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Degree
At Priority Health, a person must hold one of three different degrees in order to be a PCP (primary care physician or primary care provider).
- DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, the degree a person receives after completing four years of medical school. A doctor of osteopathic medicine is licensed by the State Michigan to practice medicine. After completion of medical school, a doctor of osteopathic medicine chooses an area of medicine to specialize in and completes a residency.
- MD: Medical Doctor, the degree a person receives after completing four years of medical school. A medical doctor is licensed by the State of Michigan to practice medicine. After completing medical school, a medical doctor chooses an area of medicine to specialize in and completes a residency in that area.
- NP: Nurse Practitioner, the degree a Registered Nurse (RN) receives from his/her school after completing advanced training. A nurse practitioner is licensed by the State of Michigan and qualifies to assume some of the duties and responsibilities of a physician.
- PA-C: Physician Assistant, Certified. "Physician Assistant" is the degree a person receives after completing training in an accredited program for physician assistants; "certified" means they have passed the Physician Assistant National Certifying Examination, administered by the National Commission on Certification of Physician Assistants (NCCPA). Physician assistants are licensed by the State of Michigan. They are qualified to provide basic medical services such as the diagnosis and treatment of common illnesses, usually under the supervision of a licensed physician.
