The Concept of Medical Terminology Essay (Critical Writing)

Introduction, medical terminology for all health care workers, the importance of medical terminology to support staff, works cited.

Medical terminology can be described as a language used by the medical professionals in the course of their work. It refers to terms used to define the human body. Medical terminology is widely used in the medical profession.

In most cases, the medical terminology uses words created using prefixes and suffixes in Latin and Ancient Greek. In medicine, the meaning and the etymology are informed of the source or the language of origin. The method is completely dissimilar to the Standard English. In this case, the root of the word can be independent in a sentence. For instance, the word nose is a word root in English that can be used without being modified (Ehrlich and Schroeder, 2).

Medical terminology is a prerequisite for all health care workers. It is the jargon of the health care industry. The health care workers need it because the appropriate or accurate terminology effects or instrument quality patient care and fewer or no errors. Health care workers should know that medical terminology is medicine’s language and prolongs care for patients.

Medical terminology makes it easier for the health care providers describe the patient’s conditions accurately. In this case, by sharing precise medical language, they can share accurate information without much wastage of time. Medical terminology is the universal language of medicine (Chabner, 45).

Thus, it facilitates the movement of patients from one medical institution to another without a lapse in care. This works efficiently when the medical information is correctly coded. The medical terminology helps the health care professionals to communicate effectively while handling patients. Medical terminology helps the health workers to understand words and their meanings hence helps them to identify locations of critical organs and functions of the body (Simmers, Simmers-Nartker and Simmers, 139).

The medical support staff includes office, clerical, and custodial staff. The support staff too requires to be conversant with the medical terminologies. In this case, without this knowledge, they may end up loosing their career. After being employed in the healthcare organizations, they are trained under medical support programs that prepare them to work in medical offices. In many cases, they collect patients’ notes and make sure that the patients’ important records go to the required or correct health care professional.

It eases their work when they use medical terminologies. For instance, one can effectively put down something before checking the spelling later. In this case, the medical terminologies become effective as a medical officer can quickly write down what is said by the patient. In this case, clerks or office administrators may write NPO instead of nothing by mouth, DX instead of diagnosis, and STD instead of sexually transmitted diseases.

Consequently, the terminology is critical in cases where patients talk a lot. Therefore, using the terminology, they are able to capture what is being said. The support staff is part of health services Frontline staff hence cannot be excluded from using the medical terminology.

Any person working in any medical field requires use medical terminology while communicating. In the medical field, there can be no excuse of not knowing medical terminologies. All people involved in the medical profession and curious patients should be conversant with the medical terminologies to be efficient. Medical terminologies clear all doubts and confusions in the medical field, which is characterized by health care providers, support staff, and patients.

Chabner, Davi-Ellen. The Language of Medicine . Saint Louis, Mo: Saunders/Elsevier, 2011. Print.

Ehrlich, Ann, and C.L. Schroeder. Medical Terminology for Health Professions . Clifton Park, NY: Delmar, Cengage Learning, 2013. Print.

Simmers, Louise, K. Simmers-Nartker, and S. Simmers-Kobelak. Diversified Health Occupations . Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning, 2009. Print.

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Medical Terminology Essay Examples

Type of paper: Essay

Topic: Education , Speech , Professionalism , Patient , Profession , Nursing , Rhetoric , Medicine

