Specialist Names Explained

Acupuncture

An alternative or complementary treatment that involves inserting very thin needles into the skin, at strategic points, to relieve pain or discomfort. It can help with stress, pain, mental health, diabetes, chronic nausea, and more.

Acupuncturists are licensed practitioners who use acupuncture to provide relief and improve the body’s ability to heal itself.

Search: ACUPUNCTURE

Allergies

When the immune system overreacts to something that is usually safe – like food, medicine, pollen, or other things in the environment. Includes conditions like eczema, seasonal runny nose or itchy eyes, and asthma.

Allergists & immunologists diagnose and treat immune system diseases like asthma, eczema, and allergic reactions to food, medicines, insect stings, or things from the environment like pollen.

Search: ALLERGY

Arthritis

Inflammation and swelling of joints that causes pain and stiffness, including osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis.

Rheumatologists diagnose and treat diseases of the joints. May further specialize in diagnosing and treating arthritis and specific conditions, like osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or lupus.

Search: RHEUMATOLOGY

Blood and lymphatic system

Works together to keep the body healthy and fight disease. It can be affected by conditions like anemia, sickle cell disease, blood and lymphatic problems, including cancers like Hodgkin lymphoma or leukemia.

Hematologists may be internists or pathologists who have extra training in blood and blood system disorders.

Search: HEMATOLOGY

Brain, nervous system, and spinal cord

The control center of the body that helps us to see, smell, taste, feel, and move. Responsible for sending messages from the brain to the rest of the body.

Neurological conditions include epilepsy, stroke, multiple sclerosis (MS), and Parkinson’s disease.

Neurologists specialize in brain, spinal cord, and nervous system diseases. They work with tools that can see inside the body, like computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). They also conduct tests to see how a nerve or muscle is working.

Search: NEUROLOGY

Cancer

Disease that causes cells in the body to grow out of control. It can occur anywhere in the body.

• Oncologists diagnose and treat cancer, including follow-up care after treatment is successful. Some further specialize, like gynecologic oncologists, who treat cancers of the ovaries, uterus, and cervix, or hematologists, who specialize in blood, bone, and lymph node diseases. Neuro-oncologists treat cancers of the nervous system.
  Radiation oncologists provide radiation therapy.
• Other providers like nutritionists, dietitians, or acupuncturists may help manage the side effects of treatments.
• Psychiatrists and psychologists or mental health counselors may also specialize in the mental challenges of living with cancer.

Search: ONCOLOGY, or RADIATION ONCOLOGY

Development and recovery

Care to improve, develop (habilitative), regain (rehabilitative), or keep skills for daily living.

• Occupational therapists work with people of all ages to learn or re-learn daily-life skills and motor skills, gain independence, and improve quality of life.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists or Physiatrists often lead rehabilitative care teams. They provide care for people with a disease, condition, or injury that impairs their normal function. Includes arthritis, back pain, work- and sports-related injuries, and brain or spinal cord injuries.
• Physical therapists help improve or restore physical function – joint mobility, flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and balance.
• Speech pathologists work with people to build speech sounds, rhythm, fluency, and oral motor skills for eating and swallowing. Includes help with stuttering, voice quality, pitch, tone, and understanding and producing language.
• Sports medicine specialists provide care for injuries to the bones, muscles, joints, tendons, or ligaments caused by physical activity.

Search: OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY, PHYSICAL MEDICINE, PHYSICAL THERAPY, SPEECH PATHOLOGY, SPORTS MEDICINE

Diabetes

Chronic health condition that affects how the body turns food into energy. Occurs when the pancreas does not make enough insulin or when the body isn’t able to use the insulin it makes.

• Endocrinologists diagnose and treat diseases of the endocrine glands, which regulate hormones like metabolism and thyroid disorders.
• Dieticians help people to learn how to manage conditions like diabetes by improving their diet, or how to achieve improved nutrition and weight.

Search: DIABETES, ENDOCRINOLOGY, DIETICIAN

Ears, nose, and throat

Closely connected by a system of tubes and passages within the head and neck that make up the upper respiratory system. Common conditions include ear, sinus, and tonsil infections and snoring.

