Fields of Medical Practice Chapter 3

The Evolution of Medicine Today’s practice of medicine evolved from customs of ancient times Care for the patient was often given by priests who performed rituals to give homage to mythical gods to appease them in order to rid the body of disease Hippocrates — Greek physician in 400 B.C. Known as the “Father of Medicine” Wrote the Hippocratic Oath First to separate medicine from myth and write terms

Hospitals Latin term meaning guest house Early hospitals run by religious orders Romans had military hospitals In the 19th century, hospitals became centers for treating all classes of society and operated for both profit and non- profit

The Physician Greek term meaning natural The term “physician” is interchangeable with the term “medical doctor” The doctor of medicine (M.D.) degree is earned by successfully completing medical school The doctor of osteopathic medicine (D.O.) is similar to an M.D. but with an emphasis on the role of the musculoskeletal system and maintaining function and balance in the body

American Board of Medical Specialists (est. 1933) Established twenty-four (24) individual physician specialty boards specifying standards for training, testing and monitoring after medical school (3-7 yrs) After a physician completes specialty training and passes a specified board examination, he/she is designated as “board certified” and referred to as a “diplomate” A board’s standards extend beyond the usual requirements for licensure.

The Caduceus Staff of Mercury Two serpents twined around staff Emblem in Greek mythology Serpent Symbol of Wisdom Medical symbol of healing because of its long life, annual shedding of skin suggesting renewal of youth/health, and keen eyesight

The Caduceus Rod of Aesculapius Earliest caduceus (continued) Rod of Aesculapius Earliest caduceus Single serpent twining around a stick or rod Aesculapius — god of medicine

Other Fields of Medical Practice Medial specialists who are licensed but do not hold an M.D. or D.O. degree: D.C. (doctor of chiropractic medicine)…manip. of spine D.D.S. (doctor of dental surgery)…dental surgery D.P.M. (doctor of podiatric medicine)…diseases of the foot O.D. (doctor of optometry)….diagnose/treat eye conditions Ph.D. (doctor of philosophy)…..field of psychology

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice cardi/o chir/o crin/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice cardi/o heart cardiology chir/o hand chiropractic crin/o to secrete endocrinology

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice dent/i dermat/o enter/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice dent/i teeth dentist dermat/o skin dermatology enter/o small gastroenterology intestine

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice esthesi/o gastr/o gen/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice esthesi/o sensation anesthesiology gastr/o stomach gastroenterology gen/o origin/ gene production

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice ger/o gynec/o hemat/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice ger/o old age geriatric gynec/o woman gynecology hemat/o blood hematology

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice immun/o laryng/o nephr/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice immun/o safe immunology laryng/o voicebox otolaryngology nephr/o kidney nephrology

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice neur/o obstetr/o onc/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice neur/o nerve neurologist obstetr/o midwife obstetric onc/o tumor oncology

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice ophthalm/o opt/o orth/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice ophthalm/o eye ophthalmology opt/o eye optometry orth/o straight, orthopedics normal, or correct

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice ot/o path/o ped/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice ot/o ear otolaryngologist path/o disease pathology ped/o child or foot pediatrics orthopedics

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice physi/o plas/o pod/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice physi/o physical physiatrist plas/o formation plastic surgery pod/o foot podiatry

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice psych/o radio vascul/o

Combining Forms for Fields of Medical Practice psych/o mind psychiatry radio x-ray radiology vascul/o vessel vascular