Published: 01/18/2020

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Introduction

In this essay, the subject of discussion is if whether a medical professional should use technical words, or more “down-to-earth” terminology when speaking to a patient to explain his/her condition. It is also discussed how a person without medical knowledge probably feels when given with a speech full of complex concepts and, furthermore, why people faced with such speech tend to have worse reactions, interpreting the situation as being a lot more serious than it actually may be. - Use of medical terminology, or a more accessible when talking to a patient In a dilemma between the use of medical terminology, or a much simpler speech of easier concepts to be acquired, the last one seems to be much more efficient and with positive results when talking to patients about their condition. The use of simple speech and lower of concept’s difficulty presents a much clearer chain of ideas that the patients will more openly accept and interiorize. A medical professional should always remain as such; despite this fact, should also be careful to be always clear with the patients, making sure they always fully understand what is going on with them. For example, instead of saying “You suffer from Irritable Bowel Syndrome”, the use of simpler terms to explain the same situation is much more positive: “You have your bowel, which means your intestines, irritated because of something you must usually eat that causes this”. Instead of saying “Your clinical condition shows clear signs of Dementia”, the expression “What makes you forget about things and people is your age” is more acceptable for the patient to understand; or, instead of “An Influenza virus is the cause of you hyperthermia and you may also experience some edema of your adenoid glands later”, saying “The fever you’re having is because you have a flu, so you might also feel your nose clogging and running later”. As referred, the clinic is a health professional and should keep is posture as such, but, at the same time, should have the sensibility to understand the absence of medical knowledge on his/her patients; thus, the clinic should mold the way of expressing the patient’s condition, using terms and ideas that anyone could understand. - Prediction of the patient’s own thought when faced with medical complex terminology and cause of exaggerated worse reactions When faced with a clinic that is using only medical, complex terms to explain the current medical situation, the patient generally feels confused and is not able to understand what the main idea that the health professional is trying to say is. The patient gets disorientated while the clinic is still talking and, instead of an organized idea, hears just a group of words, which he/she then tries to understand individually, trying to reach some helpful conclusion. Furthermore, the use of words like “syndrome”, for example, gives the patient the idea of some very complex disease. This way, when using complex words, the clinic is often setting of a state of alarm on the patient. It is not rare, consequently, that the patient gets the feeling he/she has a very bad, serious illness. By distancing himself/herself from the patients situation and ignorance of medical concepts, the clinic talks in a way that, for the patient, sounds as a situation where the condition must be so grave, the doctor has to use even unknown words to describe it; so it must be really rare.

The understanding of how indicated it is to adapt the terminology used by clinics is easily concluded when observing the patients reaction and expression. The clinic should, in fact, use proper language, lowered to the patient’s knowledge, so that he/she can acquire the full meaning of the idea regarding his/her condition. Using formal and technical medical language is proven to have negative impact on the patient, who does not apprehend the clinic’s speech as a whole idea, but has a group of words he tries to figure out individually, seeking some enlightenment. Taking such in consideration, it is easily understandable, also, why patients often react worse, even in simple conditions: they feel their condition must be rare, needing specific terms, which are complex, to define it; the complexity of these words makes them understand their condition as such. The clinic should, in resume, mold the way of explaining the patients’ situation, in order to form a clear idea, appearing as understandable to anyone’s common sense.

Changes in medical terminology confuses patients [Data File]. Retrieved from http://www.news-medical.net/news/2008/12/08/43930.pdf Thompson, Carol Lynn, Pledger, (1993). Doctor-Patient Communication: Is Patient Knowledge of Medical Terminology Improving? [Abstract]. Health Communication, 5(2), 89-97.

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Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professions

(8 reviews)

essay using medical terminology

Andrea M. Nelson, University of West Florida

Katherine Greene, University of West Florida

Copyright Year: 2021

Publisher: University of West Florida Pressbooks

Language: English

Formats Available

Conditions of use.

Attribution

Learn more about reviews.

Reviewed by Wendy Schuh, Assistant Professor, Minnesota State University Mankato on 2/8/24

This book is clearly laid out with 18 different chapters covering all of the body systems + obstetrics. There are interactive figures, flash cards, and end of chapter quizzes. Vocabulary words have a linked definition within the text. It would be... read more

Comprehensiveness rating: 5 see less

This book is clearly laid out with 18 different chapters covering all of the body systems + obstetrics. There are interactive figures, flash cards, and end of chapter quizzes. Vocabulary words have a linked definition within the text. It would be an added benefit to include pronunciation, which is an important component of medical terminology. Videos have a captioning option.

Content Accuracy rating: 5

No concerns with accuracy.

Relevance/Longevity rating: 5

References are included with each chapter. Publication date is 2021, and most references are within the last five years. In addition, this content is mostly stable over the years. CrashCourse videos are a little older (2015) but many students are familiar with Hank Green in this format. Information is relevant and easy to process.

Clarity rating: 5

Clear chapter content, sections, and headings.

Consistency rating: 5

Consistent style of writing, activities, page layout, etc. throughout the book.

Modularity rating: 5

Chapters organized in a logical manner. Flashcards and interactive body part activities are wonderful tools, even better since they can be completed multiple times.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 4

The structure of the textbook is sound and consistent with other medical terminology textbooks. A more thorough Table of Contents would allow for easier navigation. It has a good balance of technical and non-technical writing that makes it easy to read and comprehend.

