Medical treatment is an intervention to cure or alleviate health conditions and diseases through systematic therapeutic measures. These may be drugs, physical therapy or surgical care. An important element of medical treatment is the evaluation and diagnosis of an illness or injury, which includes the use of diagnostic tests and exams. Medical treatment also involves the administration of lifesaving procedures such as vaccinations, blood transfusions and emergency surgeries.
The goal of medical treatment is to improve an individual’s quality of life, and the benefit derived should outweigh any potential risk. For example, the risks associated with a cancer medication should be outweighed by its benefits, and so on. However, there are many factors that influence what treatment is deemed medically necessary and how much risk is tolerated by the patient and physician.
Some treatments are empirical, meaning that they are administered on the basis of a clinician’s educated guess despite uncertainty about an illness’s causative factors. For example, empiric antibiotic therapy administers a broad-spectrum antibiotic immediately on the basis of the patient’s history, physical examination findings and risk factors.
Other treatments are based on a theoretical framework and have a strong scientific base. For instance, pharmacogenetic testing allows doctors to prescribe medications that are best suited to an individual’s genetic makeup, thus minimizing drug interactions and adverse reactions. A third class of treatments is experimental, and they are often used in clinical trials to evaluate their safety and efficacy. This type of treatment must be carefully weighed, as its use could potentially open the door to quackery.
Medical treatment costs vary widely, depending on the type of procedure and where it is performed. For example, hospitals charge more than ambulatory surgery centers and physicians’ offices. Additionally, it is important to know whether a doctor and hospital are in your insurance network. This determines whether you can take advantage of negotiated prices and apply the cost toward your deductible. In addition, the cost of treatment can be impacted by your state’s health care laws and how well your employer negotiates with its insurance company. A good rule of thumb is to assume that your health insurance will cover most or all of the cost of your medical treatment. But remember that there are exceptions to the rules, and some expenses are not covered by any form of health care coverage. In those instances, you are responsible for paying the bill out-of-pocket. Those costs may include a visit to the emergency room or overnight stays in the hospital. For these, you should prepare in advance to make sure you have enough money to cover the expense. Otherwise, it is advisable to seek out an alternative form of payment.