Definitions
Accidental Dental Injury Services - The total extraction or total replacement of Natural Teeth when necessitated by an accidental injury.
Allergy & Immunology - Diagnosis and treatment of allergic conditions and diseases of the immune system.
Anesthesiology - Administration of anesthesia to achieve temporary, partial, or complete loss of sensation to patient undergoing surgery.
Audiology & Speech-Language Pathology - Diagnosis and treatment of hearing, speech, and language disorders.
Behavioral Health - Diagnosis and treatment of mental or behavioral health problems such as depression, eating disorders, substance abuse, or anxiety disorders (provider types include psychiatrists, psychologists, and counselors).
CNM - Certified Nurse Midwife: A person who assists women in childbirth. Cannot serve as a PCP for Unity members.
CNP - Certified Nurse Practitioner: Nurses who are specially trained to assume an expanded role in providing medical care under the supervision of a physician. Cannot serve as a PCP for Unity members, but are available for routine exams, urgent/problem visits, and follow-up care.
CPNP - Certified Pediatric Nurse Practitioner: Nurses who are specially trained to assume an expanded role in providing medical care under the supervision of a physician, and focus on care of infants and children up to 18 years of age. Cannot serve as a PCP for Unity members, but are available for routine exams, urgent/problem visits, and follow-up care.
Cancer - See Oncology.
Cardiovascular Disease – Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
Chiropractic - Treatment which utilizes the relationship between the musculoskelatal structures and function of the body, particularly of the spinal column and the nervous system.
Critical Care Medicine - Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis.
DC - Doctor of Chiropractic: See Chiropractic.
DDS - Doctor of Dental Surgery: See Dentistry.
DO - Doctor of Osteopathy: Diagnose, treat, and repair diseases, injuries, and disorders for people of all ages. Physician who has had four years of premedical education in a college or university followed by four years of medical school. Education includes training in musculoskelatal manipulation.
DPM - Doctor of Podiatric Medicine: See Podiatry.
Dermatology - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the skin.
Endocrinology, Diabetes and Metabolism - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the endocrine glands (thyroid, pituitary, pancreas, ovaries, and testes), including diabetes.
Family Practice (FP) - Medical Doctors who diagnose and treat medical conditions for people of all ages with an emphasis on family health problems.
Gastroenterology - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the stomach, intestines, liver, pancreas and gallbladder.
General Dentistry - Care and treatment of the teeth and gums.
General Practice (GP) - Medical Doctors who diagnose and treat diseases, injuries, and disorders for people of all ages.
Geriatric Medicine - Diagnosis and treatment of medical conditions in the elderly.
Geriatric Physician (Ger) - Medical doctor providing comprehensive diagnosis, evaluation, and care for elderly individuals.
Gynecologic Oncology - The diagnosis and treatment of cancers of the female reproductive organs, such as ovarian cancer, cervical cancer, and uterine cancer.
Hematology - The treatment of diseases of the blood, spleen, and lymph glands.
Infectious Disease - Diagnosis and treatment of complicated infections, including those associated with patients with reduced ability of the immune system such as patients with leukemia, organ transplant recipients, and HIV-related diseases.
Internal Medicine (IM) - Medical Doctors who diagnose and treat diseases and disorders of the body for people over 18 years of age; includes basic and preventive health care treatment as well as diagnosis and treatment of both acute and chronic illnesses and diseases.
MD (Medical Doctor) - Physician who has had four years of premedical education in a college or university followed by four years of medical school.
Maternal & Fetal Medicine - Treatment for patients with complicated pregnancy.
Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine - Care for high-risk infants, including pre-term and full-term infants with medical or surgical problems.
Nephrology - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the kidneys.
Neurology - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system.
Neurological Surgery - Surgical management of diseases and disorders of the brain and nervous system.
NP (Nurse Practitioner) - Nurses who are specially trained to assume an expanded role in providing medical care under the supervision of a physician. Cannot serve as a PCP for Unity members, but are available for routine exams, urgent/problems visits, and follow-up care.
Obstetrics & Gynecology - Diagnosis and treatment of females and the female reproductive (OB/GYN) system, including management of care during pregnancy and childbirth.
Occupational Medicine - Management of medical conditions in relation to motor skills.
Occupational Therapy - Use of therapeutic activities in mental and physical disorders.
Oncology - Diagnosis and treatment of the abnormal growth of tissue (cancer).
Ophthalmology - Examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders of the eye with appropriate medical and surgical procedures.
