Doctors are crucial to our well-being. The medical industry is enormous and has several different sectors or fields of specialty. It’s good to know the different types of doctors, so it makes it a bit easier to recognize who to see for what health concern. Even something like a simple check-up, knowing the different kinds of doctors and their specialization helps.
In this post, we want to have a quick look at seven different kinds of doctors and their specialization. We will dig a bit deeper into what they do and how they can help you.
1 – Ophthalmologist
An ophthalmologist is also referred to as an eye doctor. Sometimes people get confused between an optometrist and an ophthalmologist. The difference is that optometrists aren’t doctors. Instead, they are certified to do eye tests, dispense with corrective eyewear and vision aids. An ophthalmologist, on the other hand, is a medical doctor specializing in eye and vision care.
Some duties required by ophthalmologists in the field of eye care include:
- Performing corrective eye surgery for near and far-sighted patients. LASIK surgery is one of the surgical procedures for corrective vision.
- Eye doctors prescribe the medication for treatment after or before surgery. The medication also forms part of eye care management.
- Ophthalmologists work closely with the optometrist to further improve the patient’s eye health.
- Eye MD’s also diagnose and treat all eye diseases in patients
- An ophthalmologist also treats eye injuries and conditions which may occur in their patients.
- Manage eye clinics and their outpatients
- They also holistically treat medical conditions that result in eye diseases.
Essential skills of an ophthalmologist include complete knowledge of eye anatomy and related diseases. In addition to medical skills, the eye doctor also needs to have good maths, physics, and administration in their skills. Be a good listener and able to work with nervous and anxious patients. Adapt and continue training and learning about the latest advances in medical eye care. Precision is vital when it comes to working with medical tools. All doctors need precision skills.
2- Chiropractor
Chiropractors specialize in everything related to the nervous system and the musculoskeletal system. When it comes to sore muscles, aches, sprains, and correcting spinal curvature, you can head over to a chiropractor.
A disability attorney may be one of the people who could ask you to retain your receipts from your chiropractor. For example, you sustained an injury at work and had to get chiropractic treatment to help the healing. These expenses may be reimbursed when a settlement is won.
Different kinds of doctors and their specialization is extensive. Some duties and specialties of a chiropractic doctor include, but are not limited to the following:
- Chiropractors must be able to assess and identify visual conditions in their patients.
- Chiros conduct tests and examinations to rule out possible diseases or degenerating eye illnesses.
- Chiropractors must be able to analyze and examine their patient’s spines. Checking for poor posture is critical to lead to the root cause of back pain.
- Chiropractor doctors make plenty of spinal, back, and joint adjustments. This is one of the most critical skills.
- While chiropractic treatment is non-invasive and drug-free, sometimes it forms part of a patient’s larger physiotherapy process.
Chiros can also advise their patients about certain lifestyle habits that could possibly be a factor that could contribute to their pain. Lifestyle changes are often part of the process with a chiro.
Different kinds of doctors and their specialization, including the skills of a chiropractic doctor: Have the ability to listen well, adapt to changes, and improve technologies. Chiros must work with nervous and uncomfortable patients, as well as have excellent communication skills.
3- Audiologist
An audiology specialist, just like their title suggests, is highly versed in dealing with everything related to hearing. Your local audiologist has a huge responsibility when it comes to hearing conditions. Just like their other medical peers, they need to identify certain hearing conditions or problems before they progress. Audiologists also treat conditions and infections that result in hearing loss. Most of all, they need to advise their patients of treatment options.
An audiologist is responsible for the following:
• Audiologists examine whether their patients have problems with balance and hearing. There are tests involved as well as treatment and monitoring of the treatment.
• The ear doctor should also be able to advise their patients. These doctors know about suitable treatment, possible surgery recommendations, whether a specific hearing aid or other assistive hearing technology.
• Audiology doctors should advise patients and their families (where possible) of communication systems. Some people will need lip reading or sign language, depending on the level of their hearing loss.
Help educate patients on factors of hearing loss.
Skills for an audiologist: The audiologist specialist must be able to work with patients from all walks of life. Their communications must be clear, and they should stay abreast with the new treatments and technology related to hearing loss. Different kinds of doctors and their specialization like audiologists, deal with patients of different ages.
4- Dentist
Dentists are responsible for helping their patients maintain a healthy smile. They may do minor surgery and may also specialize in cosmetic dentistry. Some dentists only focus on general dentistry.
An orthodontist is a further trained dentist. Oral care professionals will continue studying in the field of teeth alignment. Prescribing suitable headgear and facemasks are also some of the tools by orthodontists.
It’s easy to confuse orthodontics with orthotics. Orthotics relate to the treatment of foot problems and the medical devices used to manage them.
Some of the responsibilities of dentists include the following:
• Skilled in general dentistry (extractions, fillings, dentistry endodontics, cleaning, and corrective dentistry)
• An orthodontist will branch further into another dental sector that focuses on tooth misalignment. They will also deal with speech defects, complications with chewing, retainers, and fitting braces.
