Your search for a new health or medical practitioner has more than likely returned dozens of results, all with different letters following their name. Those letters are their credentials⎯they tell a little more about their practice and specializations. Every practitioner has specific areas of specialization, from the conditions they treat to additional certifications.
Whether you need a family medicine doctor, a specialist, or an alternative medicine doctor, you should consider their credentials to narrow your search and make informed decisions. I put together this guide to help you choose the practitioner to match your needs.
A medical doctor, or MD, sometimes referred to as a physician, family doctor, or general practitioner (GP), is critical to a care team. They diagnose and treat diseases and injuries, provide preventative care, and counsel patients to help them make informed health decisions. MDs usually have an area of specialty, like pediatrics, family medicine, geriatrics, or internal medicine.
Osteopathy focuses on the body’s ability to self-heal and uses holistic or complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) to care for or treat ailments. A doctor who practices this type of medicine is called a doctor of osteopathic medicine, or DO. DOs typically go beyond conventional medicine practices of symptom management and focus on preventative care and factors that influence or affect one’s health.
A physician associate/assistant, or PA, often serves as a primary care provider. They perform many of the same duties as an MD and often work alongside physicians to support the increased healthcare demands.
A Nurse Practitioner, or NP, is sometimes called a Certified (Registered) Nurse Practitioner (CRNP) or Advanced Practice Nurse Practitioner (APNP). An NP is an advanced registered nurse who can perform many of the same duties as an MD. They can diagnose and treat illnesses, order tests, prescribe medicine, and provide preventative care and education. Like an MD, NPs can have certifications or specializations, like pediatrics, family medicine, or women’s health. An NP often provides comprehensive health services to families and communities. And with health promotion and patient education, they can help their patients make informed decisions about their health.
A naturopathic doctor, or ND, takes more of a natural or holistic approach to healthcare. They focus on addressing the root cause(s) of an illness or injury and preventative healthcare. NDs integrate natural treatments and modern science to tailor specific care plans focusing on the whole person and supporting our body’s innate healing ability.
The healthcare field has many primary care doctors, specialists, and other professionals who work in different ways to meet your health and medical needs. You need to know what their titles and certifications mean to ensure that you find the right professional to fit your situation and meet your needs. You should always research the professional you should see before scheduling to ensure that you get proper care and don’t waste money on appointments.