 | This article has multiple issues. Please helpimprove it or discuss these issues on thetalk page.(Learn how and when to remove these messages) (Learn how and when to remove this message)
|
In the United States and Canada, anattending physician (also known as astaff physician orsupervising physician) is a physician (usually anM.D., orD.O. in the United States) who has completedresidency and practicesmedicine in aclinic orhospital, in the specialty learned during residency.[1] An attending physician typically supervises[2]fellows,residents, andmedical students. Attending physicians may also maintain professorships at an affiliated medical school.[2] This is common if the supervision of trainees is a significant part of the physician's work. Attending physicians have final responsibility, legally and otherwise, for patient care, even when many of the minute-to-minute decisions are being made byhouse officers (residents) or non-physician health-care providers (i.e.physician assistants andnurse practitioners).[3] Attending physicians are sometimes the 'rendering physician' listed on the patient's official medical record, but if they are overseeing a resident or another staff member, they are 'supervising.'
The term "attending physician" or "attending" also refers to the formal relationship of a hospitalized patient and their primary medic during the hospitalization, as opposed to ancillary physicians assisting theprimary care physician.[citation needed] However, even on a consultation service, at an academic center, the physician who has finished their training is called the attending or consultant,[4] as opposed to a resident physician.
Attending physicians may also still be in training, such as a fellow in a subspecialty. For example, acardiology fellow may function as aninternal medicine attending, as they have already finished residency in internal medicine.[citation needed] The term is used more commonly inteaching hospitals. In non-teaching hospitals, essentially all physicians function as attendings in some respects after completing residency.