Interface rating: 3

Appealing and interactive. I attempted to take advantage of the “re-use” option below each activity but could not figure it out. Search function does not work well. I tried searching phrases directly from the text, and it would not pull up. The labeling activities were difficult to complete as the drag and drop feature would not scroll. Therefore, it would be useful to have a correct answer option to see the completed figure. It would be helpful to have descriptions included with different e-book options that explain interactive functions with each format.

Grammatical Errors rating: 5

Very clean and proofed!

Cultural Relevance rating: 5

Appeared to be culturally inclusive, although it is difficult to assess in this type of resource. No diverse representation of skin color on diagrams.

This is a great textbook that mimics other medical terminology textbooks costing $100+ that don’t have interactive components. There could be some great additions to more effectively use this for a course textbook, such as a question bank, study guides, and suggestions for worksheets and projects to incorporate points into a course framework.

Reviewed by Sharon Schaeffer, Associate Clinical Professor, Bowling Green State University on 4/16/23

Covers major body systems . read more

Covers major body systems .

I did not see any errors during my review.

Medical terminology is a pretty static topic. When students learn how to correctly combine forms, they will be ready to decipher new vocabulary that comes with progress in health care.

Easy to understand.

The depth of content is consistent.

I will allow students to choose their topic of the week after the first 3 chapters are complete. The module system will work well for this design. This design allows students taking A & P or similar courses the opportunity to learn med term at the same time as they are learning in other courses.

Organization/Structure/Flow rating: 5

Well organized.

Interface rating: 5

I had no challenges linking to and using the added features.

No problems noted.

Inclusive content.

This book will help my students learn the basics of medical terminology as a foundation for building a strong professional vocabulary. I like the interactive activities in this book as it helps learners of different styles. It would be a bonus if there were quiz question banks available. It is not enough of a deal breaker to stop me from using this in my course next Spring semester.

Reviewed by Kristin Meyer, Professor, Drake University on 12/15/22

The text comprehensively covers medical terms in each body system, with a couple of introductory chapters. It covers the span of life with a dedicated obstetrics chapter, which I have not seen in other texts. read more

The text comprehensively covers medical terms in each body system, with a couple of introductory chapters. It covers the span of life with a dedicated obstetrics chapter, which I have not seen in other texts.

No inaccuracies identified.

Medical terminology does not easily or often change, but the text could be easily updated from time to time to include new disease states or terms.

No issues with clarity identified.

Each chapter has a consistent format with link to video overview and active learning activities interspersed throughout.

The organization by body system allows an instructor to assign the appropriate amount of content to correspond with course credit hours.

The online version is easy to navigate. The search function doesn't work as I would expect it to.

Interface rating: 4

The online version is easy to navigate. The pdf download has none of the interactive features. It would be nice if the pdf version could somehow include the active learning exercises in each chapter, with an answer key appendix.

No grammatical errors identified.

Does not appear to be culturally insensitive.

I could easily adopt this text for my web-instructed undergraduate medical terminology class. The interactive features are helpful to engage students. A summary quiz at the end of each chapter would be a nice added feature.

Reviewed by Nancy Bouchard, Adjunct Professor, North Shore Community College on 11/14/22

Very well done. read more

Very well done.

Very accurate and not biased.

If updates are needed, they could be added with ease.

Well written text.

Very consistent.

Very user friendly. Easy to read and assign chapters.

Very organized.

I did not encounter any issues.

None noticed.

Not insensitive or offensive.

My only concern is for the student who has no prior exposure to medical terminology, healthcare training or will not have a clinical role in healthcare. I would not want them to get overwhelmed by the depth of detail in each chapter. I would suggest a section in each chapter that contains exercises for students to test their understanding of the subject matter read, practice correctly writing the terms and the like. Visual learning is only one way for students to absorb content. I would have to create ways to test their understanding to be graded using quizzes, a research project, midterm and final exam. I'm on the fence if the content in the textbook is too deep for only needing a basic understanding of medical terms.

Reviewed by Martha Fabian-Krause, Adjunct Clinical Instructor, Rogue Community College on 9/1/22

Systematic flow of each body system to include root word, prefix, suffix, anatomy, physiology, video and practice in each section. Logical to follow. read more

Systematic flow of each body system to include root word, prefix, suffix, anatomy, physiology, video and practice in each section. Logical to follow.

