What are preventive medicine specialists, and what do they do?
Preventative medicine specialists are focused on the prevention of illnesses and injuries in general populations. Preventive medicine specialists are trained in both clinical medicine and public health, and are equipped to prevent disease, disability and death in individuals and global communities. Preventative medicine focuses on limiting the spread of disease through measures such as vaccinations and public education on the importance of hand washing, proper diet and exercise, and the use of condoms to reduce STDs. In the United States the work of this specialty can be found in public areas, such as signs that direct employees using the restroom to wash their hands before returning to work in order to reduce the transmission of illnesses contained in feces (fecal oral transmission).
Preventative care specialists are also involved in creating environmental health safety measures, such as smoking cessation and banning smoking in public places and restricting tobacco and alcohol advertisements in certain mediums. Worldwide, preventive medicine strategies include “primal prevention," – the measures taken to ensure the health of unborn babies and newborns through disease prevention; hand washing, breast feeding, and proper antibiotics and immunizations. Primal prevention also includes education on proper medical care and parenting practices, as well as regular medical examinations and screenings, and financial assistance if necessary.What training does a preventative medicine specialist have?
Preventive medicine encompasses general preventative medicine and public health, aerospace medicine, and occupational medicine. It offers two subspecialties: medical toxicology and undersea and hyperbaric medicine, which treats scuba diving-related illnesses. A preventative medicine specialist completes four years of medical school and a one-year medical internship, followed by 1-2 years in a preventive medicine medical residency program. A preventive medicine specialist must then complete one year of practice to qualify for board certification.In which sectors do preventative medicine specialists practice?
Preventive medicine specialists practice in private, public and government sectors in managed care, public health, occupational medicine, clinical medicine, policy development, research and more. Careers range from directors of local and state health departments, to chief medical officers of private corporations, to program developers for non-government organizations associated with the United Nations.Which illnesses or injuries does a preventative medicine specialist help prevent?
The top causes of preventable deaths in adults in the United States include: hypertension and heart-related illnesses, alcohol consumption, smoking or drug abuse, sexually transmitted infections, obesity, indoor air pollution, incidents involving firearms and traffic collisions. Preventative medicine specialists work to help prevent diseases and injuries through legislation (laws), medical intervention and education and awareness.Related Articles:10 Health Symptoms Women Shouldn’t IgnoreMedical Myths That Can Kill You7 Hidden Dangers In Your Home