They are responsible for the major decision-making related to a patient’s treatment. Attending PhysicianĮvery pre-med should understand that the senior doctors in a hospital are the attending physicians. IE, the head of orthopedics or head of pediatrics.

In that case, you need to go to the head of the department associated with the issues. There may be times when your attending is too busy or preoccupied to answer your questions. When you work at a hospital, the doctor responsible for a patient’s treatment plan is the attending. Each and every physician in a hospital answers to these professionals. Medical directors establish good practices and policies for the institution with the goal of high-quality patient care in mind.Įvery aspect of outpatient and inpatient care is coordinated by these directors. The directors of a hospital are industry leaders in charge of overseeing every single physician on the staff. This is the typical medical hierarchy of the top heads at hospitals and the general responsibilities of each role from the top down: 1. The Top Heads of a Hospital Medical Hierarchy Is it your goal to someday become an attending physician? Or do you aspire to run a whole department or even an entire hospital someday? Every pre-med should understand how the hierarchy works at most hospitals to understand just how far they can go in their careers at these facilities. Some are licensed to practice medicine, while others are studying and working hard to get there.

Many people exist on a physician team, each having their own responsibilities.

There are multiple levels of practicing medicine.

Every pre-med should understand the medical hierarchy of a hospital, so you know just how high to dream. You watch Grey’s Anatomy and Chicago Hope mesmerized by the power and intrigue that come with titles like a resident, attending or medical director. Every Pre-Med Should Understand the Medical Hierarchy of HospitalsĪs a child, you dreamed of becoming a doctor someday.

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