Hepatitis How to Choose Liver Specialists Finding Doctors to Provide the Best Care for You By James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD James Myhre & Dennis Sifris, MD Dennis Sifris, MD, is an HIV specialist and Medical Director of LifeSense Disease Management. James Myhre is an American journalist and HIV educator. Learn about our editorial process Updated on September 28, 2021 Medically reviewed Verywell Health articles are reviewed by board-certified physicians and healthcare professionals. These medical reviewers confirm the content is thorough and accurate, reflecting the latest evidence-based research. Content is reviewed before publication and upon substantial updates. Learn more. by Priyanka Chugh, MD Medically reviewed by Priyanka Chugh, MD LinkedIn Priyanka Chugh, MD, is board-certified gastroenterologist with a background in internal medicine. She practices with Trinity Health of New England in Waterbury, Connecticut. Learn about our Medical Expert Board Print If you’ve been diagnosed with a chronic hepatitis infection, an immediate concern you may have is how to find the right doctors to help you manage your condition. If you happen to live in a community where viral hepatitis is prevalent, your healthcare provider or primary care physician (PCP) may have enough experience with the disease to provide you with adequate care. Thomas Barwick / Getty Images It’s more likely, however, that you’ll want to see a liver specialist—either a hepatologist or gastroenterologist. What’s more, if you’re co-infected with HIV, which is relatively common with some types of hepatitis infections, you also may need to bring in an infectious disease specialist. Having the right team of healthcare providers for your situation will be essential to ensuring you get the best care possible. Primary Care Physician Even if your healthcare provider or PCP has had little experience treating hepatitis and refers you to a liver specialist, they should still play a vital role in managing your condition. First, they will help you to make informed decisions about the most appropriate course of your care. They also will serve as the liaison among your other doctors—the hepatologist or gastroenterologist who will be your liver specialist and, if you need one, your infectious disease specialist. In this capacity, your healthcare provider or PCP can make sure all your providers are on the same page so that there are no disruptions in your care. Equally important, your healthcare provider can help you set goals for improving your overall health, which will be key to how well you respond to treatment for your hepatitis infection. This may include reducing your alcohol intake, dealing with substance abuse, helping you adhere to your treatment, or referring you to mental health or social work services if you need them. Gastroenterologist or Hepatologist? When it comes to selecting a specialist to treat hepatitis, there are two choices: a gastroenterologist or a hepatologist. Both are qualified to treat liver diseases, but they are somewhat different in how they’ve been trained. Understanding these differences can help inform your decision about which to choose. A gastroenterologist is a doctor, board certified in both internal medicine and gastroenterology. In order to obtain the latter credential, they must complete a two- to three-year fellowship in gastroenterology, which involves in-depth study of disorders of the digestive tract organs (liver, stomach, intestines, pancreas, and gallbladder). A hepatologist is trained to specifically treat disorders of the liver, as well as its associated organs—the pancreas and gallbladder. There is no specific certification exam for hepatology, but there are intense one- and two-year fellowships during which a specialist-in-training receives extensive exposure to the broad range of liver disorders. In addition, a transplant hepatologist is specially trained to manage advanced liver disease and liver transplants. Transplant hepatology is a one-year fellowship after completing a general gastroenterology fellowship. It is an accredited board-certified fellowship. While common sense might dictate that a doctor trained in liver disorders is better suited to treat hepatitis infections, that’s not always the case. While a hepatologist will be well versed in both current and experimental treatments for liver disease, there is no fundamental reason why a hepatologist is better suited to treat hepatitis than a gastroenterologist. Whichever type of specialist you choose, it’s important to find a healthcare provider who not only has the right credentials, but who is someone with whom you can share mutual trust and transparency. It’s your right to ask a healthcare provider you’re considering to take over your care any questions that will help you to feel they are both qualified and will be open and attentive. Questions to Ask Your Healthcare Provider Some questions to ask your healthcare provider include:Did your training include a liver fellowship?What percentage of your practice is devoted to liver disease?How many liver patients have you treated?How do you keep apprised of developing and/or experimental liver treatments? Infectious Disease Specialist While some liver specialists may have experience in the treatment and management of HIV, many do not. So if you are co-infected with HIV, you will want to seek out an infectious disease specialist. They will be able to prescribe the antiretroviral therapy necessary to treat your HIV and to make sure any medications you take are not contraindicated for use with hepatitis drugs. An infectious disease specialist also can monitor your liver enzymes. This is to make sure your antiretroviral treatment does not cause any side effects that can adversely impact your liver function and that your HIV viral load is controlled during the course of hepatitis therapy. This way, you can be sure that you’re receiving the safest and most effective care for both infections. Frequently Asked Questions Which type of doctor is specialized in treating liver disease? Both a gastroenterologist and a hepatologist are qualified to treat liver disease, though their training slightly differs. A gastroenterologist specializes in diseases of all the digestive tract organs, including the liver, stomach, intestines, pancreas, and gallbladder. A hepatologist, on the other hand, specifically focuses on liver disorders as well as the pancreas and gallbladder. Both of these professions require multi-year-long fellowships in which a person training for the role is exposed to a range of liver disorders. Learn More: What Is a Gastroenterologist? When should I see a doctor about my liver? If you experience any symptoms of liver disease, it may be a good idea to contact your doctor for a checkup. Symptoms vary but can include abdominal or leg swelling, easy bruising, color changes in stool and urine, and jaundice (yellowing of the skin and whites of the eyes). What is a liver function test? A liver function test determines how effectively your liver is doing its job. One way this is accomplished is through a liver enzyme test. An enzyme called alanine transaminase (ALT) is mainly found in your liver, but if an ALT test measures a consistently high presence of the enzyme in the blood, it can be a sign of liver damage. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Sign up for our Health Tip of the Day newsletter, and receive daily tips that will help you live your healthiest life. Sign Up You're in! Thank you, {{form.email}}, for signing up. There was an error. Please try again. What are your concerns? Other Inaccurate Hard to Understand Submit 4 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Mellinger JL, Volk ML. Multidisciplinary management of patients with cirrhosis: a need for care coordination. Clin Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2013;11(3):217–223. doi:10.1016/j.cgh.2012.10.040 Department of Health and Human Services. HIV treatment: the basics. MedlinePlus. Liver diseases. American Liver Foundation. Diagnosing liver disease — liver biopsy and liver function tests. Additional Reading American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases. The 65th Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases: The Liver Meeting 2014. Hepatology. 2014;60(S1):225A-258A. American College of Gastroenterology. What is a gastroenterologist?