Specialty (medicine) 3172179 225270267 2008-07-12T20:23:12Z 207.127.241.2 A '''specialty''' in [[medicine]] is a branch of medical science, other than [[general practice]]. After completing [[medical school]], [[physician]]s or [[surgeon]]s usually further their [[medical education]] in a specific specialty of medicine by completing a multiple year [[residency (medicine)|residency]]. Doctors who engage in a medical specialty are known as medical specialists. ==Salary== The mean annual salary of a medical specialist is $175,011<ref name=ibmdllc/> in the US, and $272,000 <ref name=ibmdllc> [http://www.ibmdllc.com/docs/Physician%20Income%20not%20rising%20as%20fast%20as%20other%20professionals.pdf ibmdllc.com -Physician income not rising as fast as other professional pay]</ref> for surgeons. Although medical specialists in other countries on average make less than those in the U.S., they also go through fewer years of training, and most, if not all, of their educational tuition and living expenses are funded by the government during these years. In some countries (e.g., Austria, Netherlands)<ref>http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607335.pdf p. 38</ref>, specialty pay as a percentage of GDP per capita actually exceeds the U.S. {| class="wikitable sortable" !Country !Salary (USD) |- |Australia || 160,000<ref>[http://www.plexusrecruitment.com.au/resource/2007_doctors_salaries_au.pdf] corresponding to 170,000 AUD</ref> |- |Sweden || 56,000 <ref> [http://www.slf.se/upload/Lakarforbundet/Trycksaker/PDFer/Arbetsmarknad/Läkare-utbildning%20och%20arbetsmarknad.pdf LÄKARE - Utbildning och arbetsmarknad] - Sveriges läkarförbund (Swedish physician association), giving a value corresponding to $6,217 per month </ref> |- |United States || 175,000 |- |United Kingdom || 215,000<ref>[http://www.nao.org.uk/publications/nao_reports/06-07/0607335.pdf (NAO report (HC 335 2006-2007):Pay Modernisation: A New Contract for NHS Consultants in England<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |} ==Specialties by country== ===Australia and New Zealand=== Specialty training in Australia and New Zealand is overseen by the specialty colleges: * [[Royal Australasian College of Surgeons]] * [[Royal Australasian College of Physicians]] ===Canada=== Specialty training in Canada is overseen by the [[Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada]] ===United States=== There are three agencies or organizations in the United States which collectively oversee [[physician board certification]] of [[Medical Doctor|MD]] and [[Osteopathic medicine in the United States|DO]] (osteopathic) physicians in the 26 approved medical specialties recognized in the United States. These organizations are the [[American Board of Medical Specialties]] (ABMS) and the [[American Medical Association]]; the [[American Osteopathic Association Bureau of Osteopathic Specialists]] (AOABS) and the [[American Osteopathic Association]]; the [[American Board of Physician Specialties]] (ABPS) and the [[American Association of Physician Specialists]]. Each of these agencies and their associated national medical organization functions as an umbrella for its various specialty academies, colleges and societies. {| class="wikitable" |- ! Certifying Board ! National Organization ! Physician Type |- | ABMS | AMA | MD Only |- | AOABS | AOA | DO Only |- | ABPS | AAPS | MD and DO |} All boards of certification now require that physicians demonstrate, by examination, continuing mastery of the core knowledge and skills for their chosen specialty. Recertification varies by specialty between every 7 and every 10 years. ==Medical specialties== In this table, medical specialties are organized into the following groups: * [[Surgical specialties]] - the use of manually operative and instrumental techniques to treat disorders. * [[Internal medicine]] - concerns the diagnosis and nonsurgical treatment of diseases in adults, especially of internal organs. * [[Diagnostic specialties]], rather examines disorders etc. than directly attempts to cure. * [[Neurology]] - focuses on the diagnosis, treatment, and management of patients with neurological disorders. {| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Specialty ! Code ! Group ! Subspecialties ! Description ! Salary in US<ref>Annual. Unless else specified in table, then ref