Physicians in the United States

Physicians in the United States include both ones trained by medical education in the United States (which produce MDs and DOs) and ones that are international medical graduates (MBBS and MDs) who have progressed through the necessary steps to acquire a medical license to practice in a state. They are an important part of health care in the United States.

The American College of Physicians, uses the term physician to describe specialists in internal medicine. The American Medical Association as well as the American Osteopathic Association both currently use the term physician to describe members.

The US medical education for physicians includes participation in a US medical school that eventually grants a US form of Doctor of Medicine (M.D.) degree or a Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.) degree. After graduating from a first-professional school, physicians who wish to practice in the U.S. usually take standardized exams, such as the USMLE and/or the COMLEX-USA.

In addition, the completion of a residency is required to practice independently.

Currently, a specialist physician may be described in the United States as an internist. Another term, hospitalist, was introduced in 1996, to describe US specialists in internal medicine who work largely or exclusively in hospitals. Such 'hospitalists' now make up about 19% of all US general internists.

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