Optometry - Examination, diagnosis, treatment, and management of diseases and disorders of the eye and visual system.
Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery – Surgical treatment of disorders of the gums, teeth, and mouth.
Orthodontics - The use of devices (such as braces) to move teeth or adjust underlying bone.
Orthopedic Surgery - Diagnosis, treatment, and repair of injuries and disorders involving bones, the spine, joints, and muscles.
Otolaryngology – (Ear, Nose, Throat) - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the ear, nose, and throat.
PA or PA-C - Physician Assistant or Physician Assistant-Certified: A health care professional who is licensed to provide patient education, evaluation, and health care services. A physician assistant works under the supervision of a doctor to provide medical care. PAs cannot serve as a PCP for Unity members, but are available for routine exams, urgent/problems visits, and follow-up care.
Pain Management - Comprehensive evaluation and treatment of chronic pain as a result of injury or illness.
Pediatrics - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases of children and adolescents and general management of their health.
Pediatric Cardiology – Diagnosis and treatment of Infant and childhood disorders of the heart and blood vessels.
Pediatric Critical Care Medicine - A branch of medicine concerned with the provision of life support or organ support systems in infants and children who are critically ill and who usually require intensive monitoring.
Pediatric Endocrinology - A medical sub-specialty dealing with variations of physical growth and sexual development in childhood, as well as diabetes and other disorders of the endocrine glands.
Pediatric Gastroenterology – The study of infant and childhood digestive system diseases and disorders.
Pediatric Hematology/Oncology – Pediatric hematology includes the study of etiology, diagnosis, treatment, prognosis, and prevention of blood diseases in infants and children. Pediatric oncology is the branch of medicine that studies tumors in infants and children and seeks to understand their development, diagnosis, treatment, and prevention.
Pediatric Infectious Disease – The diagnosis and treatment of children who have infectious diseases.
Pediatric Nephrology – The diagnosis of kidney disease and its treatment in infants and children.
Pediatric Otolaryngology – The branch of pediatric medicine that specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of infant and childhood ear, nose, throat, and head & neck disorders.
Pediatric Pulmonology - The pediatric specialty that deals with infant and childhood diseases of the lungs and the respiratory tract.
Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine – An interdisciplinary approach to address the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of children with congenital problems and functional impairments.
Pediatric Rheumatology – The pediatric specialty that focuses in providing comprehensive care to infants and children with rheumatic diseases, especially arthritis.
Pediatric Surgery – Use of surgery to care for infants and children with injuries, deformities or disease.
Pediatrician (Peds) - Medical Doctors who diagnose and treat infants and children up to 18 years of age.
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation - Therapeutic use of physical medicine and equipment in the treatment of injuries or diseases which cause major or minor disabilities thereby requiring restoration of functional ability (such as walking or activities of daily living).
Physical Therapy - The use of exercise and physical activities to condition muscles and improve a patient's level of activity.
Plastic Surgery – Surgical reconstruction for repair and restoration of external physical defects to improve function or appearance.
Podiatry - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and injuries to the foot.
Pulmonary Disease - Treatment of diseases and disorders of the lungs and airways.
RN (Registered Nurse) - An individual trained to provide medical care under the supervision of a physician. RNs cannot serve as a PCP for Unity members.
Radiation Oncology - Medical use of radiation to destroy cancers.
Reproductive Endocrinology – The study of the maternal female hormone system, including the activities of the hypothalamus, pituitary, and ovaries from puberty through menopause.
Rheumatology - Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the joints, muscles, bones and tendons (such as arthritis and degenerative joint disease).
Specialist - Physician who has had four years of premedical education in a college or university followed by four years of medical school, plus at least three years of residency in a specific knowledge area.
Sound Natural Tooth - A tooth that would not have required restoration (if the accident had not occurred) or a tooth with restoration limited to composite or amalgam filling, but not a tooth treated with crowns or root canals.
Sports Medicine - Diagnosis and treatment of sports related injuries as well as emphasis on prevention of injury and illness.
Surgery - Operative treatment of internal and external diseases.
Thoracic Surgery - Use of surgery to treat diseases of the heart and lungs.
Treatment of TMD/TMJ - Surgery and the use of custom made splints (biteplates, mouth-guards) made by a dentist to fit between the upper and lower teeth.
Urology – Diagnosis and treatment of diseases and disorders of the urinary tract and adrenal gland in men and women and in the reproductive organs of men.
Vascular Surgery - Use of surgery to treat diseases of the blood vessels, including stroke and circulatory problems.
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