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Medicine vocabulary · Hospital Departments and Staff

Specialist

Meaning in medicine, with examples

/ˈspeʃəlɪst/nounCore term

In medicine, specialist means: A doctor who has trained for several more years in one area of medicine, such as cardiology, neurology or orthopaedics.

In Turkish: uzman hekim, uzman

How it is used

General practitioners refer patients to a specialist. Doctors say 'specialist opinion', 'specialist nurse' and 'specialist clinic'. In the UK the senior specialist in charge is called a consultant; in the US, an attending.

Example sentences

  1. Your GP will refer you to a specialist for further tests.

  2. We'd like a specialist opinion from the renal team before discharge.

Common collocations

  • see a specialist
  • refer to a specialist
  • specialist opinion
  • specialist nurse
  • heart specialist
  • consultantIn the UK and some other countries, a senior hospital doctor who has finished specialist training and has final responsibility for a team's patients.
  • referralThe act of sending a patient to another doctor, specialist team or service for an opinion, tests or treatment; also the letter or request that does this.
  • general practitionerA doctor based in the community who treats a wide range of everyday health problems, provides long-term care and refers patients to hospital specialists when needed.
  • clinicA session or place where outpatients are seen by appointment, usually by doctors from one specialty, without staying in hospital.

More terms: Hospital Departments and Staff

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.