Ear, nose, & throat doctors (ENT) or otolaryngologists diagnose and treat disorders and diseases of the head and neck. May further specialize in areas like rhinology (nose and sinuses), sleep medicine, otology (ears), or laryngology (voice box and vocal cords).

Search: EAR, NOSE & THROAT

End of life

Care for people near the end of life who have stopped treatment to cure or control a disease, aimed to provide as much comfort as possible. Includes physical, emotional, social, and spiritual support for the individual and their family

• Hospice and palliative medicine specialists help prevent and relieve suffering for those who have a serious illness or who have a short time left to live. They can also help coordinate, make legal and ethical decisions, and handle issues around death and dying.
• Geriatric medicine specialists, or geriatricians, specialize in diagnosing and treating conditions and diseases more common for older adults.
• Palliative care psychiatrists help with the mental suffering that can come at the end of life, including depression, anxiety, and delirium, for the individual and their family.

Search: HOSPICE, GERIATRIC, PSYCHIATRY

Eyes and vision

Specialists provide preventive care, like eye exams, and to manage vision problems with prescriptions for glasses and contacts. Other conditions include glaucoma, cataracts, light or chemical burns, and infection.

• Optometrists diagnose and treat vision problems and diseases of the eye. They do routine vision testing, perform eye examinations for diabetes, prescribe glasses and contact lenses, and provide care before and after eye surgery.
• Ophthalmologists treat more complex medical conditions of the eye and are surgeons.

Search: OPTOMETRY

Feet, toes, and ankles

Care for pain, infection, or injury that can’t be treated at home. Conditions include heel pain (plantar fasciitis), foot complications from diabetes, ankle and foot arthritis, curling toe joints (hammertoe), tendonitis, nail disorders, bunions, warts, fungus, fractures, and sprains.

• Podiatrists, or foot doctors, diagnose and treat problems and injuries of the feet and ankles. They also work with people who have diabetes to keep their feet healthy.
• Orthotics is a medical device to help with pain or healing, like a brace, splint, cast, or custom shoe insert.
• Orthopedists or orthopedic surgeons specialize in joints, muscles, and bones, including broken bones, nerve issues, issues walking, and ankle or foot surgery.

Search: PODIATRY, ORTHOTICS, ORTHOPEDIC

Gender affirming care

Gender affirming care is patient-centered and treats individuals holistically, aligning their outward, physical traits with their gender identity if this does not match their sex assigned at birth.

This care can include hormonal therapy and puberty blockers, mental health services, primary care, and gender confirming surgeries, as well as other care, such as speech therapy (voice training) or voice surgery. We also provide case management services to help with access to care and coordination of care.

Community Health Plan of Washington also has a subject matter expert who works to support the CHPW case managers who work with members with gender affirming care needs.

• Primary care providers, family physicians, and internal medicine physicians can help with accessing gender affirming care and gender affirming medications.
• Endocrinologists can prescribe hormones and puberty blockers.

Our Case Managers at CHPW can help you locate a provider for gender affirming care. Call 866-418-7004 to connect with our Care Management team.

Hearing

Can be affected suddenly or gradually over time, hearing loss can be permanent or temporary and treatable. Care may include hearing aids and cochlear implants, or medication to treat infection.

• Audiologists identify, diagnose, measure, and treat hearing or balance problems.
• Speech-language pathologists assess, diagnose, treat, and help prevent speech, language, and communication disorders. They work with people to build skills to produce and understand language. They can also help with swallowing problems.

Search: AUDIOLOGY, SPEECH/HEARING

Heart and cardiovascular system

Moves blood through the body, delivers oxygen to the cells, and removes waste. It controls heart rate and blood pressure. Common conditions are heart disease, narrowing or clogged arteries, and an abnormal heartbeat.

• Cardiologists diagnose and treat diseases or conditions of the heart and blood vessels, like high blood pressure, heart failure, or heart attacks.
• Cardiac electrophysiologists are cardiologists who specialize in the heart’s electrical system and treat heart rhythm problems.
• Cardiovascular surgeons specialize in surgery of the heart and blood vessels, including treatment for coronary artery disease.

Search: CARDIOLOGY, CARDIAC, CARDIOVASCULAR

Holistic

Care that focuses on treating the body as a whole system. Often combines care with alternative or complementary treatments like acupuncture, mind-body techniques, and exercise.

