Deciphering Medical Credentials
ROCHESTER, MINN. -- Once upon a time, a visit to the doctor was, well, a visit to the doctor. The April issue of Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource reports that you may see a variety of different medical professionals today. There are M.D.s, D.O.s, P.A.s, and N.P.s. They're all qualified to be primary health-care providers, but have different educational backgrounds. When you're looking for health care, it may help to understand the differences.
Both M.D.s (doctors of medicine) and D.O.s (doctors of osteopathy) are physicians who receive an undergraduate degree from a university, followed by four years of medical school (to receive an M.D. degree) or osteopathic school (for a D.O.). In order to practice, M.D.s and D.O.s must train even further. Residency training involves three to seven years of additional training depending on the doctor's chosen specialty. Some even continue on to a subspecialty fellowship after residency, which can mean one to three more years of training. Physicians must pass a series of national examinations during and after their training in order to become licensed to practice medicine.
A P.A. is a physician assistant, a licensed professional who provides health-care services under the supervision of a doctor. P.A.s are trained to do physical exams, order and interpret some tests, diagnose and treat common conditions, prescribe some medications, and assist physicians in some medical procedures and surgeries. P.A.s generally have two years of education on top of four years of college. P.A.s are certified by a national board exam and must recertify every six years.
N.P.s (nurse practitioners) are registered nurses who have a four-year college degree with specialty graduate training (for example a master's or Ph.D. program in nursing). They may focus on family, pediatric, adult or geriatric care. N.P.s can perform physical exams and health assessments, treat uncomplicated illnesses and prescribe some medications.
Shelly Plutowski507-284-5005 (days)507-284-2511 (evenings)e-mail: [email protected]
Mayo Clinic Women's HealthSource is published monthly to help women enjoy healthier, more productive lives. Revenue from subscriptions is used to support medical research at Mayo Clinic. To subscribe, please call 800-351-8963, extension 9PK1.
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