Have you ever been to an academic medical center and wondered what health care team members were caring for you or a loved one? Knowing the providers you are receiving treatment from is an important part of participating in your treatment. These are the providers you may see and their roles:
Attending Physicians
An attending physician or “attending” is a medical doctor who has completed their residency and is responsible for providing care to patients and supervising medical students, residents, or fellows. They are fully licensed and ultimately responsible for making final decisions on the care of their patients. You will see at least one attending but may also receive care from other team members listed below.
Residents
A resident is a medical doctor who has completed medical school and is now practicing medicine within a specialty under the supervision of an attending physician. They are not yet board certified so residents cannot provide care independently. Residency is a way for physicians to receive specialized, hands-on training in a specific branch of medicine for three to seven years. Residents help provide all types of care to patients with the support of their supervising attending.
Fellows
A fellow is a medical doctor who has completed their residency in a specialty and is now pursuing continued learning within a subspecialty for an additional one to three years. For example, a physician might complete a residency in pediatrics followed by a fellowship in pediatric rheumatology. A different physician might complete an internal medicine residency followed by a gastroenterology fellowship. Like residents, fellows help provide care to patients with the support of their supervising attending.
Medical Students
A medical student is a person who has earned a bachelor’s degree, is enrolled in a medical school and is pursuing a doctor of medicine (MD) or doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) degree. A medical student will observe patient care, practice in simulated labs and participate in educational activities under the supervision of an attending physician.
Nurses
Nurses are medical professionals who provide patient care, monitor vitals, record symptoms and carry out directions from attending physicians. They are very hands-on and can help provide education to patients and their families.
Physician Assistants
A physician assistant (PA) is a licensed medical professional who has earned a master’s degree and received the appropriate training to diagnose and treat patients, prescribe medications and perform many other tasks. At Washington University, PAs practice under the direction of an attending physician.
Other Health Care Professionals
Depending on a patient’s reason for visiting an academic medical center or hospital, other health care professionals may be involved in a person’s care. These may include physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech-language pathologists and more. These providers are all highly skilled in their area of specialty and provide the appropriate supports and therapies prescribed by a patient’s physician.
Understanding the roles of different members of your care team is vital to successful communication throughout your treatment. At an academic medical center, you will be treated by the top doctors available, encounter state-of-the-art facilities and receive the latest applications of approved clinical research. Make an appointment with a Washington University physician today.