Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties MEDICAL SPECIALTIES After a patient has received the initial treatment for a medical problem, he or she is often referred to a specialist in some area for ongoing medical treatment. In this section, we’ll review some medical terms which apply to medical specialists in various fields. Slide 1 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Medical Specialties We’ll begin with some easy ones. Most you can identify based on the medical terms you just learned. Can you easily define each of the following types of specialists? Cardiologist Dermatologist Neurologist Otologist Rheumatologist Slide 2 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Make a Match Cardiologist Dermatologist Neurologist Otologist Rheumatologist A BC D AB C D A BC D A BC D LEGEND A.Skin Specialist B.Ear Specialist C.Heart Specialist D.Specialist in diseases of the nerves E.Specialist in diagnosis and treatment of diseases of the joints,muscles and bones. Slide 3 of 15 A BC D

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties You probably noticed that all of the specialist names in the preceding frame ended in the suffix ologist, which comes from the Greek term, “ology”. For example, cardiology is the study or science of the heart. Ophthamologist SUFFIXES Ology – study or science of Changing the gy to gist changes to meaning to one who studies or one who specializes. So, a cadiologist is someone who studies or specializes in the heart. Slide 4 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties What if we gave you this root word….. ROOT WORDS Ophthalmos - eye Slide 5 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Pick a Box Based on the previous page, which one of these terms below means eye specialist? OphthamologistOtologistCardiologist Slide 6 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties A Neuropsychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the treatment of people with neurologic illness and cognitive, emotional, or behavioural problems. Neuro - nerve Neuropsychiatrist Slide 7 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties The word oncologist is derived from the Greek prefix. Oncologist PREFIXES Onco – tumor, swelling, mass, bulk Although the prefix onco technically refers to any type of tumor, swelling or mass, it is commonly used to specifically describe cancerous tumors. Slide 8 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties You may see references in medical reports and claims to the pathology of a disease. The word is derived from the following Greek term… Pathologist ROOT WORDS Pathos - disease Slide 9 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Another medical specialty you may see frequently is internist. Internist ROOT WORDS Intern - inside An internist is a physician who specializes in internal medicine, treating diseases of the internal organs by nonsurgical means. Slide 10 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties What do you do? A Neuropsych Is strictly an interpreter of the x-rays someone else has taken Not only interprets x-rays, but may also administer them to treat diseases May administer x-rays to treat diseases, but is never involved in interpreting x-rays An Internist Treating diseases of the internal organs through surgical treatment Treating diseases of the internal organs through non-surgical treatment Treating diseases of the internal organs through a combination of surgical and non-surgical treatment A A B B C C Slide 11 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties The last medical specialist we’ll discuss is an orthopedist. The term is a combination of the Greek words. ROOT WORDS Orthos – straight Pais - child Orthopedist From the illustration, you’d think that an orthopedist specializes in straightening out children, and this is actually where the term comes from. At one time, bone deformities were so common in children that the entire branch of orthopedics was devoted to correcting bone-deformed children. The term has since been broadened to include all ages and all disorders of the skeleton and joints. Slide 12 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Physical And Occupational Therapists Two other specialists you’ll probably encounter in claims work are not physicians, but medically trained persons who assist in the rehabilitation process. They are physical therapists and Occupational Therapists. Slide 13 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Physical And Occupational Therapists A physical therapist treats disease through the use of physical agents such as massage, heat,radiation, water,electricity, and exercise. An occupational therapist takes into consideration elements of the patient’s life – not just the disease elements – in evaluating and helping plan work, play and self-care activities to treat the physically ROOT WORDS Therapist – one who offers treatment Slide 14 of 15

Menu Medical Terminology – Module 5 – Medical Specialties Great Job! You made it through MEDICAL SPECIALTIES. Now let’s proceed to the next part of the course; MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS. Slide 15 of 15