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If you're confused about what the various health care professions have to offer, you're at the right page. Here's a brief discussion of each of the majority of health care professions, their scope, their educational requirements and organizations you can contact for further information. |
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Articles:
Acupuncture, an Introduction
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
The ancient medical art of acupuncture is considered a new "alternative" medicine in most western cultures today. In reality, acupuncture and related treatments are established, clinically proven medical modalities that are over 5,000 years old. Read more. . . .
Dentistry
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Dentists diagnose, prevent, and treat teeth and tissue problems. They remove decay, fill cavities, examine x rays, place protective plastic sealants on children’s teeth, straighten teeth, and repair fractured teeth. They also perform corrective surgery on gums and supporting bones to treat gum diseases. Dentists extract teeth and make models and measurements for dentures to replace missing teeth. They provide instruction on diet, brushing, flossing, the use of fluorides, and other aspects of dental care, as well. They also administer anesthetics and write prescriptions for antibiotics and other medications.
Dietetics
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Employment of dietitians is expected to grow about as fast as the average for all occupations through the year 2008 due to increased emphasis on disease
prevention by improved health habits.
Homeopathy
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Homeopathy is a system of medicine that is based on the Law of Similars. The truth of this law has been verified experimentally and clinically for the last 200 years.
Medicine
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
D.O.s are more likely to be primary care providers than M.D.s, although they can be found in all specialties. Over half of D.O.s practice general or family medicine, general internal medicine, or general pediatrics. Common specialties for D.O.s include emergency medicine, anesthesiology, obstetrics and gynecology, psychiatry, and surgery.
Naturopathy
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Naturopathic medicine, sometimes called "naturopathy", is as old as healing itself and as new as the latest discoveries in biochemical
sciences. Modern naturopathic physicians (NDs) are primary health care providers who use therapies that are almost exclusively natural (hence the name
naturopathic) and nontoxic. These include clinical nutrition, homeopathy, botanical medicine, hydrotherapy, physical medicine, and counseling.
Nurses and Complementary and Alternative Medicine
by Dr. Gary Farr 1/26/2002
Once considered an adversary of mainstream allopathic medicine, complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) has made increasing strides toward respectability and acceptability in the general population. This acceptance has been fueled, at least to some degree, by a willingness of MDs to acknowledge other forms of care. A landmark study published in the Journal of Family Practice in 1994, for instance, found that more than 60 percent of physicians recommend alternative therapies to their patients.
Nursing
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Registered nurses (R.N.s) work to promote health, prevent disease, and help patients cope with illness. They are advocates and health educators for
patients, families, and communities.
Occupational Therapy
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Occupational therapists help people improve their ability to perform tasks in their daily living and working environments. They work with individuals who have conditions that are mentally, physically, developmentally, or emotionally disabling.
Physical Therapy
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/20/2002
Physical therapists provide services that help restore function, improve mobility, relieve pain, and prevent or limit permanent physical disabilities of patients suffering from injuries or disease. They restore, maintain, and promote overall fitness and health. Their patients include accident victims and individuals with disabling conditions such as low back pain, arthritis, heart disease, fractures, head injuries, and cerebral palsy.
Physician's Assistants
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Physician assistants (PAs) provide health care services with supervision by physicians. They should not be confused with medical assistants, who perform
routine clinical and clerical tasks. (Medical assistants are discussed elsewhere in the Handbook.) PAs are formally trained to provide diagnostic, therapeutic,
and preventive health care services, as delegated by a physician.
Radiologic Technologist
by Dr. Gary Farr 4/19/2002
Perhaps the most familiar use of the x ray is the diagnosis of broken bones. However, medical uses of radiation go far beyond that. Radiation is used not only to produce images of the interior of the body, but to treat cancer as well.
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