Almost every profession has what they call a jargon that is all their own, otherwise known as their very own glossary. How about the people in the medical profession? Do they have a jargon or glossary that’s all their own?
To guide you through, here is a glossary of some of the most common terms associated with the medical field. This glossary will be dealing particularly with the medical hierarchy–in other words, the people who are running a medical institution. Read on:
* Chief attending physician – This refers to the attending physician who handles one whole department in the hospital. Under him are attending physicians, who oversees the performances of medical residents, who, in turn, attend to medical interns.
* Attending physicians – These are doctors who have completed training for their respective medical specializations and are in charge of specific sub-departments. This means that they perform leadership roles such as maintaining the facilities, training, and facilitating the medical residents under their jurisdiction, and they attend to patients as well.
* Medical residents – Medical interns advance to become medical residents once they pass the medical board and intern exams. Medical residents are doctors who can legally practice medicine provided that they are supervised by attending physicians. That’s because, as of the moment, medical residents do not have a particular specialization yet. Medical residents are also assigned to teach and oversee medical interns.
* Medical interns – These are fresh graduates from medical school and are on their first year as residents in the hospital. They are not licensed to practice medicine yet because during this time, the results of their medical exams have not yet been released. But just so they can have hands-on experience, medical interns are allowed to assist in some surgical procedures.
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All doctors have the prime responsibility of caring for their patients. So far, everybody knows that at least most of the doctors in the world today really work hard to fulfill this responsibility. If that is so, then why do some doctors tend to be more successful than others?
Want to know how to be a successful doctor yourself? Check out the following tips:
* Work on your communication skills. Successful doctors are excellent communicators. Never mind the honors and the rewards that come with being an innovator in the field of medicine. If you can’t communicate your ideas well to other people, most especially to your patients, then you remain to be a flop.
Also, successful doctors are great “people” persons. They have the natural ability to feel what a patient is feeling, to sympathize, but remain firm and be able to hold himself together so as to provide the patient with strength.
Thus said, what particular communication skills do you need to work on? Read on:
- how to deliver good or bad news to patients
- how to explain medication to patients
- how to display sensitivity enough for the patient to know that you are sincerely concerned about their health and welfare
* Successful doctors are extremely meticulous about detail. You have to be a keen observer. You should keep in mind that every big disease starts as a small one. It is very important that you are able to pinpoint symptoms and diagnose a disease as they start and are still curable.
* Work on your time management skills. Successful doctor are time management experts. Starting from medical school, learn how to balance your time between schoolwork, family, and friends. You should learn efficient yet effective ways on how to fulfill each task on hand.
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A career in the medical field does not simply mean attending medical school, poring through medical books, or wearing scrubs. You also have to consider which specific medical specialization you are going to build a career on. After all, you also have to help yourself survive and make a living.
Need help in choosing your own medical specialization? You may get your cue from the most competitive medical specializations listed below:
* Neurosurgery – This is medical specialization deals with the nervous system or the brain in particular. It is a highly competitive medical specialization because it is so meticulous. There is no room for mistakes in neurosurgery, as you deal mainly with the central organ of the human body. If you commit even just a single mistake during a surgery, patients on the operating table may suffer from paralysis, coma, psychosis, brain damage, or even death. Despite the risks, some med students still choose to specialize in neurosurgery because of the challenge and excitement it brings.
* Dermatology – This medical field is mostly concerned with skin care. It is competitive basically because people have been so concerned about their physical looks, especially the condition of their skins. Dermatology is otherwise known as the science of skin care, which covers skin conditions that range from purely cosmetic (skin whitening, skin tanning, wart removal, acne removal) to treatment of skin diseases (melanoma, impetigo, dermatitis, Hodgkin’s lymphoma). Pay is also competitive in the field of dermatology. Aside from numerous skin problems dermatologists have to deal with, they also have to be updated with the latest techniques and technology used in the field of skin care.
Applying to med school
When applying to med school, you may submit medical school application essays that also include the medical specialization you wish to take. State good reasons for your choice and how the field may benefit you or serve a particular interest. Just make sure that your medical school application essays are brief but engaging enough to hook readers from top to end. Ideally, medical school application essays should let readers know more about you through your personal interest, traits, and experiences.
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A teaching hospital is a medical institution that provides two-tiered service. Aside from medical care and services, its facilities are also used for the practice of medical interns and other medical professionals. Looking for the best teaching hospital in the United States? Following is a list of the top three teaching hospitals in the USA:
* Johns Hopkins Hospital – Named as one of the best medical institutions and teaching hospitals in the country for 18 years, Johns Hopkins Hospital is also known for specialized services in the field of neurosurgery, pediatrics, endocrinology, and urology. Be an expert in one of these many fields when you practice at John Hopkins Hospital. This teaching hospital also gained recognition for the the first ever operation on a blue baby, the identification of the three types of polio viruses, and the discovery of restriction enzymes. This medical institution offers good training and education for its in-house medical practitioners.
* Massachusetts General Hospital – This teaching hospital is one of the oldest medical institutions in the country. Massachusetts General Hospital has been known to be a highly innovative medical institution. This teaching hospital constantly seeks out new ways to improve medical and clinical practices through its affiliation with Harvard Medical School. This institution has also one of the biggest funding for a hospital-based research program, which is up to $400 million every year.
* Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center – All its medical services and programs are consistently getting recognition due to the top-notch medical services and programs it offer. The Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center is also highly regarded for its low mortality rate, advanced medical equipment, and quality of its medical practitioners. What keeps the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center afloat on the list of top teaching hospitals in US is its investments on the field of education and training.
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