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MEET THE CLINICAL STAFFFIRST-TIME APPOINTMENT A first-time medical appointment can be intimidating, especially when you are away from home. Getting to know your health care provider in advance can make that initial visit more personal and comfortable. We are providing you with descriptions of each clinician's professional education and experience, as well as a photo, so that you can get acquainted with your health care provider before you visit. SUBSEQUENT APPOINTMENTS Continuity of care and establishing a trusting relationship with a primary care provider are important parts of primary care. If you have already been seen at UHS in the past, we will try to schedule you with the same clinician to insure the continuity of your care. CLINICIANS The UHS clinical staff includes physicians, nurse practitioners, and physician assistants. All UHS physicians are board-eligible or board-certified in a primary care specialty. NOTE: If you have any questions, please do not send messages via e-mail to the individual clinicians, as they do not have the opportunity to read their electronic mail on a regular basis.
PHYSICIANS Definition: Both osteopathic physicians (D.Os) and allopathic physicians (M.Ds) are fully qualified physicians licensed to perform surgery and prescribe medication in all 50 states. They typically have a four-year undergraduate degree with an emphasis on scientific courses and four years of basic medical education. After medical school, both D.Os and M.Ds can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine after completing a residency program which requires an additional two to six years of training. Both D.Os and M.Ds must pass comparable state licensing examinations. D.Os practice a "whole person" approach to medicine and focus on preventive health care. (Source: American Osteopathic Association, www.am-osteo-assn.org) Our Physicians:
PHYSICIAN ASSISTANT Definition: Physician assistants (PAs) are health care professionals licensed to practice medicine with physician supervision. As part of their comprehensive responsibilities, PAs conduct physical exams, diagnose and treat illnesses, order and interpret tests, counsel on preventive health care, assist in surgery, and in most states can write prescriptions. Graduation from an accredited physician assistant program and passage of the national certifying exam are required for state licensure. (Source: American Academy of Physician Assistants, www.aapa.org) Our Physician Assistants:
NURSE PRACTITIONERS Definition: A nurse practitioner is a registered nurse (RN) who has advanced education and clinical training in a health care specialty area. Nurse practitioners obtain medical histories and perform physical examinations, diagnose and treat acute health problems such as infections and injuries, diagnose, treat, and monitor chronic diseases, order, perform, and interpret diagnostic studies such as lab work and x-rays, prescribe medications and other treatments, provide prenatal care and family planning services and promote positive health behaviors and self-care skills through education and counseling. (Source: American Academy of Nurse Practitioners, www.aanp.org). Our Nurse Practitioners:
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Updated December 9, 2002