Medical is the science or practice of treating disease, injury or other abnormality with medicines and surgery. It is a vast field that encompasses many different specialty areas. Some of these include endocrinology (the study of hormones), epidemiology (the study of diseases in populations), histology (the study of cells and tissues using light and electron microscopy) and neuroscience (the branch of biology that deals with the nervous system and brain).
In addition to doctors, other highly trained health professionals make up modern medicine. These include nurses, emergency medical technicians and paramedics, laboratory scientists, pharmacists, dietitians, physiotherapists, speech therapists, occupational therapists, and radiologists. Many of these health professionals work as part of a team, with the primary care physician providing overall management and supervision. Patients with more serious or urgent conditions are often referred to tertiary care hospitals for specialist treatment.
Medical technology companies like Stryker and Boston Scientific produce advanced healthcare devices to help physicians diagnose and treat their patients. These devices, such as joint replacement implants and surgical navigation systems, are often used by surgeons to treat common ailments. More recently, they’ve focused on the field of interventional medicine – producing products like stents and implantable defibrillators. Other global players like BD and GE Healthcare supply equipment and systems used within medical services. Their syringes, needles and infusion therapy products are among the most commonly used in modern healthcare. Rigorous testing and manufacturing standards are critical for these industry leaders.