is:[http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0FBW/is_6_3/ai_87799043 'Integrated Care' Practices Adjust Pay, Seek New Markets as Budgets Shrink] Physician Compensation Report, June, 2002]</ref> ($) |- | [[Anesthesiology]] | AN/PAN | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]]<ref name=swe/> | Pediatrics, Pain management | the branch of medicine which deals with [[anesthesia]] and anesthetics. | 344,691 |- | [[Orthopedic surgery]] | ORS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | [[hand surgery]], [[surgical sports medicine]] | consists of surgery of the [[locomotor system]]. | 436,481 |- | [[Otolaryngology]] | ORL or ENT | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | Head and neck, facial cosmetic surgery, Neuro-otology, Laryngology | (or ''otorhinolaryngology'' or ''ENT''/ear-nose-throat) is concerned with treatment of ear, nose, and throat disorders. The term [[head and neck surgery]] defines a closely related specialty which is concerned mainly with [[surgical oncology|the surgical management of cancer]] of the same anatomical structures. | 397,399 |- | [[Pediatric surgery]] | 353,682 | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | treats a wide variety of [[chest|thoracic]] and [[abdominal]] (and sometimes [[urology|urologic]]) diseases of childhood. | |- | [[Plastic surgery]] | PS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | Cosmetic surgery, Burn, Microsurgery, Hand surgery, Craniofacial surgery | includes aesthetic surgery (operations that are done for other than medical purposes) as well as reconstructive surgery (operations to restore function and/or appearance after traumatic or operative mutilation). | 349,499 <ref> [http://mdsalaries.blogspot.com/2006/06/plastic-surgeon.html mdsalaries.blogspot.com] taking the mean values between: Houston, TX: 300.000, Los Angeles, CA: 326,000, Miami, FL: 300,000, New York, NY: 341,000, Seattle, WA: 317,000.</ref> |- | [[Surgical oncology]] | SO | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]]/Oncology specialty | | concerned with curative and palliative surgical approaches to [[cancer]] treatment. | |- | [[Urology]] | U | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | Focuses on the urinary tracts of males and females, and on the male reproductive system. It is often practiced together with [[andrology]] ("men's health"). | 365,999 |- | [[Vascular surgery]] | VS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | surgery of peripheral blood vessels, i.e. those outside of the [[chest]] (usually operated on by [[cardiovascular surgery|cardiovascular surgeons]]) and of the [[central nervous system]] (treated by [[neurosurgery]]). | 365,882 |- | [[Organ transplantation|Transplant surgery]] | TTS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | | |- | [[Thoracic surgery]] | TS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | | 376,000 <ref>[http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/specialties.htm aamc.org]: Mean of 218,550 to 533,000</ref> |- | [[General surgery]] | GS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | Cosmetic surgery, Trauma surgery, Colorectal surgery | traditionally defined as the specialty of surgery of the skin, endocrine glands, and abdomen (and, sometimes, the mammary glands). In some countries, it is still deemed a prerequisite training prior to progression to training in certain subspecialties, but lately has evolved into its own subspecialty | 327,902 |- | [[Cardiovascular surgery]] | | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | |the surgical specialty that is concerned with the [[heart]] and major blood vessels of the chest. | 460,000 |- | [[Trauma surgery]] | TRS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | | 352,971 |- | [[Maxillofacial surgery]] | Maxfacs or OMFS | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | Craniofacial surgery, Head and neck, facial cosmetic surgery, Craniomaxillofacial trauma | surgery to correct a wide spectrum of diseases, injuries and defects in the head, neck, face, jaws and the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. | |- | [[Dermatology]] | D or DS | other | | deals with the [[skin]] and its appendages (hair, nails, sweat glands etc). | 316,473 |- | [[Emergency medicine]] | EM | [[Surgical specialties|surgical]]/[[Internal medicine]] | | branch of [[medicine]] that is practiced in a [[hospital]] [[emergency room|emergency department]], in the field (in a modified form — see [[emergency medical service|EMS]]), and other locations where initial medical treatment of illness takes place. | 255,530 |- | [[Cardiology]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | specializes in disorders of the [[cardiovascular system]] and its diseases. The field is commonly divided into subdisciplines dealing with ''congenital heart defects'', ''coronary artery disease'', ''heart failure'', ''valvular heart disease'' and ''electrophysiology''. | 370,295 |- | [[Intensive care medicine]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | or ''[[intensive care medicine]] - concerned with the therapy of patients with serious and life-threatening disease or injury. Intensive care medicine employs invasive diagnostic techniques and (temporary) replacement of organ functions by technical means. This field is often associated with pulmonology. | |- | [[Endocrinology]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | concerned with the [[endocrine system]] (i.e. [[endocrine gland]]s and [[hormone]]s) and its diseases, including [[diabetes]] and [[thyroid]] diseases. | |- | [[Gastroenterology]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | concerned with the [[alimentary tract]]. | 395,162 |- | [[Clinical laboratory]] sciences | | [[Diagnostic specialties]] | *''[[Transfusion medicine]]'' is concerned with the transfusion of blood and blood component, including the maintenance of a "''[[blood bank]]''". *''[[Cellular pathology]]'' is concerned with diagnosis using samples from patients taken as tissues and cells using [[histology]] and [[cytology]]. *''[[Clinical chemistry]]'' is concerned with diagnosis by making biochemical analysis of blood, body fluids and tissues. *''[[Hematology]]'' is concerned with diagnosis by looking at changes in the cellular composition of the [[blood]] and [[bone marrow]] as well as the [[coagulation system]] in the blood. *''[[Clinical microbiology]]'' is concerned with the ''[[in vitro]]'' diagnosis of diseases caused by [[bacterium|bacteria]], [[virus]]es, [[fungus|fungi]], and [[parasite]]s. *''[[Clinical immunology]]'' is concerned with disorders of the [[immune system]] and related body defenses. It also deals with diagnosis of [[allergy]]. | the clinical diagnostic services which apply laboratory techniques to [[diagnosis]] and management of patients. In the United States these services are supervised by a pathologist. The personnel that work in these [[medical laboratory]] departments are technically trained staff, each of whom usually hold a [[medical technology]] degree, who actually perform the [[medical test|test]]s, [[assay]]s, and procedures needed for providing the specific services. | 160,300 <ref> for an Allergist</ref> |- | [[Hematology]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | or ''haematology'' (BE) - concerned with the blood, the blood-forming organs, and blood diseases. Hematology is part of oncology in the US, though the disciplines are separate in the UK. | |- |- | [[Radiology]] | | [[Diagnostic specialties]] | Interventional Radiology | Directing medical imaging technologies to diagnose and sometimes treat diseases. | 348,526<ref>[http://swz.salary.com/salarywizard/layouthtmls/swzl_compresult_national_HC07000062.html Average Radiologist - Diagnostic Salary. Radiologist - Diagnostic Job, Career Education & Unemploym<!-- Bot generated title -->]</ref> |- | [[Hepatology]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | concerned with the [[liver]] and [[biliary tract]], and is usually a part of gastroenterology. | |- | [[Infectious disease]]s | ID | [[Internal medicine]] | | concerned with the study, diagnosis and treatment of diseases caused by biological agents. | |- | [[Nephrology]] | | [[Internal medicine]] | | concerned with diseases of the kidneys. | |- | [[Proctology]] | PRO | [[Internal medicine]] | | specializes in treatment of disease in the [[rectum]], [[anus]], and [[Colon (anatomy)|colon]]. | |- | [[Pulmonology]] | | [[Internal medicine]](/intensive care specialty) | | ''chest medicine'', ''respiratory medicine'', or ''lung medicine'' is concerned with diseases of the lungs and the [[respiratory system]]. In some countries and areas. ''Pulmonology'' is generally considered