So, what exactly is clinical medicine?
Clinical medicine is the studying and practicing of medicine which is based on the direct observation of patients. It is no longer a passive, but active participation for student physicians.
The research and practice of this discipline of medicine is also mostly derived through the direct observation and examination of a patient by practicing physicians. Clinical medicine, unlike other theoretical branches of basic science, focuses on direct engagement with patients – starting from their diagnosis, cure, and prevention of diseases in the future.
What does clinical medicine mostly entail?
Clinical medicine MD program is frequently divided into 7 different segments. Although, depending on the clinic or institute, they may include other things as well. Let’s take a look at them –
- Primary complaint
- The medical history of the complainant
- Current BP, weight etc.
- Occupation or other necessary identity
- History of medication if any – including pharma drugs, OTC drugs et al.
- History of other medically relevant information of the patient like – vaccination details, allergies, surgeries or past hospitalizations etc.
- Basic background or personal history such as – residential address, home address etc.
- Any relevant health inquiry like quality of sleep, any fevers, sudden loss/gain of weight.
What are some essential medical equipment required to practice clinical medicine?
Physical examination is a big part of clinical medicine. Equipment in the testing and diagnoses include- stethoscopes, tongue depressors, thermometers, and other diagnostic medical instruments that are commonplace in clinical medicine.
Prescription testing, such as blood tests and biopsies, are also part of clinical medicine. Based on the information gathered, the test findings, a treatment plan is prepared by the doctor to be followed by the patients. It also includes the results of the physical examination. The information gathered is subsequently placed into the medical records of patients for any future reference.
What role does clinical medicine play in an MD program?
An MD program is a combination of classroom lectures, labo sessions, as well as gaining some hands-on experience before entering the world of medicine as a professional. While the MD program encompasses everything in-class lectures and labs, it is also the only opportunity for medical students to apply their theoretical knowledge in real-world situations.
Clinical medicine not only provides the requisite practical experience for an MD curriculum but also prepares students for a future in which they will be forced to execute these actions on a daily basis and under significantly higher stress and tension.
Clinical medicine can be viewed as a trial phase for students before they are allowed to practice medicine. As a result, it provides students with essential experience before they enter the professional world of medicine in actual clinical setups.
Finally, clinical medicine teaches students many skills like dealing with admitted patients, conversing with them, earning their confidence, making accurate diagnoses, and determining treatment protocols on the basis of the findings. Clinical medicine’s importance in the MD curriculum can thus be simply justified.