No issues noted. Very accurate.

Timeless interpretation of terminology would make the on line text need updating only if new medical information becomes available.

Detailed explanations of terminology, anatomy and physiology with pertinent examples and word practice at the end of each body system.

Each section is consistent by acknowledging medical diseases, disorders, and procedures related to the root words. Good follow through in each body system.

This on line book can be assigned in a particular order relevant to other class material and does not need to be completed in any particular time frame. Pleasurable reading.

The format of each section (body system) is in a progressive fashion and is put together with a video near the beginning and word games at the end of each section. Good sequencing noted throughout.

Charts are easy to navigate. There is an identical format what is easy to assimilate.

None noted.

No diversive issues noted. Represents the full spectrum of human anatomy and physiology.

Marvelous understanding of the root words, prefix, suffix and detailed anatomy and physiology. The videos and word matches at the end of each section put the meaning crystal clear.

Reviewed by Carla Tobin, Faculty, Century College on 6/17/22

This textbook covers all of the body systems, the word parts and rules, and prefixes and suffixes. read more

This textbook covers all of the body systems, the word parts and rules, and prefixes and suffixes.

This book is very accurate. No discrepancies or errors were noted in the textbook.

Medical terminology is a subject that does not change over the years. As new diseases and technologies arise, they can easily be incorporated into the content.

The language used in the book is clear and pronunciations of the terminology is provided throughout the e-book. This is an easy to read book for high school or college level students.

The chapters are consistent in there format and organization throughout the textbook. It is easy to follow for the student.

The chapters are broken down into sections which make it easy to read. The videos are shown within the textbook, so the user is not taken to another site. One suggestion would be to have a link to the next chapter at the bottom of the page rather than scrolling up to the top to choose the next chapter from the left side menu.

The organization of this textbook is exactly what you would expect for a Medical Terminology textbook. It is divided into chapters by body system.

There are no apparent issues with the interface. As noted above, the videos are shown within the textbook window, so the user is not taken to another site.

I did not note any grammatical errors in this textbook.

Cultural sensitivity is not really relevant with medical terminology. This language is used in many countries in order to be able to communicate in the same language.

I agree that the best use of this book in the online internet version. This is a very comprehensive medical terminology book. It covers all of the body systems and word building of medical terminology. The chapters provide many opportunities to practice what the student has learned. I liked that each chapter has the learning objectives listed at the beginning. I would have liked to see chapter summaries for the students to study. I think that this book could easily be incorporated into an online class, however, some work would be involved making PowerPoints, homework and quizzes. Overall, this is an excellent Medical Terminology book.

Reviewed by Renee Eaton, Advanced Instructor, Undergraduate Director, Virginia Tech on 5/17/22

Systems-based organization and includes all body systems. read more

Systems-based organization and includes all body systems.

No errors or issues noted

Medical terminology is something that rarely changes. Context activities may change over time, as does disease prevalence and knowledge, but new terms or different terms are not common.

Clear descriptions and use of technical and non-technical language.

The organization is the same across each chapter making the book easy to access and navigate. Language and flow are consistent.

Text is easy to navigate. It may be helpful to provide some in-chapter navigation on the lower menu bar. For example, the previous and next chapters are linked on the left and right margins of the bottom, and chapter components such as diseases / anatomy / etc. could be added to the center. It may not all fit, but even having a couple of navigation points within the chapter would be helpful.

Good organization and order of chapters.

This is one of my greatest difficulties. Navigation within chapters would be helpful. The incorporation of activities, particularly the labeling activities and Medical Terms in Context, are difficult with a regular laptop screen. The text and answer selections are often not on the same screen, making the activity more tedious to complete. Some of the labeling activities also have large images that put the image and answer selections on different screens. The "Did You Know", "Objectives" and colored boxes contain wasted space. They're excessively large especially in the header, and when viewing on a laptop is often half the screen if not more. The PDF version often has issues of inconsistent font size and misalignment of tables.

No grammatical errors found. I appreciated the bold and linked words, with the ability to see definitions with one click. It might be helpful to have a sidebar with the important words and definitions / information in the section, but that might not be feasible with formatting.

Hard to assess for medical terminology.

