What Is Medical?
Medical is the study or practice of health care, including disease prevention and treatment. There are many branches of medicine, some focused on specific organ systems or diseases, others addressing general well-being. Most of the fields are multidisciplinary, with some overlapping between specialties. The term “medical” can also refer to the body of knowledge that physicians acquire during their education and training, which is typically structured through a doctorate in medicine or medical science, abbreviated MD or MS (in the United States) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO, unique to the United States).
Medical professionals must know a great deal about biology and chemistry in order to diagnose and treat patients effectively. Other essential components of medical knowledge include physics, mathematics and statistics. Many terms have roots in Latin or ancient Greek, and are derived from words that mean “to heal.” In addition to the scientific terminology that healthcare professionals must learn, there is also a vocabulary of common medical terms that has become part of our everyday language. A good place to start learning these terms is a medical dictionary.
During a medical encounter, a physician meets with a patient to assess their symptoms and history and to recommend treatment options. This visit is documented in the medical record. Generally, the patient’s presenting complaint is noted as the chief complaint or CC. Other information recorded includes the patient’s past medical history (PMH) and family history.
A number of key developments have occurred in the development of medical thinking throughout the ages. For example, a significant shift took place in the 14th and 15th centuries as scientists like Galen and Vesalius improved upon or rejected many of the theories that had been passed down from the previous generation of medical practitioners.
The medical field also incorporates many ethical concepts, such as respect for persons – the principle that patients and their families have the right to be treated with dignity. This is also reflected in the concept of informed consent, which ensures that a patient understands the nature of a proposed course of action and has the opportunity to ask questions before agreeing to it.
Most medical specialties fit into one of two broad categories: internal medicine and surgery. The majority of subspecialties within internal medicine require a preliminary degree in medicine, and in the United Kingdom, this is demonstrated by a Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). The specialty of neurology addresses disorders of the nervous system, while obstetrics and gynecology are concerned with childbirth and the female reproductive and associated organs. Pharmaceutical medicine is the field of medical science that deals with the discovery, research, development, evaluation, registration and monitoring of medicines. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation, or physiatry, is aimed at improving function after injury or illness. Addiction medicine focuses on addiction and psychotherapy. Aerospace medicine is a branch of medical sciences pertaining to aircraft and space flight. Other less traditional or newer branches of medicine include clinical pharmacology and forensic medicine.
Medical is the study or practice of health care, including disease prevention and treatment. There are many branches of medicine, some focused on specific organ systems or diseases, others addressing general well-being. Most of the fields are multidisciplinary, with some overlapping between specialties. The term “medical” can also refer to the body of knowledge that physicians acquire during their education and training, which is typically structured through a doctorate in medicine or medical science, abbreviated MD or MS (in the United States) or Doctor of Osteopathy (DO, unique to the United States). Medical professionals must know a great deal about biology and chemistry in order to diagnose and treat patients effectively. Other essential components of medical knowledge include physics, mathematics and statistics. Many terms have roots in Latin or ancient Greek, and are derived from words that mean “to heal.” In addition to the scientific terminology that healthcare professionals must learn, there is also a vocabulary of common medical terms that has become part of our everyday language. A good place to start learning these terms is a medical dictionary. During a medical encounter, a physician meets with a patient to assess their symptoms and history and to recommend treatment options. This visit is documented in the medical record. Generally, the patient’s presenting complaint is noted as the chief complaint or CC. Other information recorded includes the patient’s past medical history (PMH) and family history. A number of key developments have occurred in the development of medical thinking throughout the ages. For example, a significant shift took place in the 14th and 15th centuries as scientists like Galen and Vesalius improved upon or rejected many of the theories that had been passed down from the previous generation of medical practitioners. The medical field also incorporates many ethical concepts, such as respect for persons – the principle that patients and their families have the right to be treated with dignity. This is also reflected in the concept of informed consent, which ensures that a patient understands the nature of a proposed course of action and has the opportunity to ask questions before agreeing to it. Most medical specialties fit into one of two broad categories: internal medicine and surgery. The majority of subspecialties within internal medicine require a preliminary degree in medicine, and in the United Kingdom, this is demonstrated by a Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). The specialty of neurology addresses disorders of the nervous system, while obstetrics and gynecology are concerned with childbirth and the female reproductive and associated organs. Pharmaceutical medicine is the field of medical science that deals with the discovery, research, development, evaluation, registration and monitoring of medicines. Physiotherapy and rehabilitation, or physiatry, is aimed at improving function after injury or illness. Addiction medicine focuses on addiction and psychotherapy. Aerospace medicine is a branch of medical sciences pertaining to aircraft and space flight. Other less traditional or newer branches of medicine include clinical pharmacology and forensic medicine.