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Health Professional
Medical Terms
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| physician | a skilled health care provider who attended and graduated medical school |
| pediatrician pee-dee-ah-TRISH-un | a physician with special training in caring for children |
| surgeon SIR-jen | a physician qualified to treat patients surgically, that is, by means of operation or invasive procedure |
| anesthesiologist AN-es-THEE-zee-AWL-oh-jist | a physician with special training in pain sedation and pain control |
| physician assistant (PA) fih-ZISH-un ah-SIS-tant | a midlevel health care provider who works under the license of a supervising physician; requires postgraduate training |
| nurse practitioner (NP) NIRS prak-TISH-ih-ner | a nurse with postgraduate training that serves as a midlevel health care provider; works under the license of a supervising physician |
| emergency medical technician (EMT) eh-MIR-jen-see MED-ih-kal tek-NISH-un | specially trained in the emergency care of a patient before and/or during transport to medical facility |
| speech therapist SPEECH THER-ah-pist | specially trained in evaluating and treating problems with speech and/or swallowing |
| occupational therapist aw-kyoo-PAY-shuh-nal THER-ah-pist | specially trained in evaluating and treating problems with performing daily activities at home, school, or work |
| physical therapist FIZ-ih-kal THER-ah-pist | specially trained in evaluating and treating physical impairments including disabilities or recovery from an injury |
| respiratory therapist res-PIR-ah-toh-ree THER-ah-pist | specially trained in treating patient’s respiratory issues under the guidance of a health care provider |
| dietician dai-ah-TIH-shun | specially trained in evaluating the nutritional status of a patient and developing an appropriate diet plan |
| licensed practical nurse (LPN) LAI-senzd PRAK-tih-kal NIRS | trained and certified to provide basic care to a patient |
| licensed vocational nurse (LVN) LAI-senzd voh-KAY-shun-al NIRS | |
| registered nurse (RN) REH-jis-terd NIRS | an advanced level nurse who has completed an associate’s or bachelor’s degree; often assists with patient care planning and patient education |
| medical assistant MED-ih-kal ah-SIS-tant | trained to carry out basic administrative and clinical tasks under the guidance of a health care provider |
| pathologist pah-THAWL-oh-jist | a physician with special training in both evaluating the causes and effects of disease and in laboratory medicine |
| medical laboratory technician MED-ih-kal LAB-rah-TOR-ee tek-NISH-un | trained in performing laboratory testing on bodily fluids |
| phlebotomist fle-BAWT-oh-mist | trained in the removal of blood from the body for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes |
| radiologist ray-dee-AWL-oh-just | a physician specially trained in evaluating images of the body to diagnose illness or injury |
| radiology technician ray-dee-AWL-oh-jee tek-NISH-un | trained to perform radiologic testing or administer radiation therapy under the direction of a health care provider |
| ultrasonagrapher UL-trah-soh-NAWG-rah-fer | trained in performing ultrasound imaging on a patient |
| pharmacist FAR-mah-sist | trained and licensed in preparing and dispensing medicine |
| pharmacy technician FAR-mah-see tek-NISH-un | trained to assist a pharmacist with pharmacy-related tasks |
| patient service coordinator PAY-shent SIR-vis coh-OR-dih-nay-tor | handles administrative tasks and coordinates patient care |
| medical transcriptionist MED-ih-kal tranz-KRIP-shon-ist | trained in converting the voice-recorded dictations of health care providers into text format |