What Is Medical?
Medical is a term used to describe the fields of science and practice that deal with human health and disease. It includes the fields of medicine, surgery, pharmacology, physiotherapy and other such disciplines. Medical science includes a range of scientific research areas such as anatomy, cytology, biochemistry and physiology. Medicine is also influenced by biological sciences such as evolution and genetics, as well as technology, policy and ethics.
In modern times, much of medicine has become a mixture of art (practical skill) and science. It is also influenced by a wide variety of cultural influences. For example, a physician who applies the principles of humorism may be considered an artist, while using the latest techniques in cellular and molecular biology to diagnose or treat illness is scientific.
Medicine has traditionally been split into two broad categories: internal medicine and surgery. Both of these categories contain a number of sub-specialties. Most of the medical specialties require a substantial amount of pre-residency training in general medicine. In the United Kingdom this is evidenced by a Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Surgical specialties typically require an additional one to three years of post-residency training, and often involve a fellowship.
The healthcare industry is a massive sector of the economy that covers a range of different entities including physicians offices, hospitals, laboratory services, radiology centers, physical therapy facilities and pharmaceutical companies. It also encompasses a range of organizations that provide insurance and/or managed care including group purchasing organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, integrated delivery networks, healthcare systems and insurers.
When a patient interacts with any healthcare provider, the encounter is recorded in a medical record. The medical records are legally protected in many countries and can only be disclosed with the permission of the patient or their legal representative. The record contains the history of present illness (HPI) and the family medical history (FMH). HPI consists of symptoms and their duration, as well as other information such as past illnesses and treatments.
Medical studies are conducted to test new treatments for various conditions. These studies usually start in a lab animal before moving to a clinical trial involving humans. The trials are designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the treatment.
Physicians that specialize in hospital medicine are called hospitalists. Their focus is on the diagnosis and management of acute or chronic illnesses in patients who are admitted to hospital. The goal of these physicians is to improve the patients’ current functioning with their disease and overall quality of life. They use a range of interventions to achieve this including medication, surgery and palliative care. This field of medicine is also influenced by psychology and philosophy. It is sometimes referred to as the medical humanities or the humanities of medicine.
Medical is a term used to describe the fields of science and practice that deal with human health and disease. It includes the fields of medicine, surgery, pharmacology, physiotherapy and other such disciplines. Medical science includes a range of scientific research areas such as anatomy, cytology, biochemistry and physiology. Medicine is also influenced by biological sciences such as evolution and genetics, as well as technology, policy and ethics. In modern times, much of medicine has become a mixture of art (practical skill) and science. It is also influenced by a wide variety of cultural influences. For example, a physician who applies the principles of humorism may be considered an artist, while using the latest techniques in cellular and molecular biology to diagnose or treat illness is scientific. Medicine has traditionally been split into two broad categories: internal medicine and surgery. Both of these categories contain a number of sub-specialties. Most of the medical specialties require a substantial amount of pre-residency training in general medicine. In the United Kingdom this is evidenced by a Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Surgical specialties typically require an additional one to three years of post-residency training, and often involve a fellowship. The healthcare industry is a massive sector of the economy that covers a range of different entities including physicians offices, hospitals, laboratory services, radiology centers, physical therapy facilities and pharmaceutical companies. It also encompasses a range of organizations that provide insurance and/or managed care including group purchasing organizations, pharmacy benefit managers, integrated delivery networks, healthcare systems and insurers. When a patient interacts with any healthcare provider, the encounter is recorded in a medical record. The medical records are legally protected in many countries and can only be disclosed with the permission of the patient or their legal representative. The record contains the history of present illness (HPI) and the family medical history (FMH). HPI consists of symptoms and their duration, as well as other information such as past illnesses and treatments. Medical studies are conducted to test new treatments for various conditions. These studies usually start in a lab animal before moving to a clinical trial involving humans. The trials are designed to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of the treatment. Physicians that specialize in hospital medicine are called hospitalists. Their focus is on the diagnosis and management of acute or chronic illnesses in patients who are admitted to hospital. The goal of these physicians is to improve the patients’ current functioning with their disease and overall quality of life. They use a range of interventions to achieve this including medication, surgery and palliative care. This field of medicine is also influenced by psychology and philosophy. It is sometimes referred to as the medical humanities or the humanities of medicine.