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 The
Department of Medicine-Pediatrics has one physician and is located
in the Canandaigua Office. Dr. Alling also works in both the
Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Internal Medicine.
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Douglas
Alling, MD
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393-2852
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What is a medical specialist?
A medical specialist is a physician
who has completed the usual four years of medical school plus three
to six years of training in a residency program where there is
extensive study and preparation for them to care for patients in
specific areas of medicine. As a resident the physician spends
full time in a hospital or ambulatory care setting under the supervision
of teachers. During this time the resident cares for patients,
attends conferences, and participates in research in the area of
specialty being studied. At the end of the residency the physician
must complete a comprehensive evaluation and examination in order
to receive certification. Some specialty boards also require re
certification every seven to ten years to maintain the certification.
In addition
the physician must participate in yearly continuing medical education.
What is a Medicine-Pediatrics
Specialist?
Medicine-Pediatrics,
also called Med-Peds, is a combination of the separate specialties
Internal Medicine and Pediatrics. A Med-Peds physician receives
training to become board-certified in both Internal Medicine
and Pediatrics by completing a four-year residency training program.
Through this combined training, a Med-Peds physician is capable
of performing all the duties of the individual specialists. Physicians
who choose to become Med-Peds specialists typically wish to receive
the rigorous and often in-hospital training of the individual
specialists while also maintaining the ability to care for people
of all ages. Many Med-Peds specialists enter primary care practices
upon completion of their training while others further sub-specialize
into fields such as Cardiology, Infectious Diseases, Pulmonology
and others. Med-Peds physicians in primary care are able to care
for families much like traditional family physicians but invariably
have some differences in their approach to patient care and do
not practice any obstetrics or surgery. The Med-Peds combination
is relatively new in the medical world. We have the distinction
in the Rochester area of having one of the two oldest programs
in the country at The University of Rochester (the other is The
University of North Carolina). There were few Med-Peds training
programs until the late 1980's and early '90's. Now there are
well over 100 programs nationwide. Most major university medical
centers offer a combined program in addition to the individual
specialties, and there are many non-university-affiliated hospital
systems that offer this training as well.
What is a Nurse Practitioner?
A nurse practitioner (NP) is a registered
professional nurse with advanced education and clinical training
in a health care specialty area. Nurse practitioners work with
people of all ages and their families, providing information people
need to make informed decisions about their health care and lifestyle
choices. Nurse practitioners evaluate the health status of patients
through history taking, physical examination and evaluation of
laboratory tests. They provide comprehensive health care wellness
evaluations as well as assess and manage acute minor illnesses
and refer patients to physicians and other health care providers
when necessary. The nurse practitioner prescribes medicines and
other therapies when it is appropriate. At the Canandaigua Medical
Group, your doctor reviews all notes of your visits with the nurse
practitioner. The physician remains ultimately responsible for
your health care. Through the nurse practitioner your doctor can
be more responsive to your individual needs.
Nurse Practitioners have been in
practice with the Canandaigua Medical Group (CMG) for over 20 years.
Initially they practiced only in Internal Medicine but today they
work within all the specialty areas of CMG.
The Nurse Practitioner movement
began over 25 years ago in Colorado at a time of a severe physician
shortage. Registered nurses were trained in advanced techniques
of diagnosis and treatment to fill the need during that time. Today,
most of our nurse practitioners have had at least 8 years of education
and clinical practice before they take their first job. All of
them had been practicing as registered nurses before they went
back to school for their advanced education.
Here at the Canandaigua Medical
Group, we are an integral part of the health care team. We practice
in the collaborative relationship with our physician colleagues,
diagnosing and treating both acute and chronic illnesses. We are
able to prescribe medications, order, perform and interpret diagnostic
studies and lab work, provide immunizations, perform physical exams,
check ups and promote health seeking behavior and wellness. We
counsel, educate, teach and treat individuals and families about
their total health care needs.As professional health care specialists,
we bring our years of nursing experience and education to the care
of each individual and family.
There are more than 8,600 Nurse
Practitioners certified to practice in New York State and some
of the very best are here at the Canandaigua Medical Group as integral
members of your health care team.
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