Health Care Providers and Professionals

Lawyers are not health care providers. They provide legal advice and representation.

Physicians are responsible for diagnosing and treating illnesses, prescribing medications, and performing surgeries.

Nurses provide direct patient care, administer medications, monitor vital signs, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Pharmacists dispense medications, provide information about medications, monitor drug interactions, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Physical therapists help patients regain movement after an injury or illness, teach patients exercises to improve their strength and flexibility, provide pain relief, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Occupational therapists help patients learn how to perform everyday activities after an injury or illness, teach patients how to use adaptive equipment, provide support and counseling, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Speech therapists help patients improve their speech after a stroke or other neurological condition, teach patients how to use augmentative and alternative communication devices, provide support and counseling, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Social workers provide support and counseling to patients and their families, help patients access financial and other resources, advocate for patients' rights, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Chaplains provide spiritual support to patients and their families, lead religious services, provide counseling, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Medical assistants perform administrative tasks, assist physicians with examinations and procedures, take vital signs, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Nurse practitioners provide primary care to patients, prescribe medications, perform minor surgeries, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Physician assistants provide primary care to patients, prescribe medications, perform minor surgeries, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Chiropractors adjust the spine, provide pain relief, improve range of motion, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Acupuncturists insert needles into the skin at specific points, relieve pain, improve circulation, and perform a variety of other tasks.

Massage therapists relieve muscle pain and tension, improve circulation, promote relaxation, and perform a variety of other tasks.