Finding healthcare
Hospital department names explained (cardiology, neurology…)
Hospital signboards and prescriptions often use department names like cardiology, nephrology or ENT. This guide explains in plain words what each name refers to.
How the names are built
Most department names come from Greek or Latin words. A few patterns make them easier to read:
- "-logy" means the study or branch of something: cardiology is the branch concerned with the heart.
- "-logist" or "-ist" is the doctor who practises it: a cardiologist, a dermatologist, a dentist.
- "Surgery" in a name means the department operates, for example general surgery or neurosurgery.
- Bangla names are also used, such as হৃদরোগ (heart diseases) for cardiology or শিশুরোগ (children's diseases) for paediatrics.
Departments named after a part of the body
- Cardiology: the branch of medicine concerned with the heart and blood vessels.
- Dermatology: the branch of medicine concerned with the skin, hair and nails.
- Endocrinology: the branch of medicine concerned with hormones and the glands that produce them, including diabetes and thyroid conditions.
- ENT (Otolaryngology): the branch of medicine concerned with the ear, nose and throat.
- Gastroenterology: the branch of medicine concerned with the digestive system, including the stomach, intestines and liver.
- Nephrology: the branch of medicine concerned with the kidneys.
- Neurology: the branch of medicine concerned with the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
- Ophthalmology: the branch of medicine concerned with the eyes and vision.
- Orthopaedics: the branch of medicine concerned with bones, joints, ligaments and muscles.
- Pulmonology: the branch of medicine concerned with the lungs and breathing.
- Urology: the branch of medicine concerned with the urinary system and male reproductive organs.
Surgical departments
- General Surgery: surgery covering a broad range of conditions, commonly of the abdomen.
- Cardiothoracic Surgery: surgery of the heart, lungs and other organs in the chest.
- Neurosurgery: surgery of the brain, spine and nervous system.
Departments for a group of people or a kind of care
- General Practice: primary, general medical care for people of all ages.
- Internal Medicine: the diagnosis and non-surgical care of conditions affecting adults' internal organs. A doctor in this field is often called a medicine specialist.
- Paediatrics: medical care of babies, children and adolescents.
- Gynaecology & Obstetrics: the branches of medicine concerned with women's reproductive health, pregnancy and childbirth.
- Oncology: the branch of medicine concerned with cancer.
- Psychiatry: the branch of medicine concerned with mental health.
- Dentistry: care of the teeth, gums and mouth.
Imaging
- Radiology: medical imaging such as X-ray, ultrasound, CT and MRI.
Finding departments on this site
Each department below has its own page listing the hospitals and clinics whose OpenStreetMap data records it. Many facilities do not record their departments at all, so a facility missing from a department page may still offer that service. Always confirm with the facility before you go.
- Cardiology
- Cardiothoracic Surgery
- Dentistry
- Dermatology
- Endocrinology
- ENT (Otolaryngology)
- Gastroenterology
- General Practice
- General Surgery
- Gynaecology & Obstetrics
- Internal Medicine
- Nephrology
- Neurology
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics
- Paediatrics
- Psychiatry
- Pulmonology
- Radiology
- Urology
Checklist: preparing for a hospital visit
A department name tells you what a field covers, not which one you need. Ask a registered doctor or pharmacist which kind of care is right for you.
Frequently asked questions
What does cardiology mean?
What is ENT?
What is the difference between neurology and neurosurgery?
Which department should I go to?
This guide is general information only and is not medical advice. It does not tell you what any medicine is for or how to take it. For questions about your health or your medicines, ask a registered doctor or pharmacist.