The best way to use this text is online with solid internet. The PDF version is frustrating as there are no activities or practice opportunities, and there are issues with the organization and appearance such as misaligned tables and font size differences. When internet is good but not great, none of the videos are viewable. The activities and practice opportunities in the online book are very helpful and enjoyable. Their length is appropriate to encourage use and they are strategically placed throughout the chapters. I did have trouble with the search tool, as things I entered went to the glossary but always included the beginning of the glossary. For example, a search for "diplopia" showed the following:

Abdominal Pertaining to the abdomen (National Cancer Institute, n.d.) Abdominoplasty Surgical repair of the abdomen (National Library of Medicine, 2021) Abduction Moving the limb or hand laterally away from the body, or spreading the fingers or toes (Betts et al., 2013) Abductor Moves the bone away from the midline (Betts et al., 2013) Ablation The Read more » Sensory Systems

Learning Objectives Examine the anatomy of the sensory systems Determine the main functions of the sensory systems Differentiate the medical terms of the sensory systems and common abbreviations Discover the medical specialties associated with the sensory systems Recognize common diseases, disorders, and procedures related to the sensory systems Sensory Systems Word Parts Click on prefixes, Read more »

Overall, the authors did a wonderful job of developing a thorough and practical text. I appreciate the thought that went into the interactive nature of the book and the availability to exercises to practice knowledge.

Reviewed by Debra Minzola, Associate Professor, Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania on 3/18/22

This textbook is very inclusive in the content area. It not only discusses the word but breaks down medical terminology to help learners to easily decipher the meaning of a medical term . read more

This textbook is very inclusive in the content area. It not only discusses the word but breaks down medical terminology to help learners to easily decipher the meaning of a medical term .

There was no inaccuracies detected throughout the text.

This text is very relevant and will easily be updated if needed.

This is an easy to read text and would be a valuable resource for new learners. The ebook offers videos and learning activities throughout.

The text is internally consistent with an easy to follow framework.

The modules in this text are easy to navigate and locate specialty sections.

This text is clearly organized and easy to navigate.

There is no significant navigation problems or confusing features.

There is clear grammar throughout the text.

There is no offensive content in this textbook or language that can be viewed as culturally insensitive.

Learning objectives are listed at the introduction of each section followed by a guide on how to break down each system's medical terms. Throughout each section there are diagrams, charts, and additional videos in the ebook which reinforces the content. The book is organized and easy to navigate.

Table of Contents

  • 1. Word Parts and Rules
  • 2. Prefixes and Suffixes
  • 3. Body Terminology
  • 4. Sensory Systems
  • 5. Integumentary System
  • 6. Skeletal System
  • 7. Muscular System
  • 8. Nervous System
  • 9. Cardiovascular System
  • 10. Blood Vessels and Blood
  • 11. Lymphatic and Immune Systems
  • 12. Respiratory System
  • 13. Digestive System
  • 14. Endocrine System
  • 15. Urinary System
  • 16. Male Reproductive System
  • 17. Female Reproductive System
  • 18. Obstetrics

Ancillary Material

About the book.

Medical Terminology for Healthcare Professions is an Open Educational Resource (OER) that focuses on breaking down, pronouncing, and learning the meaning of medical terms within the context of anatomy and physiology. This resource is targeted for Healthcare Administration, Health Sciences, and Pre-Professional students.

About the Contributors

Andrea M. Nelson , PT, DPT, GCS, CLT, University of West Florida

Katherine Greene , MPH, University of West Florida

Contribute to this Page

Why Is Medical Terminology Important?

stethoscope-on-stack-of-medical-text-book-on-doctor-desk-at-room-in-hospital.

Medical terminology is the backbone of healthcare communication, promoting accuracy, safety, and efficiency in patient care while facilitating global collaboration and advancing medical science. This standardized language enables healthcare professionals to quickly and accurately assess a patient’s needs and communicate with their care team, resulting in overall better patient outcomes.

The Role of Medical Terminology in Healthcare

When is medical terminology used, who needs to understand medical terminology.

Medical Terminology Examples 

Importance of Knowing Medical Terminology 

How to Improve Your Medical Terminology Skills

Frequently Asked Questions

Medical terminology serves as the universal language that allows healthcare professionals to communicate effectively and accurately. This language consists of official terms and abbreviations that describe anatomy, bodily functions, diseases, diagnoses, treatments, procedures, and more.