• Dentists also remove plaque build-up, prescribe dentures, take impressions, make crowns, and secure bridges
• A dentist can operate an x-ray machine and prescribe antibiotics to their patients if needed.
• Teeth whitening, veneers, overlays, and underlays.
Some of the skills for dentistry include; excellent communication with patients, ability to work with nervous patients. Able to perform dentistry on children and seniors. Knowledge of machinery and tools used in the dental practice.
5- OBY/GYN – Ostentation and gynecologist
Different kinds of doctors and their specialization includes multiple skilled and dedicated professionals. The OBY/GYN specialists play a vital role in managing and preparing mothers to be. But, they are not only there to support expecting mothers, they further help with the birthing process and sometimes home care visitations.
The OBY/GYN is specialized in the reproductive organs of a woman. They also focus on the wellness of the baby. And the pregnancy.
Some of the responsibilities of an obstetrician and gynecologist include:
- Minor laser surgeries
- Being able to diagnose and treat diseases in patients
- Obstetricians, more than gynecologists, assist women who want to get pregnant. They may prescribe prenatal and fertility drugs and will work closely with the couple on their journey.
- The OBY/GYN is responsible for monitoring the mother and baby’s health throughout the pregnancy.
- OBY/GYN specialists work in hospitals, maternity wards, clinics, and sometimes practice privately.
Some important skills for ostentations and gynecologists include. Excellent communication, ability to reassure patients in difficult situations. Be able to think on their feet. Precision is critical for the surgery and delivery of babies.OBY/GYN doctors are able to work under stress and pressure.
6- Dermatologist
A dermatologist is a doctor specializing in all things skin. Whether a patient has a skin condition or is merely looking for a prescription to treat severely dry skin, a dermatologist is a doctor for you. Comparing different kinds of doctors and their specialization, you’ll find the one that is suited to your health concerns.
Furthermore, a dermatologist is also responsible for the following:
- Diagnosing and treating skin diseases and conditions.
- The skin doctor may also need to conduct minor non-invasive surgery on the skin.
- Dermatologists can prescribe topical and oral treatments for their patients.
- Evaluation and examination of a patient’s skin condition to find the root cause and treatment for the condition.
- Skin practitioners are also responsible for monitoring the progress of any treatment they prescribe. Not all treatments work the same way for every patient.
- Provide medical advice to the patient to help improve and manage their skin condition from their home. Or on their own.
Some skills that dermatologists need in their career include, but are not limited to; precision while using special tools. They should have the ability to speak to patients effectively and reassure them if they are feeling distressed.
7- Psychiatrist
Psychiatrists play an integral role in helping their patient’s mental wellness and relationships with others. They are specialized in monitoring their patient’s wellness on a broad scale which includes physical well-being too.
When thinking about different kinds of doctors and their specialization, psychiatrists play a fundamental role in society. The same can be said for all doctors, including general practitioners (GP).
Some responsibilities of psychiatrists include but are not limited to, the following:
- Evaluating possible mental illnesses
- Diagnosing mental conditions and prescribing medication and further treatment
- Psychiatrists also carefully monitor their patients to ensure that they are getting the treatment they need to get well. They will also monitor the treatment’s side effects and if it’s working for the patient.
- The psychiatrist may also offer lifestyle changes to help the patients heal from the inside out.
- Psychiatrists are skilled at working with patients who are borderline suicidal. Some patients may have personality disorders like schizophrenia.
- Provide patients with solutions to help them transition into life as normally as possible. This is mainly for patients with PTSD and other mental conditions that alter their lives and the effect on the people around them.
The skills of a psychiatrist are very critical; they need to be able to analyze their patients closely to pick up any danger signs. They must be level-headed and able to solve various emotional and even certain physical problems that the patient may face.
General practitioner
While general practitioners, or GP’s for short, are doctors too, they don’t specialize in a specific medical field. GP’s help deal with a broad spectrum of medical concerns, whether treating diseases, common cold, flu, anxiety, skin problems, and minor surgery. General doctors are the ones that cover everything.
Unlike specialist doctors, general practitioners may not earn the same equivalent. While every specialized field will differ from one to the next. As a patient, you may pay more to a specialist than a GP. In the same way, the general practitioner will refer their patients to a specialist when there are more complex treatments needed.
Oftentimes, the general practitioner is the “first response” to many medical conditions. Whether they work in the ER or run their own practice.
Conclusion to noticing the different kinds of doctors and their specialization
Assessing all the above-mentioned different kinds of doctors and their specialization a few things are clear. All doctors need to have excellent communication skills. They need to be comfortable working with nervous and non-nervous patients. Likewise, doctors should be compassionate and show empathy towards their patients.
Another thing all doctors have in common is that they are constantly learning. Doctors often have to adapt to changes and discoveries within their field of specialty. This could include new technologies and also newly discovered diseases and health conditions.
Finding a good doctor isn’t that hard. Finding one that you’re comfortable and looking forward to keeping as your specialized doctor is another kettle of fish. For most people, once they’ve found the one they trust and feel comfortable with, they won’t be keen on changing medical professionals all the time.
