Physician (un médecin) is the term used mostly in the USA to designate medical doctors.
A nurse (un infirmier/ une infirmière) is a health professional who carries out medical procedures prescribed by a medical doctor.
An auxiliary nurse (un aide-soignant/ une aide-soignante) takes care of all the non-medical needs a patient may have.
A GP or general practitioner (un médecin généraliste) is a medical doctor who takes care of the general health of people. In the USA, they are called family practitioner, family physician or primary care physician (PCP).
A pediatrician (US) or paediatrician (UK) (un(e) pédiatre) is a medical doctor specializing in taking care of babies, infants and children.
A dermatologist (un(e) dermatologue) is a medical doctor treating skin, hair and nails diseases and disorders.
Paramedics (des secouristes/ ambulanciers) are the health professionals in an ambulance taking care of patients on the way to the hospital.
A psychotherapist (un(e) pyschothérapeute, un(e) psychologue) is a licensed professional (but not a medical doctor) who takes care of the mental through psychotherapy (talk therapy). A psychologist usually does research in the area of psychology and doesn’t see patients.
A dietitian (un(e) diététicien(ne)) is not a doctor but a licensed health care professional specialized in nutrition. In the UK, “nutritionist” is not a regulated term. Anyone can call himself or herself a nutritionist.
A physiotherapist or physical therapist (un(e) kinésithérapeute) reeducates patients after trauma, injury or illness through manual therapy, movements and exercises.
A midwife (un(e) sage femme) is a health care professional accompanying pregnant women and the delivery of babies.
Healthcare in the United Kingdom
The NHS (National Health Service) is the healthcare system in the UK. (Équivalent de la sécurité sociale)
Healthcare in the USA
Social Security (l’assurance retraite) is mostly the pension system (for retired people) in the United States.
Medicare is a federal program of health insurance for elderly people and some disabled people.
Medicaid is a federal or state program of health insurance for extremely vulnerable people. (Équivalent de la CMU)
Most Americans subscribe to private health insurance companies such as Aetna, Cigna and GeoBlue. Many people who can’t afford it and aren’t eligible to Medicare or Medicaid have no health insurance at all.
