1. Fields of Medical Practice
Chapter 3

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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.

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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