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While advanced technology and modern facilities are crucial to the delivery of high quality medical care, it is our doctors, nurses, technicians and other staff who make Howard County General a place of clinical excellence.

Each of our dedicated employees approaches their job with tremendous concern for the patient. From nursing to respiratory therapy and environmental services to rehabilitation, patient safety and care is the primary focus of staff in all areas.
 
Ninety-three percent of our physicians are board-certified in their specialty. Our nurses, many of whom are certified in their specialty and working toward professional advancement, are an integral part of our progress in enhancing our quality and safety. More than half of our bedside nurses hold advanced degrees (BSN/MSN). Together, these experts combine their specialty knowledge and collaborate in teams designed to treat complex illnesses.

Registered Nurse

RNs assume primary responsibility for the care of patients and direct the care provided by other members of the nursing team. Learn more

Licensed Practical Nurse

LPNs assist with the coordination and implementation of the plan of care as delegated by the RN, are licensed to administer specified medications, and take vital signs and perform many patient care procedures.

Patient Care Technician

PCTs assist with the care of patients as delegated by the RN by taking vital signs, collecting blood samples for testing and inserting urinary catheters. They also provide personal care to patients.

Physician Assistant

PAs receive extensive training and are certified and licensed to practice medicine under the supervision of a doctor, working in hospital and outpatient settings. They perform physical exams and order laboratory and radiology tests that result in a diagnosis and treatment plan for a medical problem or illness. They also prescribe medications.

Nurse Practitioner

NPs are registered nurses prepared through additional education and advanced clinical training, certified and licensed to provide comprehensive care for a variety of health problems. They prescribe medications and provide teaching and counseling to promote healthy behaviors.

Nurse Anesthetist

CRNAs are qualified, as a result of additional training, certification and licensure, to administer anesthesia and manage patients during surgical procedures. CRNAs practice under the supervision of an anesthesiologist and care for select groups of patients.

Certified Nurse-Midwife

CNMs have advanced education, certification and licensure to manage comprehensive women’s health care in a variety of settings, focusing particularly on pregnancy, childbirth, the postpartum period, infant care, and the family planning and gynecological needs of women through their life cycle.

Attending Physician

Attending physicians are generally doctors who are responsible for and supervise the overall care plan of patients in the hospital. They may be a hospitalist, intensivist, primary care physician or surgeon, among other specialties.

Consulting Physician

Consulting physicians may be asked by attending physicians to assist with determining patient treatment recommendations. Consulting physicians are specialists in disciplines that include cardiology, nephrology, infectious diseases, as well other areas, and add their expertise to aspects of patient care in conjunction with the attending physician. They may perform exams, and request and perform diagnostic tests to present recommendations for attending physicians to consider when making decisions on treatment options.

Hospitalist

Hospitalists are providers who specialize in the practice of hospital medicine, with the goal of providing comprehensive medical care to diagnose and manage patients’ acute illnesses while they are hospitalized. They provide hospital care information to patients’ primary care physicians when patients are discharged. Learn more

Intensivist

Doctors trained in internal medicine, with a sub-specialty in pulmonary and/or critical care, intensivists treat patients in the Special Care and Intensive Care Units.

Surgical Assistant, Registered Nurse, First Assistant

Certified personnel who assist surgeons during a variety of surgical procedures, including orthopaedic, vascular and general surgery.

Respiratory Care Practitioner

Specialized, certified practitioner who works under the supervision of an intensive care physician or pulmonologist. Specialized in both cardiac and pulmonary care, they educate and treat those suffering from heart and lung problems. They collaborate with specialists in pulmonology and anesthesia for the clinical care of patients, including airway management, administering aerosolized medications and managing life support.

Imaging Technologists

Imaging technologists perform diagnostic imaging exams and are responsible for accurately positioning patients and ensuring a quality medical image is produced. They work with radiologists, the doctors who interpret diagnostic imaging, to diagnose or rule out disease or injury. They include radiologic technologists, who perform exams that use ionizing radiation; sonographers, who perform ultrasound exams; MRI technologists; and nuclear medicine technologists, who perform exams that use radiopharmaceuticals.

Case Managers and Social Workers

Licensed medical social workers and registered nurse case managers work with doctors to provide clinical assessment and counseling, as well as promote communication among patients, their families and the interdisciplinary team. They plan for continuing needs as patients prepare for discharge from the acute care hospital and help make arrangements with other medical facilities, care providers and vendors. They also help arrange for home nursing care or home health care equipment or supplies if needed. Learn more

Community Health Nurse

This nurse is part of the hospital’s Community Care Team, a program focused on improving the health of complex, chronically ill Howard County residents. They support the physical health of patients, including assessing their health during their first home visit, organizing their medication list, providing information to their health care providers and monitoring their progress. Learn more

Community Health Worker

Part of the hospital’s Community Care Team, these community health workers help improve the health of complex, chronically ill Howard County residents. They support lifestyle and community service needs, including arranging for transportation to appointments; establishing food, financial and housing assistance; coordinating home health care workers; accessing senior programs; and helping with proper diet management. Learn more

Chaplain

Chaplains work as members of the care team to support the well-being of the whole person. Chaplains specialize in spiritual care, which may involve addressing spiritual and emotional needs, identifying resources of spiritual strength, and developing coping strategies. Chaplains enable persons of all backgrounds to connect with their spiritual, religious, relational, and community resources. Learn more

Physical Therapist

PTs evaluate patients’ overall strength, balance and movement to help improve or return them to their highest functional level safely and with minimal to no pain.

Occupational Therapist

OTs assist patients having difficulty with Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), such as bathing, dressing and writing. They evaluate and treat patients with cognitive changes, and decreased strength and arm function.

Speech-Language Pathologist

SLPs evaluate and treat patients in the areas of swallowing and communication. These include eating and drinking safely, as well as speaking, understanding, reading and writing for communication.