Alphabet Soup: What DoAll ThoseInitials Mean? (NAPSA)—You’ve probably noticed that most doctors’ names are usually followed by a series of letters representing degrees and certifications. While some of these initials may be familiar to you, others may as well be letters on an eye chart. For example, the most common set of initials, M.D., stands for “doctor of medicine,” but is actu- ally derived from the Latin phrase Medicinae Doctor. Another common abbreviation is D.O., which indicates a doctor of osteopathy. But some doctors of internal medicine (also knownasinternists) have an additional four letters after their name: FACP. That abbreviation means that they are Fellows of the American College of Physicians (ACP), the largest medical specialty society in the world. ACP Fellows are a special group of doctors dedicated to continuing education in medical practice, teaching and research. Fellowship is an honorary designation that recognizes ongoing individual service and contributions to the practice of medicine. It’s a mark of distinction that says a doctor has made special efforts to become better at his or her profession. It shows a commitment to the internal medical profession and patient care. Doctors of internal medicine have wide-ranging knowledge of complex diseases that affect adults. With in-depth training in adult medicine, an internist is an excellent choice to help a patient navigate the increasingly complex Theinitials “FACP”indicate that a doctor has made a commitmentto internal medicine and patient care. world of medical care. Often, internists care for their patients for life—from the teen years through old age. At least three of an internist’s seven or more years of medical school and postgraduate training are dedicated to learning how to prevent, diagnose, and treat diseases that affect adults. An internist can treat you for something as routine as the flu or fatigue, or provide in-depth care for diseases such as diabetes, cancer or heart disease. Internists can choose to focus their practice on general internal medicine, or may take additional training to “subspecialize” in one of 13 areas of internal medicine such as cardiology, pulmonology or gastroenterology. To learn more about doctors of internal medicine and ACP Fel- lows, and how you may benefit from their services, you can visit www.doctorsforadults.com.
