Specialty Glossary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Acute Care Hospital - A facility for the short term treatment of relatively severe illness.
Adolescent Medicine - Medical care specializing in the adolescent age group.
Aerospace/Aviation Medicine - Treatment of the effects that high altitudes (such as diminished concentration of oxygen or lack of gravity) have on health.
Allergy - Treatment of hay fever, asthma, and other allergic disorders.
Allergy-Immunology - Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of problems involving the immune system including reactions to usually harmless substances leading to allergic conditions.
Ambulance - A company that provides transportation for the injured or sick.
Ambulatory Surgery Center - A facility where surgical procedures are performed on an outpatient basis, i.e., patients do not stay overnight.
Anatomic Pathology - Study of the structure of abnormal, diseased, or injured tissue.
Anesthesiology - Partial or complete loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness by administration of an anesthetic agent, usually by injection or inhalation.
Audiology - Treatment of impaired hearing that cannot be improved by medication or surgical therapy.

Bariatrics - Treatment of overweight conditions including causes and prevention.

Cardiovascular Diseases/Cardiology - Treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
Cardiovascular/Thoracic Surgery - Surgery of the chest, heart and blood vessels.
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA) - A registered nurse (RN) that is licensed to administer an anesthetic agent for the purpose of partial or complete loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness.
Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Treatment of mental and emotional disorders of children.
Chiropractic - A system of therapeutics that attributes disease to dysfunction of the nervous system, and attempts to restore normal function by manipulation and treatment of the body structures, especially those of the vertebral column.
Colon & Rectal Surgery - Surgery of the lower intestine.
Critical Care Medicine - Treatment of acutely ill patients, usually in emergency rooms and intensive care units.

Dermatology - Treatment of skin disorders.
Dermatopathology - A dermatopathologist is a pathologist who has received additional training in the study of diseases of the skin.
Durable Medical Equipment - Items which are primarily used to serve a medical purpose, can withstand repeated use, are generally not useful to a person in the absence of illness, injury or disease, and are appropriate for use in the patient's home.

Electrodiagnostic Medicine - The practice of diagnosing diseases by means of electric devices.
Emergency Medicine - Treatment of accidents and acute medical problems in the emergency room.
Endocrinology & Metabolism - Treatment of diabetes and disorders of the thyroid, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, ovaries, and testicles.
Endodontics - Prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of diseases and injuries that affect the tooth, pulp, root and tissue surrounding the root.

Family Practice - Provide general medical care and treatment of medical problems for all family members.

Gastroenterology - Treatment of disorders of the stomach, intestines, gallbladder and pancreas.
General Practice - Treatment of a broad range of medical problems including children's illnesses.
General Surgery - Surgery of the abdomen, breast, thyroid and all surgical procedures not performed by the various specialties.
Geriatrics - Treatment of problems peculiar to old age and the aging, including the clinical problems of senility.
Gynecology - Treatment of the female reproductive organs including surgery.

Hand Surgery - Surgery of the bones and joints related specifically to the wrist and hand.
Hematology - Treatment of blood and blood-forming tissue disorders.
Hematology & Oncology - Treatment of all types of cancer and blood disorders.
Home Health Agency - Agency that provides health services to an individual as needed in the home.
Hospice - Program that provides care for terminally ill patients and their families. Such services are provided to aged, disabled, sick, or convalescent people who do not need institutional care.

Immunology - Treatment of the body's reaction to foreign substances and protection from infection and disease.
Infectious Diseases - Treatment of illnesses caused by infectious organisms such as viruses, bacteria, and parasites in any organ of the body.
Internal Medicine - General adult medical care and treatment of many medical conditions.

Laboratory - A place equipped for examination of materials derived from the human body for the purpose of providing information on diagnosis, prevention, or treatment of disease.

Manipulative Management - The therapeutic application of manually guided forces by an osteopathic physician to improve physiologic function and/or support homeostasis that have been altered by somatic dysfunction.
Maternal and Fetal Medicine - Treatment for high-risk pregnancies.
Maxillofacial/Oral/ Surgery - Surgery of the upper jaw, oral cavity and associated structures.
Multi-Specialty Clinic - A group practice in which several physicians with various specialties are recognized as a single business entity.

