UAMS Medical Center is Arkansas’ only academic medical center, a teaching hospital that embodies the central missions of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: teaching, healing searching, serving. A teaching hospital not only treats patients but participates in the education of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Being cared for in a teaching hospital offers many advantages. UAMS Medical Center is able to attract the best specialists to its staff, doctors carefully selected for their exceptional knowledge and skills.
Over the course of their stay at UAMS Medical Center, a patient may see a number of highly trained people dedicated to the delivery and management of their care. These individuals are organized into patient management teams. In addition to physicians and a registered nurse (RN), the management team may include a physical therapist, dietitian, occupational therapist, social worker, speech therapist, pharmacist, and a respiratory therapist.
The physicians and nurses all have titles that correspond with their assigned duties. Here’s an explanation of what these titles mean:
- An attending physician is a UAMS staff doctor who is responsible for the patient’s overall treatment. The attending physician is board-certified in a specialty or sub-specialty and is responsible for the training and education of the residents and medical students, as well as advancing the field of medicine through their research interests.
- A fellow is a doctor who is doing additional training in a specialized field of medicine after completing residency training.
- A resident physician/ intern is under the supervision of the attending physician. These doctors are in the hospital around the clock, in case any urgent problem arises, and they are always available. Residents have their medical degree and are in post-graduate training to become board certified in a specialty field.
- A student may also be involved in treating patients as part of their education to be a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, respiratory or physical therapist or another medical professional. Medical students always work under close supervision and do not make independent decisions about diagnosis or treatment.
Other team members who are directly assisting and supporting patient care are:
- Patient Care Technicians (PCT) – A member of your care team who helps with support and technical duties for patient care. These include bathing and grooming, changing linens and general patient comfort. nurse.
- Patient Services Coordinators (PSC) – Responsible for coordinating services such as meals, supplies, pastoral care, processing medical records, medical tests and transportation.
- Case Coordinators – Helps with personal, family, emotional and financial issues (including insurance information and government benefits) related to your hospital stay. Your case coordinator can help with home health, nursing homes and transfers to other healthcare facilities.
- Registered Nurses (RN) – A nurse with the education and licensing to plan, coordinate and provide your care. Your RN will give all medications and serve as an advocate for you with your doctor and others on your care team.
- Care Delivery Facilitators (CDF) – These members are senior-level nurses who have responsibilities for multiple units. Available on a 24-hour, seven day a week basis, care delivery facilitators are an additional resource for patients and family members.
- Clinical Services Manager (CSM) – A registered nurse who is responsible for day-to-day operation of the unit. The CSM is responsible for patient safety and can help you with problems others on your team may not be able to address.
- Occupational Therapists (OT) – Provides training so you can return to your normal routine with independence and safety. Your OT will help you with dressing and feeding yourself, grooming and how to use special equipment to increase your independence.
- Physical Therapists (PT) – Provides training in walking and exercises to help you regain strength, balance and endurance.
- Speech-Language Pathologists – Evaluates and treats speech, language and swallowing problems to help you communicate with your care team and family and help you eat and drink safely.
- Respiratory Therapists (RRT, CRT) – Provides hands-on medical care ordered by your physician, such as breathing treatments with inhaled medications, working with you to take deep breaths and clear your lungs and working with breathing and oxygen machines.
- Registered Dietitian – Responsible for providing medical nutrition therapy to complement your treatment plan. This is done through assessing your nutritional needs, planning and implementing a nutritional care plan. Your dietitian can also provide nutritional education to you and your family if ordered by your physician.
About Our Academic Medical Center
UAMS Medical Center is Arkansas’ only academic medical center, a teaching hospital that embodies the central missions of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences: educating, innovating, and improving health outcomes.
A teaching hospital not only treats patients but participates in the education of doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals. Being cared for in a teaching hospital offers many advantages. UAMS Medical Center is able to attract the best specialists to its staff, doctors carefully selected for their exceptional knowledge and skills.