90%
of Pennsylvanian’s trust a PHYSICIAN the most when it comes to their family’s routine medical care.
Wearing a “white coat” doesn’t always mean the person in it is a Physician.
A Physician is:
- The most highly educated and trained health care professional.
- A health care professional who has successfully completed college, medical school, and a multi-year rigorous residency training program, and additional training for sub-specialties.
Physicians have the designation, “MD” or “DO” following their name.
Know who is on your
Health Care team.
What are the roles of your health care team and what is the difference between a physician and other health care jobs?
Physician Assistants (PAs) can practice under the direction and supervision of a licensed physician (MD or DO).
Physician Assistants are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 2-2.5 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: None
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 2,000 hours
CRNPs are “Certified Registered Nurse Practitioners.” CRNPs are registered nurses with additional training in a specialty area.
CRNPs are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 2-4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: None
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 500 – 720 hours
Physician DOs are “Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine.” These physicians practice a holistic approach to medicine, treating the patient as a whole – not just injuries or symptoms.
Osteopaths or DOs are Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years (90 credit hours)
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 3-7 years
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 12,000 – 16,000 hours
Psychologists are professionals who practice psychology and study normal and abnormal mental states, perceptions, cognitive, emotional, and social processes and behavior.
Psychologists are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 3 years + 1 year internship
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 1 year
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 1-2 years
Physician MDs are “Doctors of Medicine.” These physicians practice allopathic medicine and are focused on the diagnosis and treatment of human diseases.
Medical Doctors or MDs are Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years (90 credit hours)
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 3-7 years
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 12,000 – 16,000 hours or considerably more for subspecialists.
CRNAs are “Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist.” An advanced practice nurse who administers anesthesia for surgery and/or other medical procedures and require physician supervision.
CRNAs are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 2-3 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: None
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 2,500 hours
Curious about other health care providers?
Anesthesiologists are physicians who have special training in giving drugs or other agents to prevent or relieve pain during surgery or other procedures.
Anesthesiologists are Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 4-6 years
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 12,000 – 16,000 hours
Chiropractors are practitioners of the system of integrative medicine based on the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of misalignments of the joints.
Chiropractors are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: None
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 320 patients
Direct-entry Midwives are midwives who have entered the profession as an apprentice to practicing, rather than attending a formal school program.
Direct-entry Midwives are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: None; 3-5 year apprenticeship
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: none
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 300 cases
Family Physicians, through education and residency training, possess distinct attitudes, skills, and knowledge which qualify them to provide continuing and comprehensive medical care, health maintenance and preventive services to each member of the family regardless of gender, age, or biological, behavioral, or social issues.
Family Physicians are Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 3 years
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 10,000 – 12,000 hours
Ophthalmologists are physicians who have special training in the branch of medicine concerned with the study and treatment of disorders and diseases of the eye. Ophthalmologists are licensed to practice medicine and perform surgery.
Ophthalmologists are Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years + 1 year internship
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 3-5 years
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 12,000 – 16,000 hours
Optometrists perform eye exams and vision tests, prescribe and dispense corrective lenses, detect eye abnormalities, and prescribe medication for eye diseases.
Optometrists are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: Not Required
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 1 year clinical rotations
Podiatrists are medical specialists who help with problems that affect your feet or lower legs.
Podiatrists are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: 0-4 years
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 80 weeks
Naturopaths diagnose, prevent, and treat acute and chronic illness to restore and establish optimal health by supporting the person’s inherent self-healing process.
Naturopaths are NOT Physicians.
Education and Training:
- Length of Graduate-Level Education: 4 years
- Years of Residency/Fellowship Training: Not Required
- Total Patient Care Hours Required Through Training: 720 – 1,200 hours
Always ask if a physician is involved in your care.
As a patient it is your right and responsibility to have control and understanding of who is caring for you and your family. Asking these questions may help you get the best possible care.
- Do I have chronic medical conditions?
- Is my health changing in any way?
- Am I concerned about my family medical history?
- Does my diagnosis require long-term treatment?
- Are there different treatment options to consider?
- Does my condition or diagnosis require a specialty?
If you answered YES to any of these questions, a physician should be directly involved in your care.
- Are you a physician?
- Is there a physician on my health care team?
- What role does my physician play in mine or my family’s health care?
Benefits of Team-Based Care
- Enhanced satisfaction with care visits.
- Greater acceptance and knowledge of treatment options.
- Less wait times for non-emergencies.
- Reduction of medical errors.
- Reduction of staff burnout.