In medical cases, who typically initiates therapy that is later monitored by a primary care physician?

In medical cases, a specialist typically initiates therapy that is then monitored by a primary care physician. Specialists have advanced training in specific areas of healthcare—such as cardiology, oncology, or endocrinology—and often see patients who need specialized care for particular conditions. When a specialist identifies necessary treatments or interventions, they implement these therapies and establish a treatment plan.

The primary care physician plays a vital role in the long-term management and overall care of the patient, ensuring that the treatment initiated by the specialist aligns with the patient's ongoing health needs and conditions. While primary care physicians can initiate therapies themselves, particularly for common health issues or preventive care, they often rely on specialists to start complex treatment plans for conditions that require specialized knowledge or expertise. Therefore, it is these specialists who are typically responsible for the initial therapy that is subsequently monitored by the primary care team.

While nurse practitioners and physician assistants can also initiate therapy, they often work in collaboration with specialists and primary care physicians rather than being the primary initiators of therapy in complex scenarios.