Multidisciplinary team

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Well, it's phrase you'll hear a hell of a lot in medicine. In most specialties, the days are gone where the doctor is king; respect for the allied health professions is necessary. Yes, you'll have nurses on the wards (and they're incredibly important so be nice to them) but, especially in geriatrics and chronic conditions, there's generally a variety of people who help out:

  • Physotherapists
  • Occupational therapists
  • Speech therapists
  • Dieticians
  • Specialist nurses
  • School nurses
  • Midwives (community and hospital-based)
  • District nurses
  • Counsellors
  • Psychologists
  • Pharmacists (especially in psychiatry)

This is all I can come up with off the top of my head but I'm sure there are more. The point I'm trying to get across is that in the management of many conditions, the doctor doesn't play a primary role. Unfortunately, there is still an arrogance amongst many (but not all) doctors that is not warranted. The point of these other professionals is that they usually know what they're doing. So respect them and don't be afraid to ask their opinions.