Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated September 2025
Definition
A clinician is a healthcare professional who provides direct patient care, such as doctors, psychologists, nurses, therapists, etc.
Related terms
Healthcare professional: An individual who works within the healthcare field providing medical services or treatments.
Practitioner: Refers to someone who practices medicine or therapy professionally.
Provider-patient relationship: The interaction between clinicians/providers and patients built on trust and collaboration for effective healthcare delivery.