What Is Medicine?
Medicine is a profession that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Modern medical practice is based on scientific research. The medical field is often divided into specialties that focus on particular organ systems or disease classes. Specialties may also focus on particular methods of diagnosis or procedure. For example, obstetrics and gynecology is a specialty that deals with pregnancy and childbirth. In contrast, gastroenterology is a specialty that deals with the digestive tract and intestines.
The medical profession is regulated in many jurisdictions. Physicians must have a degree from an accredited medical school and pass a licensing exam to become qualified to practice medicine. During the process of becoming a licensed physician, physicians study extensively and are required to complete multiple internships and residencies. Depending on the medical specialty, there may be additional board certification requirements.
In addition to physicians, other health care professionals who provide direct patient care are nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, psychologists and social workers. Medical scribes and medical secretaries also provide support services. Medical records are usually stored on computer systems and may be accessed by health care providers and patients through electronic means.
History of medicine
Medicine as a science and profession dates back thousands of years. Early Western medicine was based on herbs and the Greek idea of the four humors. Hippocrates laid the foundation for a rational approach with his Hippocratic Oath. In the 19th century, scientific biomedical research began to replace ancient traditions based on herbalism and the four humours.
Modern medicine is a rapidly evolving discipline. New technologies allow for molecular biology and genomics to be applied to medicine. This knowledge is helping to develop drugs with fewer side effects. Other advances include regenerative medicine, which attempts to repair damaged tissue using stem cells.
Within medicine, most subspecialties fit into two broad categories: “Medicine” and “Surgery.” Most of the sub-specialties in Medicine require preliminary training in Internal Medicine, which in the United Kingdom leads to the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Surgery involves performing operative manual and instrumental techniques on living organisms to diagnose or treat diseases or injuries. Forensic medicine is the application of medical knowledge to legal questions, such as determining the time and cause of death or reconstructing a face for identification purposes after a skull fracture.
In the future, genetic engineering and nanotechnology will likely play a major role in the development of new medicines. Traditional medical disciplines, such as anthropology and psychology, will continue to be relevant, but the scope of medicine will expand to address new problems and challenges. The societal benefits of this expansion will be tremendous. As the world’s population continues to grow, medical knowledge will be essential to maintaining good health and preventing disease. Ultimately, the goal of medicine will be to achieve the optimum quality of life for all people. This will be accomplished through the prevention and cure of diseases, rehabilitation after injury or illness, and the improvement of the overall human condition.
Medicine is a profession that deals with the diagnosis and treatment of disease. Modern medical practice is based on scientific research. The medical field is often divided into specialties that focus on particular organ systems or disease classes. Specialties may also focus on particular methods of diagnosis or procedure. For example, obstetrics and gynecology is a specialty that deals with pregnancy and childbirth. In contrast, gastroenterology is a specialty that deals with the digestive tract and intestines. The medical profession is regulated in many jurisdictions. Physicians must have a degree from an accredited medical school and pass a licensing exam to become qualified to practice medicine. During the process of becoming a licensed physician, physicians study extensively and are required to complete multiple internships and residencies. Depending on the medical specialty, there may be additional board certification requirements. In addition to physicians, other health care professionals who provide direct patient care are nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, dietitians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, respiratory therapists, psychologists and social workers. Medical scribes and medical secretaries also provide support services. Medical records are usually stored on computer systems and may be accessed by health care providers and patients through electronic means. History of medicine Medicine as a science and profession dates back thousands of years. Early Western medicine was based on herbs and the Greek idea of the four humors. Hippocrates laid the foundation for a rational approach with his Hippocratic Oath. In the 19th century, scientific biomedical research began to replace ancient traditions based on herbalism and the four humours. Modern medicine is a rapidly evolving discipline. New technologies allow for molecular biology and genomics to be applied to medicine. This knowledge is helping to develop drugs with fewer side effects. Other advances include regenerative medicine, which attempts to repair damaged tissue using stem cells. Within medicine, most subspecialties fit into two broad categories: “Medicine” and “Surgery.” Most of the sub-specialties in Medicine require preliminary training in Internal Medicine, which in the United Kingdom leads to the Membership of the Royal College of Physicians (MRCP). Surgery involves performing operative manual and instrumental techniques on living organisms to diagnose or treat diseases or injuries. Forensic medicine is the application of medical knowledge to legal questions, such as determining the time and cause of death or reconstructing a face for identification purposes after a skull fracture. In the future, genetic engineering and nanotechnology will likely play a major role in the development of new medicines. Traditional medical disciplines, such as anthropology and psychology, will continue to be relevant, but the scope of medicine will expand to address new problems and challenges. The societal benefits of this expansion will be tremendous. As the world’s population continues to grow, medical knowledge will be essential to maintaining good health and preventing disease. Ultimately, the goal of medicine will be to achieve the optimum quality of life for all people. This will be accomplished through the prevention and cure of diseases, rehabilitation after injury or illness, and the improvement of the overall human condition.