| There are over 6,000 hospitals nationwide. Most | | | | immediate needs. Their role is one of stabilizing |
| of them are "general hospitals" set up to diagnose | | | | the patient so that the right specialist can be |
| and treat most major medical conditions. Nearly | | | | brought in to manage the patient's treatment. |
| 20% of the hospitals in the nation are "specialty" | | | | Once stabilized, it is likely that you will be referred |
| hospitals that specialize in diagnosing and treating | | | | to a specialist for follow-up and treatment. The |
| particular disorders. A general hospital may not be | | | | specialists described below are commonly used in |
| able to offer the latest and most cutting edge | | | | accidents involving moderate to sever injuries to |
| treatments or be staffed by the highly trained | | | | the back and neck. |
| specialists. If you suffer from an unusual disorder | | | | Orthopedic Surgeons |
| you might be best served by seeking out a | | | | These highly trained physicians diagnose, treat, |
| hospital that is devoted to treating people with | | | | and perform surgery on people with bone and |
| similar conditions.Find out about: | | | | joint disorders including nerve impingement |
| - The emergency room | | | | conditions of the spine and hip injuries. Not only do |
| - Emergency medicine physicians | | | | they have a wide expertise in treating back and |
| - Orthopedic surgeons | | | | neck injuries, they are often called upon to |
| - Neurologists | | | | perform spinal surgeries such as the removal of a |
| - Neurosurgeons | | | | disk. Orthopedic surgeons have one of the longest |
| The Emergency Room | | | | training periods. Typically, the orthopedic physician |
| If you have been in an accident and suffered | | | | will attend four years of medical school then |
| moderate to sever injuries, chances are you went | | | | another four to six years of residency training. |
| to the emergency room. If you were taken by | | | | Following residency, the surgeon will seek to be |
| ambulance, the hospital you went to was probably | | | | board certified in their specialty. Board certification |
| based on your condition and the proximity to the | | | | demonstrates the highest level of training possible |
| closest emergency room that can handle your | | | | in the field. |
| type of injury. Not all emergency rooms are the | | | | Neurologists |
| same. It will depend on the type of hospital and | | | | These doctors are skilled in the diagnosis and |
| the certification level of the emergency room. In | | | | treatment of disease of the nervous system |
| either case an emergency room physician will | | | | including the brain. These doctors do not perform |
| have seen you. | | | | surgery. However, Neurologists are often used in |
| Emergency Medicine Physicians | | | | helping determine whether a patient is a surgical |
| These physicians are highly skilled trauma | | | | candidate. They are known to employ a wide |
| specialists that manage patients requiring | | | | variety of diagnostic tests such as nerve |
| immediate medical care. These physicians are | | | | conduction studies and are often called upon to |
| normally found in emergency rooms in busy | | | | make cognitive assessments. |
| hospitals and can quickly assess patients requiring | | | | |