Medical News and Research: Health and Disability Information

Author: Disabled World (DW)
Updated/Revised Date: 23 Jul 2026

Table of Contents:
Synopsis - Definition - About This Section - FAQs - Publications - Subtopics

Synopsis

At a Glance

• 1 - The word "medicine" comes from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing, and the ancient Greek physician Hippocrates is known as the Father of Modern Medicine.
• 2 - Many modern drugs are still derived from plants, including atropine, ephedrine, warfarin, aspirin, digoxin, and taxol.
• 3 - Medical care is classified into three main categories - primary care (day-to-day first-contact care), secondary care (specialist and acute care via referral), and tertiary care (advanced treatments such as neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and organ transplants).

Topic Definition

Medicine

Medicine is the science and practice of diagnosing, treating, and preventing disease and injury in order to maintain and restore health. The word comes from the Latin "ars medicina," meaning the art of healing, and the field has roots stretching back to ancient Ayurvedic, Egyptian, Chinese, and Greek traditions, with figures like Hippocrates and Galen helping establish a more rational approach to care. Over time, modern scientific and biomedical research, where findings can be tested and reproduced, gradually replaced older ideas such as herbalism and the Greek "four humors," though many drugs still trace their origins to plants. In practice, medicine blends a solid evidence base with the art of clinical judgment, drawing on health science, biomedical research, and medical technology to treat patients through medication, surgery, or other forms of therapy. Care itself is generally organized into three levels - primary care for everyday first-contact needs, secondary care delivered by specialists on referral, and tertiary care for advanced treatments such as neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, and organ transplants.

About This Section

Medicine is defined as the science or practice of the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of disease. The word medicine is derived from the Latin ars medicina, meaning the art of healing. Medicine encompasses a variety of health care practices evolved to maintain and restore health by the prevention and treatment of illness.

Early records on medicine have been discovered from early Ayurvedic medicine in the Indian subcontinent, ancient Egyptian medicine, traditional Chinese medicine, the Americas, and ancient Greek medicine. Early Grecian doctors Hippocrates, who is also called the Father of Modern Medicine, and Galen laid a foundation for later developments in a rational approach to medicine.

The modern scientific biomedical research (where results are testable and reproducible) began to replace early Western traditions of medicine, based on herbalism, the Greek "four humors" and other pre-modern theories. As science and technology developed, medicine became more reliant upon medications. Pharmacology developed from herbalism and many drugs are still derived from plants (atropine, ephedrine, warfarin, aspirin, digoxin, vinca alkaloids, taxol, hyoscine, etc.).

The practice of modern medicine combines both science as the evidence base and art in the application of this medical knowledge with intuition and clinical judgment to determine the treatment plan for each individual patient.

Contemporary medicine applies health science, biomedical research, and medical technology to diagnose and treat injury and disease, typically through medication, surgery, or some other form of therapy.

Medical Care Classification

Provision of medical care is classified into 3 main categories:

• Primary care medical services:

  Primary care is classified as the day-to-day healthcare given by a health care provider. Typically, this provider acts as the first contact and principal point of continuing care for patients within a healthcare system, and coordinates other specialist care that the patient may need. Primary care is generally provided by physicians, physician assistants, nurse practitioners, or other health professionals who have first contact with a patient seeking medical treatment or care. These occur in physician offices, clinics, nursing homes, schools, home visits, and other places close to patients.

• Secondary care medical services:

  Provided by medical specialists in their offices or clinics or at local community hospitals for a patient referred by a primary care provider who first diagnosed or treated the patient. Referrals are made for those patients who required the expertise or procedures performed by specialists. Secondary care includes acute care: necessary treatment for a short period of time for a brief but serious illness, injury, or other health condition. This care is often found in a hospital emergency department. Secondary care also includes skilled attendance during childbirth, intensive care, and medical imaging services.

• Tertiary care medical services:

  Provided by specialist hospitals or regional centers equipped with diagnostic and treatment facilities not generally available at local hospitals. Tertiary care is a specialized consultative health care for inpatients. The patients are admitted into these centers on a referral from primary or secondary health professionals. Tertiary health care is provided in a facility that has personnel and facilities for advanced medical investigation and treatment. Services provided include cancer management, neurosurgery, cardiac surgery and a host of complex medical and surgical interventions. These may include trauma centers, burn treatment centers, advanced neonatology unit services, organ transplants, high-risk pregnancy, radiation oncology, etc.

Biomedical Literature Sources

The three types of biomedical literature include the tertiary, secondary, and primary literature resources. Sources are classified depending on both the originality of the information presented and their proximity or how close they are to the source of information.

• Primary Source in Medicine:

  The authors directly participated in the research or documented their personal experiences. They examined patients, injected rats, ran experiments, or supervised those who did. Many, but not all, papers published in medical journals are primary sources for facts about the research and discoveries made.

• Secondary Source in Medicine:

  Summarizes one or more primary or secondary sources, usually to provide an overview of current understanding of the topic, to make recommendations, or to combine results of several studies, such as literature or systematic reviews found in medical journals, specialist academic or professional books, and medical guidelines or position statements published by major health organizations.

• Tertiary Source in Medicine:

  A tertiary source usually summarizes a range of secondary sources. Undergraduate or graduate level textbooks, edited scientific books, lay scientific books, and encyclopedias are examples of tertiary sources.

Regular Medical Checkups are Very Important

• Female Health Check Up: Things Women Should Have Checked at a Medical Exams
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Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between conventional and alternative medicine?

Conventional medicine relies on scientifically tested treatments delivered by licensed doctors, while alternative medicine includes practices used in place of standard care that often lack rigorous scientific evidence. When non-conventional therapies are used alongside conventional treatment rather than instead of it, the approach is usually called complementary or integrative medicine.

How do new drugs get approved for use?

New drugs move through laboratory research and several phases of clinical trials in humans to test safety and effectiveness before a regulatory agency reviews the results. Only after approval can a medication be marketed, and it continues to be monitored for side effects once in wider use.

What is evidence based medicine?

Evidence based medicine is an approach that combines the best available research, a clinician's expertise, and the patient's values to guide treatment decisions. It aims to ensure that care is grounded in reliable data rather than habit or tradition alone.

How can I tell if online medical information is reliable?

Look for content reviewed by qualified professionals, backed by reputable organizations, and supported by cited research or sources. Be cautious of sites that promise miracle cures, sell products aggressively, or lack clear authorship and dates.

What is the role of a pharmacist in medical care?

Pharmacists dispense medications, check for harmful drug interactions, and advise patients on correct usage and possible side effects. They serve as an accessible resource for medication questions and help ensure treatments are used safely and effectively.

What is telemedicine and how does it work?

Telemedicine allows patients to consult with health care providers remotely through video calls, phone, or secure messaging. It improves access to care for people in rural areas or with mobility challenges, though some conditions still require an in-person visit.

Why is it important to disclose all medications to your doctor?

Sharing every prescription, over-the-counter drug, and supplement you take helps your doctor avoid dangerous interactions and duplicate treatments. A complete picture allows for safer, more effective care tailored to your needs.

Curated and edited by Ian C. Langtree, Founder & Editor-in-Chief, Disabled World. This section is maintained by the Disabled World editorial team.

Last updated: 23 Jul 2026