The practice of medical treatment involves a variety of procedures and techniques to help relieve or cure illness. Some medical treatments may involve the use of medicines or surgery, while others are less invasive therapies such as physical therapy, occupational therapy, or hyperbaric oxygen therapy. In addition to traditional medicine, the medical treatment field encompasses many alternative practices and therapies including acupuncture, chiropractic care and homeopathy.
A physician is a trained health professional who provides medical treatment and advice on a patient’s overall wellness. A doctor will review a patient’s symptoms and then diagnose the cause of the problem. He or she then develops a plan to treat the condition. This treatment plan will include any medications or therapeutic techniques that are appropriate for the individual patient.
There are several different types of medical treatment: primary care, secondary care and tertiary care. Primary care is the care provided by a health professional in an office setting and generally includes regular exams, diagnostic tests and referrals to specialists. Secondary care is health care provided by nurses and other healthcare providers in a hospital setting. Tertiary care is specialized consultative health care for inpatients that is given on a referral from primary or secondary care.
Most medical treatments are designed to relieve or cure an illness. However, there are also some procedures that are used for diagnostic purposes. For example, a slender tube (called an endoscope) can be inserted into the body to make a visual inspection of organs such as the colon, stomach, bladder, or lungs. In some cases, the doctor may also use this method to take a small sample of tissue for laboratory testing.
Some health problems have no known cure. For example, a person with type 1 diabetes will need to take insulin for life. However, scientists are constantly making new discoveries and it is possible that a disease with no known cure will be treated in the future.
There are also medical treatments that are intended to improve a person’s appearance. For example, a doctor might perform a breast exam to detect cancer or recommend a mammogram for women over 40. There are also cosmetic surgeries that can remove or reduce a person’s scarring from injury or surgery.
Despite their name, some medical treatments do not constitute a “treatment” for OSHA recordkeeping purposes. For example, HIV testing and HBV antibody testing do not qualify as medical treatment under OSHA’s rules. Also, the issuance of a tetanus shot or flu vaccine does not qualify as medical treatment. For these reasons, it is best to consult a health care provider before seeking any medical treatment. This will ensure that your health records contain accurate information and that any procedures you receive are appropriate for the condition for which you are being treated. Moreover, you will be aware of any risks or side effects associated with the procedure.