• Family physicians care for patients from birth through their wisdom years. They specialize in the whole person, and value the deep, long-term doctor-patient relationships that are the foundation of holistic care.
• Osteopathic doctors (DOs) focus on hands-on diagnosis and treatment, prescription medicine, surgery, and technology. They have special training in the connection between the body’s nerves, muscles, and bones.
• Naturopathic care focuses on the body’s ability to heal with natural substances like food, water, and lifestyle changes.

Search: FAMILY MEDICINE, OSTEOPATH, NATUROPATH

Hormones

Chemical messengers that organize different functions in your body. They impact metabolism, blood pressure, blood sugar, growth, sleep, mood, and other functions. Care focuses on regulating hormones or treating conditions like thyroid disease, irregular periods, infertility, and diabetes.

• Endocrinologists are internal medicine doctors who have additional training. They diagnose and treat diseases of the endocrine glands, which regulate hormones.
• Gynecologists diagnose and treat female reproductive system diseases and provide routine care, like Pap smears or breast exams.

Search: ENDOCRINOLOGY, GYNECOLOGY, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY

Kidneys

Part of the urinary system, kidneys filter blood, remove waste, and balance the body’s fluids. Conditions include kidney stones, kidney disease, infection, cysts, urinary tract infections (UTIs), and kidney failure.

• Nephrologists diagnose and treat kidney conditions and kidney failure. They provide dialysis, transplant care, biopsy, and imaging tests like X-rays, CT scans, and ultrasounds.
• Kidney transplant is surgery to place a healthy kidney into a person whose kidneys no longer work.
• Dialysis is an ongoing treatment that removes wastes and other substances from the blood, often needed for severe kidney failure.

Search: NEPHROLOGY, KIDNEY TRANSPLANT, DIALYSIS

Lungs and breathing

Lungs are the center of the respiratory system, made up of airways, lungs, and blood vessels. Can be affected by conditions like asthma, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, tuberculosis, and occupation-related lung disease.

• Chest clinics have a team of experts who provide comprehensive care for a wide range of chest and lung conditions, including lung cancer.
• Pulmonologists diagnose and treat diseases of the respiratory system and lungs. They use diagnostic procedures like bloodwork, x-rays, CT scans, and sleep studies.
• Pulmonary disease is often treated by an internal medicine doctor with advanced training in pulmonary medicine (pulmonologist).

Search: CHEST CLINIC, PULMONOLOGY , PULMONARY

Men’s health

Care specific to males (assigned at birth) and the male reproductive, hormonal, and urinary system. Includes preventive and reproductive care. Also, treatment and diagnosis of conditions like an enlarged prostate, hair loss, kidney stones, and prostate cancer.

• Urologists diagnose and treat disorders of the male reproductive system and diseases of the urinary system in general. Andrologists are urologists who are trained in male fertility. Specialties include male infertility, sexual dysfunction, cancers of the reproductive tract, and contraception.
• Family medicine physicians may also further specialize in men’s health and provide primary care.

Search: UROLOGY, FAMILY MEDICINE

Nutrition and weight management

Services related to getting necessary nutrients from food and supplements, managing a healthy weight, or weight loss surgery.

• Registered dieticians teach people about nutrition or develop specific diets to promote health. Some also specialize in nutritional counseling to help treat food-related psychological problems, pediatric or renal nutrition, or diabetes education.
• Bariatric surgery is to help people lose weight and improve health problems related to weight.
• Nutritionists also educate people about healthy eating but may not have advanced education or certification.

Search: DIETICIAN, BARIATIC, NUTRITIONIST

Older adult care

People over 65 have unique care needs from preventive care to care for disease and disability.

• Geriatric medicine specialists, or geriatricians, are mostly family doctors or internists who specialize in the conditions and diseases common in older adults.
• Skilled nursing facilities provide a range of health and personal care services. Services focus on medical care and daily-living assistance, more than most assisted living facilities or care homes.

