The Modern-Day Physician
No greater opportunity, responsibility, or obligation can fall to the lot of a human being than to become a physician. In the care of the suffering, [the physician] needs technical skill, scientific knowledge, and human understanding. . .. Tact, sympathy, and understanding are expected of the physician, for the patient is no mere collection of symptoms, signs, disordered functions, damaged organs, and disturbed emotions. [The patient] is human, fearful, and hopeful, seeking relief, help, and reassurance.
—Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine, 1950
The practice of medicine has changed in significant ways since the first edition of this book appeared more than 60 years ago. The advent of molecular genetics, molecular biology, and molecular pathophysiology, sophisticated new imaging techniques, and advances in bioinformatics and information technology have contributed to an explosion of scientific information that has fundamentally changed the way physicians define, diagnose, treat, and prevent disease. This growth of scientific knowledge is ongoing and accelerating.
The widespread use of electronic medical records and the Internet have altered the way doctors practice medicine and exchange information. As today's physician struggles to integrate copious amounts of scientific knowledge into everyday practice, it is important to remember that the ultimate goal of medicine is to prevent disease and treat sick patients. Despite more than 60 years of scientific advances since the first edition of this text, it is critical to underscore that cultivating the intimate relationship between physician and patient still lies at the heart of successful patient care.
đang được dịch, vui lòng đợi..
