Healthcare Teams, Types of Practices and Providers

Sometimes we hear medical professionals or our insurers talk about "levels of care," so knowing their definitions can be useful. Learn more about primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care.

A concierge practice, also known as boutique medicine, is a practice model used by doctors who do not accept a patient's insurance for payment. Is this a good model for patient care?

Nurse practitioners and physician assistants are found in many practices, hospitals and other healthcare facilities across the country. Savvy patients want to know the capabilities of physician extenders and when it's a good time to lean on them for care.

It's easy to get confused about nurses because they seem to serve a variety of roles. Smart patients understand which nurses perform which functions, and when to seek help from nurses vs nurse practitioners.

New job titles mean safety improvements for patients. Hospitalists, proceduralists and intensivists may be new names to patients, but they are improving patient care.

A patient advocate who has the experience and skills you need to assist you will be difficult. You'll want to be sure to screen candidates well to be sure they have the credentials and abilities they claim to have, and the ability to help you. Ask the following questions to help you choose the person who will advocate on your behalf.

The Surgeon General holds the highest public health position in the federal government of the United States. But few of us know what the Surgeon General does, or what his or her responsibilities are.

A new concept in delivery of medical care, based on an old but effective premise, is the patient-centered medical home. Read what makes this concept unique and why you might want to seek out a practice that is conducted this way.