Differences between Specialists and Sub Specialists based on their Role

Have you ever heard the term subspecialist doctor? Then what is the difference between a specialist doctor and a subspecialist doctor?

A medical specialist focuses on a specific area of medicine to diagnose, manage, prevent, or treat the types of symptoms and conditions associated with that field. For example, pediatricians have the competence to treat various conditions related to children's health. Specialist doctors acquire their expertise by following specialized medical education in the field of their choice. The length of medical specialist education varies depending on the specialization of knowledge. On average, a doctor needs to take eight semesters to complete his specialist education. Specialist doctors focus their knowledge on one area so that their ability in that specialization deepens. So that specialist doctors become more competent in their fields, especially in assessing and doing things that are specialist in nature compared to general practitioners or specialist doctors in other fields. Specialization is needed to develop medical services in their field. A subspecialty doctor or consultant is a specialist doctor who continues his subspecialty education, which is an in-depth study of a field of medical specialization, and receives recognition from the College of Supporters of related scientific branches. The competencies achieved in subspecialist or consultant medical education are advanced from the competencies of the branch of science concerned.

Specialists and subspecialists can be identified by looking at the designations or titles behind their names, for example, SpA (children specialist), SpPD (internal medicine specialist), SpS (nerve specialist), SpM (eye specialist), and others. Meanwhile, subspecialty doctors and consultant doctors have additional titles (K) behind their names, such as SpA (K), that is, consultant pediatric specialists, SpPD-KHOM (specialists in internal medicine, medical hemato-oncology consultants), or SpOG-KFER (obstetrics and gynecology specialists, fertility consultants).

Seorang dokter subspesialis/konsultan memiliki fungsi yang hampir sama dengan seorang dokter spesialis, namun dokter konsultan memiliki keahlian yang lebih spesifik dan mendalam mengenai suatu bidang penyakit tertentu daripada dokter spesialis.
The following specialist and subspecialist doctor services are available at Hermina Pasteur General Hospital:

1. Specialist Doctors and Obstetrics and Gynecology Sub Specialists:

• Fetomaternal
• Fertility
• Oncology
• Obstetrics and Gynecology Social
• Urogenic

2. Specialist Doctors and Child Health Subspecialists:

• Allergy Immunology
• Endocrine
• Gastroenterology
• Hemato Oncology
• Tropical Infections or Neurology
• Pediatric Emergency
• Social Pediatrics
• Perinatology or Respirology

3. Internal Medicine:

• Geriatrics
• Adult Haemato Oncology

4. Surgery:

• General Surgery
• Pediatric Surgery
• Digestive surgery
• Orthopedic surgery
• Plastic surgery
• Neurosurgery or Vascular Surgery

5. Eyes

6. Lungs

7. ENT

8. Nerves

9. Heart & Blood Vessels

10. Skin and Genital

11. Medical Rehabilitation

12. Clinical Nutrition

13. Psychiatry/Psychiatrist

When should you go to a specialist or a sub-specialist doctor?

Basically, it comes down to individual preferences. If you experience a certain condition and want to consult a doctor who is more specific for that condition, then you can see a subspecialist doctor. However, if you are still confused, don't know which field is right for the condition you are experiencing, or want to consult about this condition in general, you can consult a specialist. Because a specialist doctor also has more in-depth capabilities regarding the area of specialization he is taking, if later your condition turns out to require treatment in a certain subspecialty area, the specialist will refer or consult your condition with a subspecialist doctor.

Reference:

1. Health Care Gov. Glossary. Available from https://www.healthcare.gov/glossary/specialist/

2. Indonesian Medical Council. 2009. Partnership in Doctor-Patient Relations. Jakarta.

3. Djuwantono, T. 2012. The Role of Specialists in Public Health Services. IDI One Day Seminar "Fever and its Problems" and Panel Discussion "The Role of Doctors in Various Fields". Bandung.

4. Faculty of Medicine, University of Indonesia. Subspecialist Study Program. Available from https://fk.ui.ac.id/program-subspecialis.html

5. Hermina Hospital. Hermina Pasteur. Available from https://herminahospitals.com/id/branch/hermina-pasteur.html