Dynamic Doctors
The Many Different Roles of A Doctor
Often, when we are not feeling unwell, we can cope simply by purchasing some form of over-the-counter medication from a pharmacy. Indeed, the background of the pharmacist is such that they are often able to assist clients in making the correct choice of medication based on the symptoms they describe. However, on occasions, the symptoms may be more troublesome and so the first step would normally be to visit the family doctor.
In this situation, their role will generally consist of establishing a diagnosis and, wherever possible, proceeding to treat the identified condition. This might involve an injection, a course of tablets, or a minor surgical procedure such as the removal of a skin tag or a sebaceous cyst. Often there will be a need for some laboratory tests in order to confirm a diagnosis and, although these tests will often be performed by a medical technologist, interpreting the findings is the responsibility of another kind of doctor.
Collectively known as pathologists, they represent a number of different disciplines. For example, the clinical biochemist will make a diagnosis based on the analysis of the chemical content of body fluids such as blood and urine, while a haematologist will search for anomalies in the cellular components of blood. This might be a reduced red-cell count as seen in certain types of anaemia. Similarly, it will be the role of a doctor trained in medical microbiology to interpret the significance of any bacteria detected in a patient’s samples.
Where a pathology report indicates a condition that may be beyond the scope of a general practitioner to treat, they will arrange for the patient to be seen by an appropriate specialist of which there are many different types. Ear infections are among the most common reasons for a child to require medical attention during the first three years of their lives and, where these are persistent, the services of a doctor specialising in otorhinolaryngology (ENT) will be required, perhaps to remove tonsils and/or adenoids or to fit grommets.
Break a leg and you will be seen by an orthopaedic specialist who will also be called upon should you require a hip or knee replacement in later life. A persistent skin rash, eczema, or dermatitis could necessitate a visit to a dermatologist. Chest pains and a suspicious ECG result could indicate it’s time to consult a cardiologist and, if found necessary, to undergo an operation at the hands of a cardiothoracic surgeon.
Consulting the right doctor is important and so Intercare has done everything possible to speed the process with multidisciplinary clinics and simplified online bookings.