Medical procedure

A medical procedure is a course of action intended to achieve a result in the delivery of healthcare.

A medical procedure with the intention of determining, measuring, or diagnosing a patient condition or parameter is also called a medical test. Other common kinds of procedures are therapeutic (i.e., intended to treat, cure, or restore function or structure), such as surgical and physical rehabilitation procedures.

Definition

  • "An activity directed at or performed on an individual with the object of improving health, treating disease or injury, or making a diagnosis."[1] - International Dictionary of Medicine and Biology
  • "The act or conduct of diagnosis, treatment, or operation."[2] - Stedman's Medical Dictionary by Thomas Lathrop Stedman
  • "A series of steps by which a desired result is accomplished."[3] - Dorland's Medical Dictionary by William Alexander Newman Dorland
  • "The sequence of steps to be followed in establishing some course of action."[4] - Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary

List of medical procedures

Propaedeutic

Diagnostic

Therapeutic

See also: Therapy and List of surgical procedures

Surgical

Anesthesia

Other

See also

References

  1. ^ International Dictionary of Medicine and Biology, Page 2297. ISBN 0-471-01849-X
  2. ^ Stedman's Medical Dictionary, 27th ed. Page 1446. ISBN 0-683-40007-X
  3. ^ Dorland's Illustrated Medical Dictionary, 28th ed. Page 1353. ISBN 0-7216-2859-1
  4. ^ Mosby's Medical, Nursing, & Allied Health Dictionary, Page 1278. ISBN 0-8016-7225-2