Doctors & Hospitals Glossary
A
Allergist (AL-ur-jist): An allergist is a special doctor who helps people who are allergic to things like animals, grass, pollen, dust, and even foods. Sometimes they can give you medicine or shots to help you feel better when allergies bother you.
B
Blood Banks: No one deposits money in this kind of bank! Blood banks collect and store blood, which healthy people donate. The bank keeps blood ready in case someone needs it because of an accident or surgery.
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Cardiologist (kar-dee-OL-uh-jist): This kind of doctor knows all about the heart and how it works. Kids who have a heart problem will visit a pediatric cardiologist, who mainly treats kids. Cardiologists treat all kinds of heart problems, from heart murmurs to hearts that miss a beat.
Certified Diabetes Educators (SER-teh-fide dye-uh-BEE-tees ED-yoo-kay-ters): Do you need someone to help you understand diabetes? Try a certified diabetes educator. They know a lot about the illness. They also know how to teach people with diabetes to take care of themselves. Nurses, dietitians, pharmacists, doctors, social workers, or other professionals can be certified diabetes educators.
D
Dermatologist (derm-uh-TOL-uh-jist): A special doctor called a dermatologist knows a lot about skin. Dermatologists help people who have itchy skin, pimply skin, and any other skin problems!
Dietitian (dye-uh-TIH-shin): A dietitian knows a lot about food and healthy eating. That's because dietitians are people who are experts in food! Dietitians can help you decide what to eat, when to eat, and almost anything else about eating right. They also offer support to people with a variety of conditions, such as diabetes, food allergies, and inflammatory bowel disease (IBD).
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Endocrinologist (en-deh-krih-NOL-uh-jist): This type of doctor deals with hormones, those special chemical substances your body makes. Hormones make things happen all over the body, especially during puberty. Pediatric endocrinologists help kids with diabetes, growth problems, and more.
ER (ee-ahr): Short for emergency room, this is the part of the hospital where kids and adults go if they suddenly have a big health problem or accident. It's also called the ED, short for emergency department.
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Gynecologist (guy-nuh-KOL-uh-jist): This type of doctor knows all about the female body. Girls who have started to get their periods may see a gynecologist for a checkup once a year.
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Intensive Care Unit/ICU (in-TEN-siv kair YOO-nit, iye-see-yoo): The intensive care unit, or ICU, is a special place in the hospital where people can recover from very serious illnesses, accidents, or operations. In the ICU, a patient can get extra help from machines and extra attention from doctors, nurses, and other caring people.
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Neurologist (nur-OL-uh-jist): A neurologist is a doctor who studies the nervous system. Neurologists help people who have epilepsy (seizures), severe headaches, trouble moving their arms or legs, and many other problems that can affect the nervous system.
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OccupationalTherapist (AH-kyoo-pay-shu-nal THAIR-ah-pist): An occupational therapist can help kids who have trouble doing everyday things, like writing, eating, or getting dressed. An occupational therapist uses exercises and activities to teach kids how to do these things better. If a kid has trouble eating, the therapist can provide special forks and spoons that are longer, shorter, or have easy-to-hold rubber grips. If a kid needs help with writing, the therapy might be strengthening the pointer finger by finger painting or squirting a water gun. Just don't squirt your occupational therapist!
Oncologist (ahn-KOL-eh-jist): This is a doctor who treats patients who have cancer. Oncologists who treat kids who have cancer are called pediatric oncologists.
Ophthalmologist (af-thal-MAHL-uh-jist ): An ophthalmologist is an eye doctor. This type of doctor helps people with all kinds of eye problems and does surgery on the eye, if needed.
Optician (op-TIH-shun): An optician is the person you see when you go to buy your glasses that were prescribed by an ophthalmologist or optometrist. The optician makes sure you get the right lenses to help you see and glasses that fit your face.
Optometrist (op-TOM-uh-trist): An optometrist examines your eyes and tests your vision. If you need glasses, an optometrist can tell what kind of glasses or contact lenses are right for you.
Orthodontist (or-tho-DON-tist): An orthodontist is a dentist who specializes in making teeth straight, instead of fixing cavities. An orthodontist knows how to put on braces and make retainers. Braces and retainers can be a little uncomfortable at first, but your perfect smile will be worth it.
OrthopedicSurgeon (or-tho-PEE-dik SUR-jun): Some doctors know a lot about all kinds of medical problems. Other doctors are "specialists" who focus on one particular type of medical problem. Orthopedic surgeons (also called orthopedists) are specialists who treat injuries and diseases of the musculoskeletal system, which includes your muscles, bones, and joints. They can put on casts and do operations, and also can recommend exercises and ways to prevent injuries.
Otolaryngologist (oh-toh-lar-un-GAH-luh-jist): Ear! Nose! Throat! An otolaryngologist is a doctor who takes care of all these parts. You might go to see an otolarygologist (also called an ENT doctor) if you have too many ear infections or problems with your tonsils.
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Pediatrician (pee-dee-eh-TRISH-in): Chances are you've been to see a pediatrician lots of times, whether you know it or not. A pediatrician is a doctor who takes care of babies, kids, and teens. You can count on your pediatrician to help you when you're sick — and even better, to help you stay healthy.
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Radiologist (ray-dee-OL-uh-jist): When a person gets an X-ray or a CT scan (two types of pictures taken of the inside of the body), those funny-looking pictures can be tough to understand. That's where radiologists come in. These doctors are specialists in reading and making sense of those pictures, and they help other doctors figure out what's going on inside the person.
Rheumatologist (roo-muh-TOL-uh-jist): This special kind of doctor deals with rheumatological problems — that's the big name for conditions that involve swelling and pain in muscles and joints. Rheumatologists help kids who have juvenile idiopathic arthritis, lupus, and more.
Note: All information is for educational purposes only. For specific medical advice,
diagnoses, and treatment, consult your doctor.
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