The Discipline of Medicine
Medicine is the practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. It is a scientific field, with its foundations in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) and the social sciences (epidemiology, epidemiology and history of medicine). Medicine is also an art, in which practitioners utilize knowledge and skills acquired through education, training and practical experience. The history of medicine is intertwined with the history of civilization, as documented by ancient Egyptian medical texts, the Ayurvedic tradition of India, Chinese medicine (including the development of acupuncture) and classical Greek and Roman medicine.
Modern medicine relies on the use of evidence based on research and clinical experience. This is referred to as evidence-based medicine, which is a philosophy that is the basis for most of contemporary healthcare practices. Evidence-based medicine is founded upon a scientific method that includes establishing the cause of a specific disorder through diagnostic methods such as laboratory testing and physical examination. This information is gathered and recorded in the patient’s medical record, which is typically an electronic document.
The discipline of medicine encompasses a broad range of specialties. Each of these specialties has sub-specialties. Some of the more common ones include:
Internal medicine is a specialty that deals with adult medicine, including internal organs and systems of the body such as the digestive tract, circulatory system and respiratory tract. This is one of the broadest areas of medicine, with numerous sub-specialties such as gastroenterology, hepatology and endocrinology.
Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with infants, children and adolescents. This specialty has many sub-specialties that are geared towards particular age groups, organs and diseases.
Veterinary medicine is the field of medicine that deals with the health and treatment of non-human animals, such as pets and livestock. The field of veterinary medicine has a close relationship to the field of animal husbandry, which is more concerned with the raising and breeding of livestock for consumption or sale.
Alternative medicine includes a variety of practices, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and homeopathy. Some of these practices have been proven to be effective, while others are just a waste of time or worse, can actually cause harm.
Tertiary care medical services are those provided by specialist hospitals and regional medical centers that are equipped with facilities and staff to provide a higher level of care than that available in smaller, community based hospitals. Examples of tertiary care include burn treatment centers, specialized neonatal intensive care units, transplantation centers and radiation oncology. Medical science journals are published by a number of organizations, including academic and professional societies as well as commercial companies. Most major medical journals are owned by large publishing houses. Some are open access, which means that they are free for readers to read and download. Others are behind paywalls. Cureus believes that valuable medical science should not be hidden behind paywalls, and that money shouldn’t stand in the way of advancements in the field of medicine.
Medicine is the practice of diagnosis, treatment and prevention of disease. It is a scientific field, with its foundations in the natural sciences (biology, chemistry and physics) and the social sciences (epidemiology, epidemiology and history of medicine). Medicine is also an art, in which practitioners utilize knowledge and skills acquired through education, training and practical experience. The history of medicine is intertwined with the history of civilization, as documented by ancient Egyptian medical texts, the Ayurvedic tradition of India, Chinese medicine (including the development of acupuncture) and classical Greek and Roman medicine. Modern medicine relies on the use of evidence based on research and clinical experience. This is referred to as evidence-based medicine, which is a philosophy that is the basis for most of contemporary healthcare practices. Evidence-based medicine is founded upon a scientific method that includes establishing the cause of a specific disorder through diagnostic methods such as laboratory testing and physical examination. This information is gathered and recorded in the patient’s medical record, which is typically an electronic document. The discipline of medicine encompasses a broad range of specialties. Each of these specialties has sub-specialties. Some of the more common ones include: Internal medicine is a specialty that deals with adult medicine, including internal organs and systems of the body such as the digestive tract, circulatory system and respiratory tract. This is one of the broadest areas of medicine, with numerous sub-specialties such as gastroenterology, hepatology and endocrinology. Pediatrics is the branch of medicine that deals with infants, children and adolescents. This specialty has many sub-specialties that are geared towards particular age groups, organs and diseases. Veterinary medicine is the field of medicine that deals with the health and treatment of non-human animals, such as pets and livestock. The field of veterinary medicine has a close relationship to the field of animal husbandry, which is more concerned with the raising and breeding of livestock for consumption or sale. Alternative medicine includes a variety of practices, such as herbal remedies, acupuncture and homeopathy. Some of these practices have been proven to be effective, while others are just a waste of time or worse, can actually cause harm. Tertiary care medical services are those provided by specialist hospitals and regional medical centers that are equipped with facilities and staff to provide a higher level of care than that available in smaller, community based hospitals. Examples of tertiary care include burn treatment centers, specialized neonatal intensive care units, transplantation centers and radiation oncology. Medical science journals are published by a number of organizations, including academic and professional societies as well as commercial companies. Most major medical journals are owned by large publishing houses. Some are open access, which means that they are free for readers to read and download. Others are behind paywalls. Cureus believes that valuable medical science should not be hidden behind paywalls, and that money shouldn’t stand in the way of advancements in the field of medicine.