Medical specialty

Medical specialty is a branch of medical practice that is focused on a defined group of patients, diseases, skills, or philosophy. These specialties differ from country to country and can be grouped into two broad categories: Primary care and Secondary care.

Primary Care

Primary care is the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. It provides the first point of contact for all patients and is carried out in the community, usually in a GP surgery, rather than in a hospital. The main aim of primary care is to provide an initial point of contact for patients, assess the health issue and refer the patient to secondary care if necessary.

Secondary Care

Secondary care, also known as hospital care, is the health care services provided by medical specialists and other health professionals who generally do not have first contact with patients. It includes acute care: necessary treatment for a short period of time for a brief but serious illness, injury or other health condition.

List of Medical Specialties

There are numerous medical specialties and subspecialties, including but not limited to:

• Anesthesiology
• Dermatology
• Emergency medicine
• General practice
• Internal medicine
• Neurology
• Obstetrics and gynecology
• Pathology
• Pediatrics
• Psychiatry
• Radiology
• Surgery

See Also

• List of medical specialties
• Medical education
• Medical school