Neonatology - Care of sick newborn children, especially prematures.
Nephrology - Medical treatment of kidney diseases.
Neurological Surgery - Surgery of the brain, spinal cord and the nerves in the spine and extremities.
Neurology - Treatment of disorders of the brain, spinal cord and nerves in the spine and extremities.
Neuropathology - A neuropathologist is expert in the diagnosis of diseases of the nervous system such as multiple sclerosis.
Nuclear Medicine - Diagnostic, therapeutic and investigative use of the radioactive compounds in pharmaceutical form.
Nuclear Radiology - Diagnostic test involving the external detection of radioactive waves from radionuclides (radioactive substances injected into a patient or ingested by the patient) in the diagnosis of disease.
Nutrition - The study of the sum of the processes involved in taking in nutrients and assimilating and utilizing them.

Obstetrics & Gynecology - Care of the pregnant and non-pregnant woman, including surgery of the female reproductive organs.
Occupational/ Industrial Medicine - Treatment of disease and injury, and promotion of health in people's work environment.
Occupational Therapy - Includes duties such as applying diagnostic and
 prognostic tests, guiding the patient in the use of therapeutic creative and self-care activities for improving function.
Oncology - Treatment of tumors.
Ophthalmology - Treatment of surgical and non-surgical disorders of the eyes.
Orthodontics - That branch of dentistry concerned with irregularities of teeth and malocclusion, and associated facial abnormalities.
Orthopedic Surgery - Surgery of the bones and joints.
Otolaryngology Head & Neck Surgery - Medical and surgical treatment of disorders of the nose, mouth, throat, larynx, ears and other portions of the head and neck.

Pathology - Performance of laboratory tests on blood and other body fluids and microscopic examination of tissue specimens.
Pediatrics - Medical care of babies, children, and adolescents.
Pediatric Allergy - Treatment of asthma, hay fever, and other allergic conditions in children.
Pediatric Cardiology - Treatment of diseases of the heart and blood vessels in children.
Pediatric Endocrinology - Treatment of children with diabetes or disorders of the thyroid, adrenal glands, pituitary gland, ovaries and testicles.
Pediatric Gastroenterology - Treatment of disorders of the stomach, intestines, gallbladder and pancreas in children.
Pediatric Hematology & Oncology - Treatment of all types of cancer and blood disorders in children.
Pediatric Nephrology - Medical treatment of kidney diseases of children.
Pediatric Neurology - Treatment of disorders of the brain, nerves and spinal cord of children.
Pediatric Pulmonology - Treatment of lung disease in children.
Pediatric Radiology - Performance of diagnostic tests on children utilizing x-rays (see Radiology).
Pediatric Surgery - General surgical treatment of children with emphasis on correction of congenital defects.
Pedodontics - Branch of dentistry dealing with the teeth and mouth conditions of children.
Periodontics - Treatment of the tissues (gums) supporting the teeth. 
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - Therapy for weak muscles and stiff joints after injury, stroke, or surgery.
Physical Therapy - Evaluation and treatment of specific patient abilities and disabilities, both mental and physical.
Plastic & Reconstructive Surgery - Cosmetic surgery, reconstructive and care of burns.
Podiatry - The study and care of the foot, including its anatomy, pathology, medical and surgical treatment.
Preventive Medicine - Preventive medicine involves the study of the effects that the environment has on health.
Proctology - Treatment of rectal and anal disorders.
Prosthodontics - Branch of dentistry concerned with the construction of artificial appliances designed to restore and maintain oral function by replacing missing teeth and sometimes other oral structures or parts of the face.
Psychiatric/Alcohol /Drug Treatment - A facility which provides a program for the chemically dependent or evaluation, treatment, and prevention of emotional and mental illness.
Psychiatry - Medical diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of mental illness.
Psychoanalysis - Diagnosing and treating mental and emotional disorders through ascertaining and analyzing the facts of the patient's mental life.
Psychology - Treatment of behavioral disorders. Excludes dispensing of prescription drugs. 
Pulmonary Diseases - Treatment of diseases of the lungs.