With so many different medical specialties it's easy to feel
confused by the number of people who come into your hospital
room to check on you. Sometimes your doctor may show up along
with a whole bunch of medical students. Other times you may not
recognize the person leaning over your hospital bed. Don't
hesitate to ask questions if you ever find yourself looking at
someone and thinking, "Well, she has a badge, but who is she?"
It could be the person is a specialist and your regular doctor
sent her (or him) to check on you. Or it may be that the person
is the doctor on call who is covering for the doctor you usually
see. Here's a guide to some of the experts who care for patients
in the hospital: Attending physician. This is the name given to
the doctor who has completed training and is in charge of your
care. An attending physician might supervise a team of medical
students, residents, and fellows — which means that he or she
may bring other people on rounds to visit patients. Hospitalist.
Hospitalists are