Medical treatment is the use of drugs, devices and other medical interventions to manage chronic health conditions, such as hypertension, heart disease and diabetes. Treatment may help alleviate symptoms, slow the progression of the condition or cure the condition altogether. Medical treatment can be provided by a physician or another healthcare professional. Medical treatment can include prescription or over-the-counter medications, including dietary supplements, as well as medical devices, such as pacemakers and insulin pumps.
In addition to pharmacological treatments, medical procedures can involve surgical and nonsurgical interventions to diagnose or treat a disease, injury or disability. These procedures are performed by physicians, general practitioners, gynecologists or other licensed health professionals. Some common medical procedures are blood tests and imaging, such as x-rays and CT scans.
Often, the best choice for a patient depends on his or her personal preferences and values as well as the benefits and risks of the available treatments. Doctors can assist patients in making these decisions by explaining the options and their risks and benefits and by engaging in shared decision making. This involves discussing treatment plans with patients, helping them understand the evidence and providing a clear picture of how each option will fit into their lifestyles and goals.
A major challenge in medical treatment is balancing the needs of individual patients with the principles of medicine and ethical practices. For example, a person who suffers from terminal illness might not want life-sustaining treatment if it causes suffering or discomfort. On the other hand, a person with a debilitating disease might want to be treated so that he or she can continue working and living comfortably.
Providing access to high quality medical treatment is also a challenge. Recent studies have shown that a large number of medical interventions are not supported by high-quality evidence. This has led to concerns that healthcare providers are recommending unproven and costly therapies to patients. In addition, some patients choose not to receive treatment because they cannot afford it. In 2023, 27% of American adults skipped some form of medical care because they could not afford it. This is a disturbing trend, especially since research suggests that the quality of medical treatment correlates with income.
For OSHA recordkeeping purposes, medical treatment includes the administration of drugs, medical devices and diagnostic procedures by a licensed health professional. This does not include observation or counseling. HIV testing and HBV antibody testing are not considered medical treatment under the OSHA recordkeeping guidelines.
A medical procedure is considered causally related to work when it is provided by a licensed health professional and is related to a workplace injury or illness. Workers’ compensation insurance covers medical treatment for causally related injuries and illnesses. Medical treatments must be provided within 30 days of the initial diagnosis or a claim for workers’ compensation benefits will be denied. Typically, the worker is required to attend follow-up visits to be sure that the medical condition has been adequately treated.