A medical treatment is any action taken by a health professional to alleviate or treat an illness, disease, injury or condition. Medical treatment includes a wide variety of procedures, including medical diagnostic tests, medication, surgical operations and physical therapy. A doctor can also provide supportive care, such as palliative or end-of-life care (EOLC), in which the focus shifts from treating the underlying disease to improving quality of life and comfort for the patient and their family.
Modern medical treatment involves many highly trained and skilled health professionals working as an interdisciplinary team. These include doctors, physician assistants and nurse practitioners; nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics; and support staff such as dietitians, pharmacists, physiotherapists, occupational and speech therapists, laboratory scientists, photobiologists, biomedical engineers and radiologists. In addition, modern health-care delivery depends heavily on information technology, either through electronic records and communications or by computer-based decision support tools.
Most modern societies provide some form of health-care coverage, whether through private insurance or government or tribal-sponsored programs. These may cover acute and chronic illnesses, or preventive and public health care, such as immunizations. Some countries provide universal health-care, in which all citizens are provided with access to healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.
Medical treatment is often costly, and patients’ willingness to receive it may be affected by their perception of the benefits and risks involved. Some patients are unable to make informed decisions about their health, and they need a surrogate to advocate on their behalf. In such cases, a physician should consider the ethical principles of autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence.
Patient adherence to medical treatment remains a significant challenge for healthcare providers. A variety of interventions to improve adherence have been implemented, but only a few have shown consistent effectiveness in controlled studies. A lack of theoretical frameworks and empirical evidence on the underlying causes of patient adherence may explain why so many interventions fail.
During a consultation, a doctor will ask the patient about his or her symptoms and medical history. These details are documented in the patient’s medical record, known as the chief complaint or presenting complaint. The health care provider will then discuss the best course of treatment for the patient.
A number of websites allow users to publish and read reviews of physicians. Some of the most popular include Healthgrades, RateMDs and U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals rankings. Patients can also find ratings of physicians on Facebook, where doctors can add a “review” button to their profiles.
Responding to a negative review of your practice can be difficult, but it’s important to remain calm and professional. Start your response by thanking the patient for their feedback, and then move on to addressing any concerns. If you can’t resolve the issue in a respectful manner, suggest that the patient contact you privately for more information or to schedule a follow-up appointment. Close your response by expressing hope that the issue will be resolved and reaffirming your commitment to patient satisfaction.