While you are at UAB Hospital, you will meet many people who
will care for you and make your stay more comfortable:
the nurse manager is responsible for the
coordination of care in a specific unit. She/he has
24-hour-a-day accountability for effective operation;
the registered nurse (RN) will work with
your physician and other staff members to coordinate your
treatment and answer any questions you have about your
diagnosis or care. The RN will direct your daily care, give
you medication, and evaluate your progress;
the licensed practical nurse (LPN) works
with the RN in providing care, dispensing medication and
treatments, and conducting reassessments;
the patient care technician (PCT) works
with the RN and LPN to provide additional care, including
drawing blood for lab tests and taking your blood pressure
and temperature;
the unit support specialist (USS) makes
sure that your room is clean and that you have the supplies
needed for your care; and
the unit secretary will help you and your
family reach your doctor or patient representative and help
make arrangements for your family's lodging and
transportation needs.
You will also meet a number of skilled caregivers from our
medical staff. Every aspect of your care will be directed by your
attending physician. At UAB, attending
physicians are also faculty members, which means they are so
knowledgeable about clinical care management that they are
qualified to share their expertise with new physicians during
their learning process.
Your attending physician will be directing a medical team
which may consist of:
the consulting physician, who may see you
at the request of your attending physician depending on your
special needs;
the fellow physician, a medical doctor
pursuing in-depth knowledge in a specialized area of medicine
or surgery;
the resident physician, a medical doctor
in a three- to five-year educational program to expand his or
her knowledge base before practicing alone; and
the medical student, who may observe your
care or assist in limited ways with the care you receive from
your attending physician.
Other medical professionals complete your health care team and
provide specialized services. These professionals include
dietitians, patient representatives, occupational therapists,
pharmacists, chaplains, respiratory therapists, radiology
technologists, medical social workers, volunteers, physical
therapists, patient escorts, and clinical care coordinators.