a branch of [[internal medicine]], although it is closely related to [[intensive care medicine]] when dealing with patients requiring [[mechanical ventilation]]. | 265,907 |- | [[Rheumatology]] | RHU | [[Internal medicine]] | | devoted to the diagnosis and treatment of inflammatory diseases of the [[joint]]s and other organ systems, such as [[arthritis]] and other [[rheumatic diseases]]. | |- | [[Neurosurgery]] | NS | [[Neurology]]/[[Surgical specialties|surgical]] | | Treating central, peripheral nervous system, and spinal column diseases. | 530,000 |- | [[Radiology]] | R/DR | [[Diagnostic specialties]] | *[[Interventional radiology]] is concerned with using imaging of the human body, usually from CT, ultrasound, or [[fluoroscopy]], to do [[biopsy|biopsies]], place certain tubes, and perform intravascular procedures. *[[Nuclear Medicine]] uses [[radioactive decay|radioactive]] substances for ''[[in vivo]]'' and ''[[in vitro]]'' diagnosis using either imaging of the location of radioactive substances placed into a patient, or using ''in vitro'' diagnostic tests utilizing [[radioactivity|radioactive]] substances. | the use of radiation in [[medical imaging]] and [[diagnosis]]. [[Radiography|X-rays]], etc. | 440,004 |- | [[Obstetrics and gynaecology]] | OBS GYN | [[surgical specialties|surgical]] <ref name=swe> [http://www.regeringen.se/content/1/c6/05/69/05/0678f033.pdf Regeringen.se - new grouping of the medical specialties]</ref> | *[[Reproductive medicine]] *[[fertility medicine]] (salary may be 700,000 <ref>[http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C0CEED61E39F931A15752C0A960958260 New York Times - 2 Lose Pay in Inquiry Into Fertility Clinic. Published: January 22, 1996], calculated as a mean value of the values provided, multiplicated with estimated 9 months per year yields 700,800</ref>) | the branches of medicine which deals with female reproductive organs, pregnancy, and childbirth. | 299,620 <ref>[http://www.aamc.org/students/cim/specialties.htm aamc.org] : mean of: 219,000 to 302,192</ref> |- | [[Ophthalmology]] | OPH | [[surgical specialties|surgical]] | | branch of medical practice dealing with the diseases and surgery of the visual pathways, including the eyes, brain etc. | 295,510 |- | [[Pathology as a medical specialty|Pathology]] | PTH | [[Diagnostic specialties]] | | the study and diagnosis of [[disease]] through examination of [[molecule]]s, [[Cell (biology)|cells]], [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]]s and [[Organ (anatomy)|organ]]s. The term encompasses both the [[medical specialty]] which uses tissues and body fluids to obtain clinically useful information, as well as the related [[science|scientific]] study of disease processes. | 247,506 |- | [[Pediatrics]] | PD | other | Like internal medicine, there are many pediatric subspecialities for specific age ranges, organ systems, disease classes, and sites of care delivery. Most subspecialities of adult medicine have a pediatric equivalent such as [[pediatric cardiology]], [[pediatric endocrinology]], [[pediatric gastroenterology]], [[pediatric hematology]], [[pediatric oncology]], [[pediatric ophthalmology]], and [[neonatology]]. | deals with the medical care of [[infant]]s, [[child]]ren, and [[adolescent]]s (from [[newborn]] to age 16-21, depending on the country). | 185,913<ref name=payscale> [http://www.payscale.com/research/US/People_with_Jobs_as_Physicians_%2f_Doctors/Salary/by_Job payscale.com]</ref> |- | [[Physical medicine and rehabilitation]] | | [[Neurology]]<ref name=swe/>/other | | (or ''physiatry'') is concerned with functional improvement after injury, illness, or [[congenital disorder]]s. | |- | [[Oncology]] | ON | other | *[[Radiation oncology]] - pertains to the use of [[radiation therapy]] (the [[medicine|medical]] use of [[ionizing radiation]]) as part of [[cancer]] [[oncology|treatment]] to control [[malignant]] [[cell (biology)|cell]]s (not to be confused with [[radiology]]). | devoted to the study, diagnosis, and treatment of [[cancer]] and other malignant diseases, and is often grouped with hematology. | 371,218 |- | [[Geriatrics]] | IMG | [[Internal medicine]] <ref name=swe/> | | branch of medicine concerned with the diagnosis, care, and treatment of function and diseases of the aging patient. | 177,392 |- | [[Intensive care medicine]] | | other | | concerned