The Use of Mathematics in the Medical Field

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The medical field is a very interesting career field. There are hundreds of different occupations within this field, including anything from saving a fragile newborn baby’s life to prescribing antibiotics to a relatively healthy adult. No two occupations are exactly alike, but each one is equally important. Although there are several job variations in medicine, they all have at least one thing in common. Every occupation within the medical field relies heavily on mathematics. Elementary mathematics, geometry and algebra are all obviously crucial to advancing in new technology, saving lives and curing diseases. However, most people do not realize the importance math has on simpler tasks performed every day by doctors, nurses, x-ray technicians, pharmacists, and the hundreds of other jobs in this fascinating career field. With the use of basic as well as advanced mathematics, we have achieved many life-saving medical advances and will continue to save lives as well as perform less complicated medical tasks.
Perhaps one of the most used mathematic skill in the medical field is converting units. According to a study based on IMS’s Vector One Database, in the year 2011 alone there were 3,764,698,318 prescriptions filled in the United States (SDI Health). In order to prescribe and fill these prescriptions, pharmacists and doctors had to precisely calculate medication measurements. Medication is prescribed using the metric system, often in milligrams per kilogram (Glydon). To figure how much medicine to prescribe to a patient, a doctor must first convert their patient’s weight in pounds to kilograms. After this, they must carefully calculate the amount of required milligrams per kilogram. Doctors must be able to determine ...

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...out it, we would not have made as medical advances as we have, and we would not be capable of saving thousands of lives each day.

Works Cited
Boyd, J. Lucy. "How Do Nurses Use Math in Their Jobs?." Work. Demand Media, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. .
Glydon, Natasha. "Medicine and Math." Math Central. N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. .
Health, SDI . "Total Number of Retail Prescription Drugs Filled at Pharmacies « » The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation." State Health Facts. The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation, n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. .
"What Tests Might Be Ordered ." Penn Orthopaedics . N.p., n.d. Web. 26 Mar. 2014. .

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