Who is the CVMC Health Care Team?
At Central Vermont Medical Center we support the practices of a wide array of health care providers in the hospital or in one of community-based medical group practices. In the course of your lifetime, you may expect to receive health care from physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, registered nurses as well as other qualified and licensed health care professionals.
Doctors
There are two kinds of physicians in the US and both can be found at CVMC.
The two types of physicians are MDs (medical physician) and DOs (osteopathic physician). Both MDs and DOs are fully qualified and licensed physicians.
You should also know that:
- Both complete four years of basic medical education.
- After medical school, both can choose to practice in a specialty area of medicine and complete a residency program which requires an additional two to six years of training.
- Both must pass comparable state licensing examinations.
- Both practice in fully accredited and licensed health care facilities.
Our Hospitalist Program
As an inpatient, your care team may be led by a hospitalist, a board-certified physician who specializes in the care of patients who are hospitalized. A hospitalist can be a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant. Your hospitalist is in direct communication with your primary care provider during your hospital stay. Find out more about our hospitalists.
Associate Providers
This group of licensed health professionals provide high-quality, cost-effective care in many settings throughout the US. They provide health care to people of all ages.
Two types of Associate Providers are Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs). Both professionals:
- Assess health status by taking health histories and perform physical examinations
- Provide education on disease prevention, wellness, and health maintenance
- Identify patients' health problems, risk factors and strengths
- Diagnose and manage acute and chronic illnesses and injuries
- Order and interpret diagnostic studies
- Prescribe medications and alternative healing modalities
- Collaborate and coordinate with other members of the health care team
You should know that:
A Nurse Practitioner (NP) completes a master's or doctoral degree program, and has advanced clinical training beyond their initial professional registered nurse preparation. NPs undergo rigorous national certification, periodic peer review, clinical outcome evaluations, and adhere to a code for ethical practices. NPs lead and participate in both professional and public health care forums, conduct research and apply findings to clinical practice.
A Physician Assistant (PA) is a medical professional who works as part of a team with a physician. A PA is a graduate of an accredited educational program who is nationally certified and state-licensed to practice medicine with the supervision of a physician. The PA educational program is modeled on the medical school curriculum, a combination of classroom and clinical instruction. The PA course of study is rigorous and intense.
Nurses
Within the hospital setting, much direct patient care is provided by nurses. These may be Registered Nurses (RN), Licensed Practical Nurses (LPNs) or Nursing Assistants (NAs). Nurses represent the backbone of health care. These caring professionals provide a great deal of the direct, continuous care that patients receive while in the hospital.
Nurses also work within physician offices. Many offices also employ Nurse Practitioners as well as Physicians Assistants whose range of practice is broader.
Registered Nurses
Registered Nurses (RNs) are health care professionals that are registered and licensed to practice nursing. They have completed nursing school and passed an exam administered by a State Board of Nurse Examiners. Registered nurses are responsible for carrying out the health care regimen prescribed by a licensed health care provider. They supervise practical nurses and other auxiliary personnel who perform routine care and treatment of patients.
Licensed Practical Nurses
Licensed practical nurses (LPNs) work under the direction of a licensed health care provider or registered nurse. LPNs provide basic care to patients in the hospital and outpatient clinic.
Licensed Nursing Assistants
Licensed nursing assistants (LNA), who have successfully completed an approved nursing assistant education program and passed the state competency exam, provide basic patient care under nursing supervision.
Wound Care Nurse
The wound care specialists work with patients who need advanced wound care resulting from ulcers, diabetes, infections, surgery or other skin traumas.
Rehabilitation Therapists
Whether you require outpatient therapy or find yourself in the hospital for an elective orthopedic surgery or a medical event that affects your functional mobility or speech/ swallowing abilities, rehabilitation therapy may be part of your care. The department consists of three branches:
Physical Therapy: Physical therapists can help you safely get back on your feet and regain strength. They will teach you strategies to improve your functional mobility.
Occupational Therapy: Occupational therapists can help you with personal care and the activities of daily life such as dressing and personal grooming.
Speech Language Pathology: The speech language pathologist will determine safe swallowing guidelines and assess and treat communication disorders such as slurred speech, difficulty with word retrieval and comprehension.
Learn more about all of our outpatient and inpatient Rehabilitation Therapy services.
Others
There are many, many other trained and certified professionals you may encounter during your stay or visit at CVMC. These include social workers, technicians, physical therapists, and others. Always feel free to ask your caregiver to tell you about his or her training and experience. We're all here to help.
Learn more about these members of your health care team: