When you visit a Children’s Wisconsin primary care office, you may notice people with different letters and titles after their names like MD, DO, PA-C, NP, medical assistant and behavioral health consultant. It may be confusing and you may have questions about who they are and what they are qualified to do. Rest assured everyone you see in your Children’s Wisconsin primary care office is highly qualified and committed to ensuring your child’s well-being. But let’s take a look at who you might see and what makes them unique.
Pediatrician (MD or DO)
You will notice that your child’s pediatrician has the initials DO or MD after their name. Doctors of osteopathic medicine (DO) and doctors of medicine (MD) are two types of accredited doctors that can practice medical care in the United States. Both require rigorous study and residency programs in order to become licensed doctors. DOs learn osteopathic medicine, while MDs learn allopathic medicine. The main difference between these two schools of study is osteopathic supplement traditional treatment of diseases with a more holistic, whole-person approach. But both medical school educations focus on up-to-date medical knowledge, the latest research and findings, and delivering appropriate medical care. Bottom line, whether they are DO or MD, both are licensed doctors and there to ensure the well-being of your children.
Physician assistant (PA-C)
This is my area of expertise! I am a certified physician assistant, or PA-C. Like the pediatricians with whom I work, I am trained and nationally certified and state-licensed to carry out many of the same essential tasks they do. I am able to assess, treat and diagnose medical conditions in the kiddos I see. I can prescribe medicine and order tests. The main difference between a doctor and a PA-C is that doctors can practice independently while PA-Cs must work in collaboration with a doctor. I have worked with Children's Wisconsin for more than 20 years, and I particularly enjoy performing well-child checks and managing mental health concerns in my patients.
Nurse practitioner (NP)
A nurse practitioner (NP) is an advanced practice nurse who has completed a graduate school program, and holds either a master’s or doctorate in addition to a registered nurse license. Like our pediatrician and PA-C teammates, NPs are nationally certified and state-licensed to examine, diagnose and provide treatment to patients. They, too, can prescribe medicine and order tests. They collaborate with our pediatricians, and partner with you and your child to address your concerns regarding both normal child development and acute illness, meaning sickness that comes on suddenly like colds, sinus infections, the flu, etc. While doctors and PA-Cs receive training and certification in types of medicine (pediatrics, cardiology, orthopedics, etc.), NP’s training focuses on specific patient populations (children, elderly, women, etc.).
Medical assistant
Medical assistants are the friendly faces that greet you and bring you back to the exam room. Just as their title suggests, they assist the medical team in carrying out a number of really important duties during your child’s care. They serve as a link between your child and your pediatrician. Duties often include: taking height, weight, blood pressure, temperature, conducting eyesight and hearing tests. Other duties and functions they may carry out include: administering shots, drawing blood, preparing the exam room and sterilizing instruments used by doctors, nurse practitioners and physician assistants. They really help make things run smoothly in the office.
Behavioral health consultant
This one is new to some of our primary care clinics and will be in all of our primary care clinics in the next year. Behavioral health consultants are licensed behavioral health providers who work with primary care providers to support the whole health of children. At Children’s Wisconsin, we believe mental health is as important as physical health. So when you visit your Children’s Wisconsin pediatrician, parents are able to work collaboratively with the primary care providers and behavioral health consultants to provide earlier intervention and strategies for their children with mental and behavioral health concerns.
There are many people you may see in Children’s Wisconsin primary care who play an important part in your child’s care. As a parent or guardian, it’s important that you feel confident in the care your child is receiving, so if you have questions about a provider’s qualifications or background, just ask. We are happy to talk to you.
