Interventional Physiatrist

In the realm of foreign affairs, most First World nations observe the following rule of etiquette: Diplomacy first, military action last.

According to Doctors, the same rule applies in medicine: When faced with a medical issue, invasive procedures — the military action of medicine — are a move of last resort and as an Interventional Physiatrist, you understand that. First, Interventional Physiatrist try non-invasive treatments, such as medicine, nutrition, and therapy. Second, they try minimally invasive procedures, such as injections and outpatient care. Only when all else fails as an Interventional Physiatrist, you would turn to invasive treatments, such as surgery.

As an Interventional Physiatrist, you specialize in the “minimally invasive” variety of medicine within your area of expertise, which is physical therapy and rehabilitation.

Generally speaking, your job as a Physiatrist is to diagnose musculoskeletal injuries and conditions — including but not limited to sports injuries, spinal cord damage, head trauma, stroke, and arthritis — and then help patients physically heal from them without surgery. Typically, that means treating muscles, bones, and nerves with techniques such as massage and physical exercise, heat, or water therapy.

As an Interventional Physiatrist, however, you’re trained to kick things up a notch when you need to. That’s the “interventional” part of your job description, which typically encompasses such minimally invasive treatments as spinal injections, nerve blocks, catheterization, and vertebroplasty, which aren’t as severe as so-called “open” surgeries, but nonetheless require breaking the skin.

Although it’s not war, your patients’ pain often feels like it, so your job — much like a Politician ’s — is deciding when medical “diplomacy” has failed, then “intervening” in hopes of avoiding surgery.