Medical Terminology and Communication Skills in Healthcare

Jargon

A collection of terms used by people in a particular profession that can be difficult to understand when an individual is not in the profession.

Anatomical Terms

Refer to body parts and the structure of the body; for example, 'trachea' is the anatomical term for windpipe.

Procedural Terms

Refer to medical methods used to treat or investigate disease, injury or other medical problems; for example, biopsy is the medical term for a procedure in which a sample of cells or tissue is taken for laboratory examination.

Terms Relating to Symptoms

Refer to features or feelings which act as evidence of disease, injury or other medical problems; for example, paresthesia is the medical term for abnormal tingling, prickling or numbness.

Acronyms, Abbreviations & Symbols

Shortened or contracted forms of a word or phrase.

Acronyms

Shorten a phrase by taking the first letter of each word; for example, BP means blood pressure.

Abbreviations

Shorten a word or phrase into a few letters; for example, Ad lib means at liberty.

Symbols

Represent a word or phrase; for example, ᾱ means before.

Medical Devices & Machinery

Tools used by medical professionals to diagnose or treat disease, injury or other medical problems; for example, a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scanner is a medical machine which produces detailed pictures of structures inside the body.

Using Prior Knowledge or Experience

Requires identifying familiar parts of words to help figure out the meaning of the word.

Prefix

An element added to the beginning of a word (non- or re-).

Suffix

An element added to the end of a word (-ation or -able).

Root word

Meaning of a word before the addition of a prefix or suffix.

Medical Terminology

Is essential to learn to be able to function in a professional health science setting.

Interpreting Contents Correctly

Example: 'The patient has arrived at the ER with the CC of chest pain and shortness of breath.'

Therapeutic Communication

Demonstrating appropriate communication in health science scenarios.

Verbal and Nonverbal Skills

Skills executed when communicating with persons with sensory and language barriers.

Health Science Professionals

Individuals who should translate medical terms to be more conversational when communicating with patients.

Sensory and Language Barriers

Challenges faced when communicating with patients that require specific communication techniques.

Technical Documents

Documents related to the healthcare industry that require translation.

Communication Skills

Skills necessary for effective interaction in health science scenarios.

Simulated Setting

An environment used to practice communication skills with patients.

cardiomegaly

A condition characterized by an enlarged heart.

chief complaint (CC)

The primary symptom or issue for which a patient seeks medical attention.

geneticists

Medical specialists who study DNA and heredity.

dominant trait

A visible or expressed trait in an individual.

recessive trait

A trait that is not expressed or seen in the patient.

pathologists

Medical specialists who study disorders.

atrophy

The wasting away of a cell, tissue, or body part.

oncologists

Medical specialists who study cancer.

mutagen

Any substance that can cause a permanent change in DNA.

MRI

Magnetic resonance imaging.

eponyms

Medical terms named after the person who discovered or perfected them.

Alzheimer's disease

A disease named after Alois Alzheimer.

homonyms

Words that have the same pronunciation or spelling but different meanings.

dermatome

An area of skin that sends sensory information.

synonyms

Words that have similar or the same meanings.

pleurocentesis

The insertion of a hollow needle into the pleural cavity to draw out fluid.

ilium

One of the bones in the pelvis.

ileum

The lower portion of the small intestine.

perineum

The pelvic floor.

peritoneum

The membrane lining the abdominal cavity.

palpitation

An irregular or racing heartbeat.

palpation

Examination by feeling or applying gentle pressure.

qualitative data

Data points collected based on observations, such as a patient's ability to focus.

quantitative data

Data points collected based on measurable factors, such as blood pressure readings.

medical documents

Records that include a patient's medical history, symptoms, and treatments.

medical history

An ongoing document recording a patient's conditions and treatments.

past medical history (PMH)

Confirmation of past illnesses and symptoms affecting the current state of the patient.

social history (SH)

Information about drug/alcohol/tobacco use, occupation, and relationship status.

family history (FH)

Illnesses affecting immediate family members.

physician progress notes

Written records summarizing the care and services provided to a patient.

treatment plan

The proposed course of action for managing a patient's condition.

