{"id":1747,"date":"2017-03-29T10:50:40","date_gmt":"2017-03-29T15:50:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.osfhealthcare.org\/blog\/?p=1747"},"modified":"2026-06-08T15:12:01","modified_gmt":"2026-06-08T20:12:01","slug":"advanced-practice-providers","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/osf-blog.live.imagescape.com\/blog\/advanced-practice-providers\/","title":{"rendered":"Types of Primary Care Providers: MDs, DOs and APPs"},"content":{"rendered":"

Choosing a primary care provider can feel confusing when you see so many titles and credentials. From understanding the doctor definition to knowing the difference between a doctor of medicine (MD), a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) or an advanced practice provider (APP), people often search online for clear, simple answers. Primary care is usually your first stop for care, helping you stay healthy, manage chronic conditions and decide when to see a specialist. This guide breaks down the most common doctor types and other healthcare providers you may see in primary care, explains physician meaning and answers common questions like \u201cWhat do doctors do?\u201d and \u201cIs a nurse practitioner a doctor?\u201d in a way that\u2019s easy to understand.<\/p>\n

\u201cEach team member brings different skills and attributes from their training,\u201d said Melinda Cooling, OSF HealthCare, vice president of advanced practice providers.<\/p>\n

\n

Ready to set up your primary care?<\/p>\n

>Find a provider<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

What does a physician do?<\/h2>\n

A physician is a medical professional who diagnoses, treats and helps prevent illness. The meaning between doctor and physician often overlaps, but there are differences in training and roles.<\/p>\n

In general, physicians:<\/p>\n

    \n
  • Listen to your concerns and symptoms<\/li>\n
  • Order and interpreting tests<\/li>\n
  • Diagnose conditions<\/li>\n
  • Create treatment plans<\/li>\n
  • Help you stay well with preventive care<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

    Types of Medical Doctors in Primary Care<\/h2>\n

    When people look up types of medical doctors or types of doctors, they\u2019re usually referring to physicians who have completed medical school and residency training.<\/p>\n

    What is an MD?<\/h3>\n

    An MD is a medical doctor who earned a doctor of medicine degree. MDs are trained using a conventional approach, focusing on diagnosing disease and treating it with evidence-based medicine, medications and procedures. In primary care, MDs commonly serve as family medicine doctors or internal medicine doctors.<\/p>\n

    What is a DO?<\/h3>\n

    A DO is a physician who earned a doctor of osteopathic medicine degree. A DO doctor receives the same core medical training as an MD, with additional education in a whole-person, body-and-mind approach to care.<\/p>\n

    A DO does the same thing an MD does in primary care: diagnosing, treating and preventing illness. Both MDs and DOs can prescribe medication, perform procedures and refer you to specialists.<\/p>\n

    Primary Care vs. Specialists<\/h2>\n

    Primary care providers focus on your overall health across your lifespan. They can coordinate your care and help decide when you need a specialist.<\/p>\n

    Primary care typically includes:<\/p>\n

      \n
    • Family medicine<\/li>\n
    • Internal medicine<\/li>\n
    • Pediatrics<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

      Specialists focus on one area of the body or a specific condition, such as cardiology or orthopedics. While it can feel like there are 100 different types of doctors when you’re trying to find care, the key difference you should pay attention to when choosing a doctor is whether the provider offers broad, ongoing care or specialized treatment for one problem.<\/p>\n

      Advanced Practice Providers in Primary Care<\/h2>\n

      In addition to physicians, many primary care teams include advanced practice providers. APPs are highly trained clinicians who help improve access to care, reduce wait times and ensure patients get the right care at the right time. They work as part of a coordinated care team, often serving as a patient\u2019s regular primary care provider or seeing patients for same\u2011day and follow\u2011up visits.<\/p>\n

      APPs also focus on whole\u2011person care and spend time listening to patients, answering questions and helping manage both short\u2011term concerns and ongoing health needs. In primary care settings, the most common APPs are advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) and physician assistants (PA).<\/p>\n

      \u201cAPPs can reduce access time for patients,\u201d Melinda said. \u201cThanks to their training and skillset, APPs are meeting the growing needs of our population.\u201d<\/p>\n

      Is a nurse practitioner a doctor?<\/h3>\n

      Nurse practitioners are not physicians, but they are APRNs with graduate\u2011level education and extensive clinical training. APRNs often choose a specialty focus, such as family medicine, adult care or pediatrics, which prepares them to care for patients across many stages of life.<\/p>\n

      Nurse practitioners can:<\/p>\n

        \n
      • Diagnose and treat illnesses<\/li>\n
      • Prescribe medications<\/li>\n
      • Order and interpret lab tests and imaging<\/li>\n
      • Provide preventive care, including screenings and wellness visits<\/li>\n
      • Focus on health education, lifestyle changes and disease prevention<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

        Depending on state regulations and the care setting, nurse practitioners may practice independently or in collaboration with physicians. In both models, they work closely with the rest of the care team to ensure patients receive safe, coordinated and skilled care.<\/p>\n

        Physician Assistants<\/h3>\n

        PAs are another essential part of the primary care team. PAs complete advanced medical training and practice medicine in collaboration with physicians. In primary care, they often serve as a patient\u2019s main point of contact for routine visits and ongoing care.<\/p>\n

        Physician assistants can:<\/p>\n

          \n
        • Perform physical exams<\/li>\n
        • Diagnose and manage common health conditions<\/li>\n
        • Develop and adjust treatment plans<\/li>\n
        • Prescribe medications<\/li>\n
        • Order tests and review results with patients<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n

          By working alongside physicians, nurse practitioners and other care team members, PAs help ensure patients receive timely, comprehensive care while maintaining strong relationships with their providers. This team\u2011based approach allows primary care practices to meet patients\u2019 needs more effectively and support better long\u2011term health outcomes.<\/p>\n

          Choosing the Right Primary Care Provider for You<\/h2>\n

          Whether your provider is an MD, DO, nurse practitioner or PA, the most important factor when choosing a care team is finding someone you trust. Primary care providers work together as a team, focusing on your whole health, not just one symptom.<\/p>\n

          Understanding the different doctor types and health care providers can help you feel confident in your care and know who to turn to when health questions come up.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

          Choosing a primary care provider can feel confusing when you see so many titles and credentials. From understanding the doctor definition to knowing the difference between a doctor of medicine (MD), a doctor of osteopathic medicine (DO) or an advanced practice provider (APP), people often search online for clear, simple answers. Primary care is usually […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":122,"featured_media":1756,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"no","_lmt_disable":"no","footnotes":""},"categories":[129],"tags":[412,756,411,602],"coauthors":[1051],"class_list":["post-1747","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-miscellaneous","tag-advanced-practice-nurse","tag-osf-medical-group","tag-physician-assistant","tag-primary-care"],"yoast_head":"\nTypes of Providers: Doctors, APPs and Nurses<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn the differences between MDs, DOs, nurse practitioners and other care team members so you can choose the right provider for your health needs.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" 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