with the provision of [[life support]] or organ support systems in patients who are critically ill and who usually require intensive monitoring. | 255,055 |- | [[Clinical Neurophysiology]] | | [[Diagnostic specialty]] | *[[Electroencephalography]] - EEG is concerned with testing the gross function of the brain. *[[Electromyography]] - EMG is concerned with testing the function of muscles and neuromuscular junctions. *[[Evoked potential]] - An EP is concerned with testing the nerve pathways involved in both sensory and motor functions. *[[Nerve conduction study]] *[[Polysomnography]] / [[Sleep Study]] | concerned with testing the physiology or function of the central and peripheral aspects of the nervous system. These kinds of tests can be divided into recordings of: (1) spontaneous or continuously running electrical activity, or (2) stimulus evoked responses. | |- | [[Palliative care]] | PLM | other | | a relatively modern branch of clinical medicine that deals with pain and symptom relief and emotional support in patients with [[terminal illness]]es including [[cancer]] and [[heart failure]]. |- | [[Psychiatry]] | P | other | *[[Child psychiatry|Child and adolescent psychiatry]] focuses on the care of children and adolescents with mental, emotional, and learning problems including [[ADHD]], [[autism]], and family conflicts. *[[Geriatric psychiatry]] focuses on the care of elderly people with mental illnesses including [[dementia]]s, post-stroke cognitive changes, and depression. *[[Addiction psychiatry]] focuses on substance abuse and its treatment. *[[Forensic psychiatry]] focuses on the interface of psychiatry and law. | the branch of medicine concerned with the [[biopsychosocial|bio-psycho-social]] study of the [[etiology]], [[diagnosis]], treatment and [[prevention]] of [[cognitive]], [[perceptual]], [[emotional]] and [[behavioral]] disorders. Related non-medical fields include [[psychotherapy]] and [[clinical psychology]]. | 200,871 |- |} ==Other uses== In the [[U.S. Army]], the term "medical specialist" refers to occupational therapists, physical therapists, dietitians and physician assistants, also known as [[allied health]] professionals. ==See also== *[[Interdisciplinary sub-specialties of medicine]], including e.g. **[[General practice]] - ''[[family practice]]'', ''[[family medicine]]'' or ''primary care'' is, in many countries, the first port-of-call for patients with non-emergency medical problems. By definition not a medical specialty, but a mix of all of them. **Occupational medicine - branch of clinical medicine which provides health advice to organizations and individuals concerning work-related health and safety issues and standards. ''See [[occupational safety and health]]. **[[Disaster medicine]] - branch of [[medicine]] that provides healthcare services to disaster survivors; guides medically related [[disaster preparation]], [[disaster planning]], [[disaster response]] and [[disaster recovery]] throughout the [[disaster life cycle]] andserves as a liaison between and partner to the [[medical contingency planner]], the emergency management professional, the [[incident command system]], government and policy makers. **[[Preventive medicine]]- part of [[medicine]] engaged with preventing [[disease]] rather than curing it. It can be contrasted not only with curative medicine, but also with [[public health]] methods (which work at the level of population health rather than individual health). **[[Medical genetics]] - the application of [[genetics]] to [[medicine]]. Medical genetics is a broad and varied field. It encompasses many different individual fields, including [[clinical genetics]], [[biochemical genetics]], [[cytogenetics]], [[molecular genetics]], the genetics of common diseases (such as [[neural tube defects]]), and [[genetic counseling]]. * [[Specialty Registrar (StR)|Specialty Registrar]] * [[Federation of National Specialty Societies of Canada]] ==References== {{reflist|2}} 2007 Physician Compensation Survey, By the American Medical Group Association. http://www.cejkasearch.com/compensation/amga_physician_compensation_survey.htm {{Medicine}} [[Category:Medical specialties| ]] [[de:Facharzt]] [[fr:Spécialités médicales]] [[id:Dokter spesialis]] [[mk:Специјалност (медицина)]] [[nl:Medisch specialist]] [[simple:Medical specialty]] [[sv:Medicinska specialiteter]]