Pronunciation of Letters

Are unique to each language.

Tips for Pronouncing and Spelling Terms

Include breaking down the word into smaller parts and using resources.

Chief Complaint

Is indicated with the acronym CC and is why the patient is being seen on each visit.

Mispronunciations and Misspellings

Can be a major source of confusion and could cause serious mistakes in diagnosis and treatment.

nurse response

asks follow up questions, reviews history, takes blood pressure, vital signs and temperature, and assesses the symptoms.

doctor response

reviews details provided by the nurse, asks questions about the chief complaint, or CC, and orders an X-ray to see if the patient has cardiomegaly.

radical

drastic.

radicle

a vessel's smallest branch.

thoracentesis

the insertion of a hollow needle into the pleural cavity through the chest wall in order to draw out fluid.

International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA)

notation system for the sounds each letter can make.

patient's BP

was recorded at 140/90 mmHg, indicating high blood pressure stage 2.

patient's temperature

was recorded at 97.9 F (36.6 C).

History of Present Illness

Includes a basic review of the timeline of symptoms.

Review of Systems

Is a review of the state of general body systems, abbreviated as ROS.

Physical Exam Results

Are viewed by the physician and likely include vital signs and various examinations.

Physician's Assessment

Is what the physician thinks the results of the exam mean.

Radiological Reports

Describe radiology procedures conducted and provide interpretation.

Laboratory Reports

Describe and analyze the findings of laboratory tests performed on urine, blood or tissue samples.

Nausea

A feeling of sickness with an inclination to vomit.

Vomiting

The act of expelling the contents of the stomach through the mouth.

Diarrhea

A condition in which feces are discharged from the bowels frequently and in a liquid form.

Antacids

Medications that help neutralize stomach acid.

Omeprazole

A medication used to reduce stomach acid production.

Vital Signs

Measurements of the body's most basic functions, including blood pressure, heart rate, respiration rate, and body temperature.

Neurological Exam

Assessment of nerves, muscles, reflexes, balance, and mental state.

Dermatological Exam

Examination of skin and nails.

Extremities Exam

Examination of joints and movement of arms, legs, fingers, and toes.

Mass

An abnormal growth.

Benign Mass

A mass that is not cancerous.

Malignant Mass

A mass that is cancerous.

Pathology

The science of laboratory examination of bodily samples for diagnostic or forensic purposes.

Follow-up Appointment

A scheduled visit to reassess the patient's condition after treatment.

Type of specimen

Examples include urine, blood, or which organ.

Method of collection

Can be by patient, by technician, or through biopsy.

Results of test

Usually presented as a range of values indicating whether results are within normal range or not.

Condition of the sample

Refers to the state of the sample, noting if there was a low amount or if drugs which might affect the test were present.

Verbal communication

Includes kind tone, professional manner, and appropriate level of vocabulary.

Nonverbal communication

Involves eye contact, professional stance, and respect for others' space.

Effective Listening

An essential skill for healthcare professionals that enables recognition of factors that could improve patient health.

Requirements for Effective Listening

Includes facing the speaker, maintaining eye contact, showing empathy, and avoiding interruptions.

Trust and comfort in Therapeutic Communication

Requires a level of trust and comfort between the patient and professional.

Encouraging patient communication

Involves statements like 'it is so nice to see you' and 'let's talk about how you are feeling'.

Attentiveness in Therapeutic Communication

Includes being attentive verbally and nonverbally, such as maintaining eye contact and nodding.

Open-ended questions in Therapeutic Communication

Encourages patients to explore their symptoms and feelings, e.g., 'tell me about your symptoms'.

Clarifying and focusing

Involves asking for specifics, like 'can you point to exactly where on your foot the tingling occurs'.

Providing information

Explains tests and procedures in simple terms, e.g., 'we are going to have to get a blood test'.

Sharing empathy and hope

Includes statements like 'I understand this is a scary disease, but the rate of survival is high at 85 percent'.