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In the United States and Canada, anattending physician(also known as astaff physicianorsupervising physician) is a physician (usually anM.D.,orD.O.orD.P.M.in the United States) who has completedresidencyand practicesmedicinein aclinicorhospital,in the specialty learned during residency.[1]An attending physician typically supervises[2]fellows,residents,andmedical students.Attending physicians may also maintain professorships at an affiliated medical school.[2]This is common if the supervision of trainees is a significant part of the physician's work. Attending physicians have final responsibility, legally and otherwise, for patient care, even when many of the minute-to-minute decisions are being made byhouse officers (residents)or non-physician health-care providers (i.e.physician assistantsandnurse practitioners).[3]Attending physicians are sometimes the 'rendering physician' listed on the patient's official medical record, but if they are overseeing a resident or another staff member, they are 'supervising.'
The term "attending physician" or "attending" also refers to the formal relationship of a hospitalized patient and their primary medic during the hospitalization, as opposed to ancillary physicians assisting theprimary care physician.[citation needed]However, even on a consultation service, at an academic center, the physician who has finished his or her training is called the attending or consultant,[4]as opposed to a resident physician.
Attending physicians may also still be in training, such as a fellow in a subspecialty. For example, acardiologyfellow may function as aninternal medicineattending, as they have already finished residency in internal medicine. The term is used more commonly inteaching hospitals.In non-teaching hospitals, essentially all physicians function as attendings in some respects after completing residency.
See also
edit- Consultant (medicine)(equivalent title in theUnited KingdomandCommonwealth)
- Attending physician statement
References
edit- ^"Attending physician".Retrieved11 May2021.
- ^ab"Attending Physician".ECFMG.Retrieved11 May2021.
- ^Greganti, M. Andrew; Drossman, Douglas A.; Rogers, John F. (1982). "The Role of the Attending Physician".Archives of Internal Medicine.142(4): 698–699.doi:10.1001/archinte.1982.00340170054011.PMID7073412.
- ^"Attending Physician Vs. Intern Vs. Resident—What's The Difference?".University Health Partners of Hawaii.21 August 2020.Retrieved11 May2021.