WHAT KINDS OF DOCTORS TREAT LIVER DISEASE?
There are many different kinds of doctors who evaluate and treat people with liver disorders. First, there is the family physician or internist. These doctors are also referred to as primary care physicians (PCPs). They are often the first ones to discover that something is wrong with the liver. From there, the patient is customarily referred to a specialist either a gastroenterologist, hepatologist, or infectious disease specialist for further evaluation and treatment. This specialist may be in a practice located at an academic institution or in a private practice located in a community setting. The difference between the various types of doctors a patient with liver disease encounters may sometimes be confusing. Hopefully, this section will clarify these differences in order to eliminate any future confusion. The Medical Doctor (MD) Medical Doctors (MDs) are physicians who have successfully completed four years of medical school training. After graduating from medical school, these d