Search: GERIATRIC MEDICINE, SKILLED NURSING FACILITY

Pain management or chronic pain

• Acupuncture is provided by a licensed practitioner. Treatment involves inserting very thin needles into the skin, at strategic places on the body, to relieve pain or discomfort.
• Chiropractic care focuses on the link between muscles, bones, and the nervous system with hands-on treatments like adjustments or spinal manipulations
• Osteopathic doctors (DOs) focus on hands-on diagnosis and treatment, but also prescribe medicine and perform surgery. They have special training in the connection between the body’s nerves, muscles, and bones.
• Physical medicine and rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists or physiatrists often lead rehabilitative care teams. They provide care for people with a disease, disorder, or injury that impairs their normal function. Includes arthritis, back pain, work- and sports-related injuries, and brain or spinal cord injuries.
• Physical therapists help improve or restore physical function – joint mobility, flexibility, strength, endurance, coordination, and balance.

Search: ACUPUNCTURE, CHIROPRACTIC, OSTEOPATH, PHYSIATRY, PHYSICAL THERAPY, PAIN

Pregnancy and birth or family planning

Care and services related to pregnancy and family planning – before, during, and after childbirth. Can include contraception and long-term contraception, genetic counseling , fertility, abortion (in Washington state), sterilization procedures to prevent pregnancy, prenatal care, and delivery.

• Obstetrics gynecologists (OB/GYN) specialize in pregnancy and childbirth, including complex and high-risk pregnancies.
• Family medicine with obstetrics provides primary care for every family member and pregnancy care including non-surgical delivery. Some family doctors also perform cesarian sections.
• Birthing centers offer a homelike, nonmedical setting for birth for care before, during, and after delivery for low-risk pregnancies.
• Maternal health refers to an individual’s health during pregnancy, childbirth, and after.
• Certified nurse midwives (CNM) specialize in natural childbirth with minimal medical treatments. They provide pregnancy care and deliver babies at hospitals, birthing centers, or in homes.
• Reproductive endocrinologists diagnose and treat infertility and other reproductive and hormonal disorders.

Search: OBSTETRICS, MATERNAL, MIDWIFE, REPRODUCTIVE ENDOCRINOLOGY

Facility Search: Provider type > WOMEN’S HEALTH | Specialty > BIRTHING CENTER

Skin

The body’s largest organ. It protects against germs, regulates temperature, and enables touch. The top layers of the skin (epidermis and dermis) are where most problems happen – like acne, rashes, eczema, skin infection, and skin cancer.

• Dermatologists specialize in diseases and conditions of the skin, hair, or nails, including cosmetic concerns. May prescribe medicines and perform surgery for skin disorders.
• Allergists or immunologists diagnose and treat immune system diseases like asthma, eczema, and allergic reactions to food, medicines, insect stings, or things from the environment like pollen.

Search: DERMATOLOGY, ALLERGY

Sleep

Crucial for the brain and body to function. Sleep conditions include sleep apnea, snoring, insomnia, narcolepsy, or chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Sleep medicine specialists focus on the diagnosis and surgical and nonsurgical treatment of sleep disorders. Sleep medicine specialists are usually pulmonologists (lungs, breathing), ENTs (ear, nose, throat), or neurologists (brain, nervous system) with additional training.

Search: SLEEP MEDICINE

Stomach and digestion

Breaks down food and liquid so the body can absorb nutrients, get energy, and build or repair cells. Some digestive system conditions are irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), indigestion, constipation, gallstones, celiac disease, and Chron’s disease.

Gastroenterologists diagnose and treat diseases of the digestive system. Perform screenings for colon cancer. Some diagnostic tests include endoscopy, colonoscopy, ultrasound, blood tests, MRI, and feeding tube insertion.

Search: GASTROENTEROLOGY

Women’s health

Care centered around the uterus, cervix, ovaries, and vagina. Including sexual health, breast health, the menstrual cycle, menopause, and cervical cancer screenings (Pap).

For fertility, pregnancy, or birth see: Pregnancy and birth.

• Gynecologists provide routine care and diagnose and treat diseases of the female reproductive system.
• Mammographs are a type of breast exam or cancer screening that detects breast cancer.
• Endocrinologists are a type of internal doctor who has additional training. They diagnose and treat diseases of the endocrine glands, which regulate hormones.
• Pelvic medicine or urogynecology specialists treat conditions of the female urinary and reproductive tract.

Search: GYNECOLOGY, MAMMOGRAPHY, ENDOCRINOLOGY, PELVIC MEDICINE