About Your Care Team
For Mercy, caring for you and your family is a team effort. Your Mercy Clinic primary care physician, working as your "health quarterback", coordinates your care with a range of specialists and advanced practitioners. Below is a reference guide for who they are and what they do.
When you visit a Mercy hospital or clinic, you may be seen by one of our qualified advanced practitioners. They are highly trained professionals who are licensed to treat patients and work under the supervision of a physician. Most have completed graduate or master’s level education. They are qualified to examine you and provide treatment.
Advanced Practice Nurse (APN)
- Clinical Nurse Specialists (CNS) – Licensed registered nurses who are expert clinicians in a specialized area of nursing practice (such as perinatal, trauma, wound care)
- Nurse Anesthetists (CRNA) – Licensed registered nurses who are members of the anesthesia care team. They administer anesthetics under the medical direction of a supervising anesthesiologist.
- Nurse Practitioners (NP) – Licensed registered nurses who have advanced training in the diagnosis and management of common medical problems. NPs often specialize in one particular field and work under the supervision of a physician
- Nurse Midwives (CNW) – Licensed registered nurses who have completed an accredited midwifery program and provide services while under the medical direction of a supervising OB/GYN physician
Allied Health Professional (AHP)
- Anesthesiologist Assistants (AA-C) – Licensed health professionals who are members of the anesthesia care team. They administer anesthetics under the medical direction of a supervising anesthesiologist.
- Physician Assistants (PA-C) – Licensed health professionals who have advanced training in the diagnosis and management of common medical problems. PAs often specialize in one particular field and work under physician supervision.
Hospitalist
- Most hospitalist physicians (hospitalists for short) are trained as internists, family medicine practitioners or critical care specialists. Rather than see patients in an office, these doctors choose to care for patients who are hospitalized. The hospitalist serves as your primary physician during your stay at Mercy, managing your care and coordinating with others on your care team. Because hospitalists spend all their working time at the hospital, one will available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to respond to your needs and concerns.
Interested in learning more? Visit the following websites:
- American Medical Association-Careers in Health Care
- National Association of Clinical Nurse Specialists
- American Association of Nurse Anesthetists
- American Academy of Nurse Practitioners
- American College of Nurse Midwives
- American Academy of Anesthesiologist Assistants
- American Academy of Physician Assistants
