Medical is the name given to the discipline of medicine and its many sub-fields. Training in medicine (as opposed to surgery) varies widely across the world. Specialisation in medicine is a significant part of the process; doctors may become specialists in fields like haematology, endocrinology, gastroenterology, neurology, rheumatology and oncology. Each specialty has its own entrance examination and usually its own unifying body or college, often known as the Royal Colleges.
The presenting complaint of the patient, often described in the terms of the patient’s own description; it is also called the chief concern or CC and may be recorded in a form called the history of present illness (HPI). This is followed by relevant investigations, which include blood tests, scans and imaging studies. Specialist consultations are sometimes required.
Medications used to treat certain medical conditions or diseases, such as antibiotics and antiviral drugs. Vaccines are medicines that stimulate the production of antibodies to protect against particular diseases.
A medical sign or symptom, such as chest pain, fever and diarrhoea.
Medical terminology is the lexicon of the field; it follows the same structure as all languages and includes prefixes and suffixes like -itis, -omy, -oma and -ectomy. The language is important because it ensures that physicians from different hospitals and disciplines can communicate effectively. Medical terminology also helps reduce miscommunications between patients and their families, as the language uses common words that most people will already know.
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