Medical treatment refers to the management and care of a sick or injured patient by health care professionals. The care may involve medicine, therapy or surgery. Modern medical treatment is complex and involves interdisciplinary teams of health care practitioners. Health care providers use information gathered from the patient, laboratory studies and diagnostic tools to make decisions about the best treatment options for the individual patient. The aim of any treatment is to improve the patient’s health and alleviate his or her suffering.
The scientific basis of any medical treatment is the study of the normal functions and abnormalities of the body. Some of the basic disciplines in this field are pathology (the study of disease), pharmacology (the study of drugs) and radiology (the study of x-rays and other non-ionizing radiation and their effects on living organisms). The study of the human body is called anatomy.
Other important areas of medical science are embryology, physiology and immunology. Some physicians specialise in one of these fields and work to develop new medical treatments.
Primary care physicians are those who have first contact with patients and provide their initial diagnosis and treatment. This usually occurs in physician offices, clinics, hospitals and other health care settings. Primary care providers include physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners. Other health care providers who perform primary care tasks are dentists, ophthalmologists, nutritionists and pharmacists.
The second level of medical treatment is provided in secondary care facilities such as community hospitals and regional centers that offer specialty services such as trauma and burn centers, renal dialysis units, high-risk pregnancy and childbirth care, organ transplantation and radiation oncology. These hospitals also offer ambulatory care, physical therapy and other related services. Patients are referred to these hospitals by primary care providers for specialist procedures not available at their local hospital.
Tertiary care medical treatment is provided in specialized teaching hospitals, which have the equipment and staff to handle a wide range of complex illnesses and injuries. These hospitals are also able to offer more individualized care than is available in larger community hospitals.
A key aspect of medical treatment is the ability to understand a person’s needs and goals, as well as being able to communicate effectively with him or her. This communication is essential for developing a trusting relationship. The patient has the right to know all of his or her options and the risks and benefits of each option. This includes being informed of the results of clinical trials, which can help guide his or her decision-making process. If a patient is not competent to decide for himself or herself, the doctor must obtain permission from his or her next of kin or other health care power of attorney before proceeding with any treatment.