
Palliative medicine is a relatively new
and growing field of medicine that
focuses on relieving the symptoms of
a serious or terminal disease or condi-
tion. “Doctors who practice palliative
medicine lead a team of other doctors,
nurses, social workers and other
healthcare professionals and volunteers
in helping patients and their families
manage all aspects of a serious or life-
threatening illness,” explains Gail Aus-
Unsung Heroes
tin Cooney, M.D., president of the
American Academy of Hospice and
Palliative Medicine, based in Glenview,
You may not know much about these four specialists, but they
Illinois. A palliative doctor may help
relieve a patient’s discomfort even as
are likely working hard to help you heal. by joe mullich other doctors work on a cure. Hospice
care is a specific type of palliative
during a hospital stay it may seem pitalized patients. A hospitalist might medicine for those who are likely to
like a veritable parade of people coming identify themselves by that term, or have 6 months or less to live.
through your room. It’s not just your simply as an internist. Since their “of-
imagination, either: A New Zealand fice” is the hospital, these docs are very Pathologist
study found that a hospitalized surgical familiar with the facility you’re staying Pathologists are medical doctors who
patient sees an average of 10 doctors in, making it easier for them to be the examine tissues and analyze laboratory
and 16 nurses, while those who didn’t single point person and the one to cre- tests, using that information to work
get surgery typically saw 17 providers ate an overall plan for your care, from with your other doctors to determine
in total. It can be difficult to keep track admittance to discharge, and coordi- the best course of treatment for your
of all the names and titles and figure nate with all the different doctors treat- condition or disease. “A pathologist
out what everyone does. Here’s a quick ing you. Studies indicate that patients might, for example, examine a tissue
guide to four hospital staff you may treated by a hospitalist usually get to biopsy to determine if it is benign [not
not be as familiar with, with details go home sooner too. cancerous] or if you have cancer, or
about what they do to get us well. perform genetic testing to determine
Nurse Practitioner (NP) the most appropriate treatment for a
Hospitalist NPs go beyond the training and type of cancer,” explains Steven Kroft,
e
s
When you were admitted to the hos- education required for registered M.D., a spokesman for the American
g
a
pital you probably weren’t seen by your nurses (RNs), achieving an advanced Society for Clinical Pathology. With
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s
i
m
primary care physician. Instead, you degree (usually a master’s or doctorate). more than 2,000 different laboratory
s
i
n
may have talked to a “hospitalist”—a An NP provides many of the healthcare tests available on blood and body fluids,
u
e
y
b
doctor who specializes in providing services that a doctor would (though your pathologist can play a crucial role
k
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o
care in a hospital setting. Some 85 per- what they can do varies from state to in your diagnosis and recovery, even /
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cent of U.S. hospitals now have hospi- state) and works under the supervision if you never have the chance to meet
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c
talists and this fast-growing specialty of an attending physician. The role of her face-to-face.
o
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o
provides many advantages, including NPs is expanding in both primary care joe mullich is a freelance writer who
p
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convenience, efficiency and experience and hospitals because of the shortage has contributed to Health, Men’s Health,
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t
with the more complex needs of hos- of doctors; they can order, do and Prevention and many other magazines. ©
12 the patient magazine 2010
PT012__0FVP0_SP10DEPTmeet.indd 12 2/9/10 12:46 PM
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