Institute:Office of National Coordinator (ONC) Workforce Training Curriculum
Component:The Culture of Health Care
Unit:Health Professionals The People in Health Care
Lecture:Introduction and Physicians
Non-clinical IT/Informatics Roles for Clinicians
Effects of Changing Care Models on Clinicians
Slide content:Common Internal Medicine Specialties and Subspecialties Cardiology Endocrinology Gastroenterology Geriatric medicine Hematology and oncology Infectious disease Nephrology Pulmonary disease and critical care medicine Rheumatology Genomic specialists 13
Slide notes:Subspecialties focus on a specific organ system, population, or disease, and they are very similar for both internal medicine and pediatrics. A sampling of the many subspecialties found in todays health care field is shown below: Cardiology focuses on cardiovascular disease, or diseases of the heart and blood vessels. Endocrinology [en-doh-kruh- nol -uh-jee] focuses on organs that secrete hormones, which often control biological functions and other organs. Endocrinologists [en-doh-kruh- nol -uh-jists] treat diabetes and metabolism disorders, for example. Gastroenterology [gas-troh-en-tuh- rol -uh-jee] treats diseases of the esophagus, stomach, and intestines. Geriatric [jer-ee- at -trik] medicine provides care for patients who are 65 years or older. Hematology-oncology [hee-muh- tol -uh-jee ong- kol -uh-jee] focuses on diseases of the blood, such as anemia, and on cancer. Infectious disease specialists provide treatment for diseases caused by viruses, bacteria, and other microorganisms. Nephrology [nuh- frol -uh-jee] treats diseases of the kidneys and urinary tract. Pulmonary disease and critical care medicine is a broad subspecialty with a focus on diseases of the respiratory system as well as on the needs of patients in critical care units. Rheumatology [roo-muh- tol -uh-jee] focuses on the diseases of the joints, muscles, and ligaments. Genomic specialists provide a diagnostic service and genetic counseling for individuals or families with, or at risk for, conditions that have a genetic basis, such as Down syndrome and cystic fibrosis. 13