Terminology

Having just joined the site and coming from Australia (or maybe just not talking enough about it?) I have no idea what the distinctions are between some of the abbreviations that I've seen used to indicate different types of medical care providers. Can someone clarify for me please?

In my experience, we can hospitalise - only on a psychiatrist's request whether through emergency or in consultation. But while there are a whole variety of counsellors/psychologists (therapists) around, they can only provide talk therapy, CBT, etc whereas a psychiatrist does that AND medicates. GPs (the family doctor) fill in the gap for those who can't afford psych fees or who need to wait on the public system, amongst my limited connections. Even then, GPs can't prescribe "authority scripts" for psychiatric conditions. These scripts are for doses above the government's generally accepted amount of a drug or for a non-traditional (therefore non-approved) application of the drug, despite the research indicating its effectiveness.

Hi Ya Wot, Well there are normal abbreviations, and there are "chat" abbreviations. I'll run down a list for you, to the best of my ability:

MD - obvious
Pdoc (chat abbreviation for psychiatrist)
NP - Nurse Practitioner - Mid level practitioner who can prescribe meds under the supervision of an MD
PA - Physician's Assistant - MId level practitioner who can prescribe meds under the supervision of an MD
DO - Doctor of Osteopathy - same rights and privileges as an MD, but usually practices in a more holistic manner.
PCP - Primary Care Physician - This is typically an insurance designation for the primary care doctor who manages/oversees all of a patients care. Also known as a General Practitioner.
RN - Registered Nurse (2-years study)
LPN - Licensed Practical Nurse (1 year study)
GYN - Gynecologist
GI doc - Gastrointestinal doc

I think those are the most common. If you see others that pop up and make you scratch your head, just ask. I'm sure that there are other helpful, friendly souls on this thread that would be willing to "translate" for you.

I'm glad you joined the group. I've been quiet for several weeks and am just now jumping back in. So, it's good to see someone new!!

Be well
Jules

Thanks Jules.

It seems like you guys have lots more people who can help deal with this stuff.
Nurse Practitioners are only just starting to take off here.
I don't know of Physician's Assistants.
As far as I know, there are no doctors of osteopathy, although we do have paramedical osteopaths (not the same rights as a GP, definitely subordinate in the medical chain!)
What's the difference between PCP/GP and an MD?
I think our nurses are different, too, though I'm not sure of the exact qualifications and nomenclature.

Hi ya Wot!

"PCP" (Primary Care Provider) is just a designation made up by the insurance companies for the function that some MD's perform if they are GP's or in Family Practice. A PCP is an MD that is like the coach of the team... he/she is supposed to know what is going on with your health at all times and who you are seeing in terms of specialists. So... really, PCP and GP are the same thing, it's just that one has to do with an insurance designation.

We also have "osteopaths" and "Doctors of Osteopathy." Osteopaths cannot practice medicine. Kind of like a Psychologist cannot dispense medicine, but a Psychiatrist can. Sometimes Osteopaths dispense vitamins, do acupuncture and provide therapeutic massage, but they do not have a medical licence.

I believe that people from any other country could have difficulty navigating the medical system of a foreign land, no matter what country it is. It is one of the things that makes "medical tourism" very frightening to me!!

Be well,
Jules