Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Medical protocol
Introduction
Medical protocol can refer to:
- medical guidelines for a medical treatment. It usually includes a treatment plan, summarized consensus statements and addresses practical issues.
- Clinical protocol, which has a more specific meaning. It describes a method to be used in a clinical trial (e.g. of a drug or medical treatment) or a medical research study.
- A set of rules followed by providers such as EMTs or nurses. More strict than guidelines, medical protocols often carry the weight of law.