It’s important for healthcare professionals — including physician assistants, occupational therapists, and physical therapists — to learn and understand the formal names for medical conditions and procedures. Many terms are often abbreviated for efficiency, lending an additional collection of acronyms to this universal language.

Medical terminology is used extensively and in various contexts throughout the healthcare industry. Not only is it critical in the surgical ward or the emergency room, but it’s also useful for medical receptionists, health insurance agents, health information technicians , and more.

The following are the most common uses for medical terminology:

  • Patient care: When used during patient assessments, diagnoses, and treatment planning, medical terminology enables healthcare providers to accurately describe symptoms, conditions, and procedures, ensuring that patient care is well-informed and consistent.
  • Medical records: Healthcare facilities maintain detailed medical records for each patient they serve. These records are filled with medical terminology to document a patient’s medical history, medications, lab results, and treatment plans comprehensively.
  • Prescriptions: Doctors use medical terminology when writing prescriptions, specifying the medication, dosage, and administration instructions clearly and unambiguously.
  • Medical billing: Billing specialists use medical codes to denote conditions, medications, and treatments for a patient’s insurance provider, ensuring that the patient is covered or billed accordingly for the care they receive.
  • Consultations and referrals: When physicians consult with specialists or refer patients to other healthcare providers, they rely on medical terminology to convey vital and accurate information about the patient’s condition and requirements.
  • Medical imaging: Radiologists and other healthcare technicians use medical terminology to describe findings on X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, and other imaging studies, ensuring precise reporting and treatment recommendations.
  • Medical research: Scientists and researchers use medical terminology in scholarly articles, clinical trials, and research papers to share their findings with colleagues and contribute to the global body of medical knowledge.
  • Education and training: Medical terminology is a fundamental component of healthcare education. It equips students with the vocabulary needed to understand and communicate effectively in clinical settings.
  • Health information systems: Electronic health records (EHRs) and healthcare IT systems rely heavily on medical terminology for data input, retrieval, and exchanges between healthcare providers and facilities.

Of course, it’s critical for doctors, nurses, and those in other clinical roles to understand medical terminology so they can administer proper care and communicate with their colleagues. Aspiring medical practitioners are almost always required to be proficient in medical terminology for admission into graduate programs. It’s even important for some non-clinical healthcare professionals to become familiar with common terms.   

The following individuals are typically required (or at least strongly encouraged) to learn medical terminology.

Clinical roles:

  • General practitioners
  • Physician assistants
  • Medical trainees
  • Occupational therapists
  • Physical therapists
  • Emergency medical technicians (EMTs)
  • Emergency responders (911 operators)
  • Nursing students & aides
  • Social workers
  • Home healthcare providers

Non-clinical roles:

  • Medical receptionists / office managers
  • Medical researchers
  • Pharmacists
  • Insurance companies
  • Billing specialists
  • Medical coders
  • Healthcare informaticists
  • Medical compliance officers

It’s typically not necessary for patients to understand medical terminology; doing so will not affect their care. However, some patients like to understand what certain terms or abbreviations indicate on their charts or in their records, since it helps them feel more engaged in their own care, which can contribute to increased compliance. 

A MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY COURSE IS VALUABLE TO YOUR CAREER

Taking a medical terminology course is a great first step to equip you with the skills and knowledge you’ll need to be successful.

Why You Need a Medical Terminology Course

Examples of Medical Terminology

Often, when we talk about health conditions in a non-clinical setting, we use common terms that might describe a collection of symptoms, rather than the formal name for a specific disease, condition, or type of injury. For example, you might tell a coworker that you were out sick with a cold and a bad sore throat; your healthcare provider would have recorded that you had an upper respiratory tract infection (URI) with acute pharyngitis.

Medical terms usually consist of a root word, a prefix, and/or a suffix that lends specificity to the description of a health condition. Many terms originate from Greek or Latin, which is why they might sound unfamiliar or obscure to the untrained ear. Once you become familiar with enough common prefixes, roots, and suffixes, you can begin to understand how the language of medicine is constructed.

Here are five examples of common medical terms, defined and broken into their discrete parts:

  • pharyng- = pharynx, or throat
  • -itis = disease or inflammation
  • ante = before
  • cibum = food
  • intra- = within
  • -venous = relating to a vein
  • myo- = muscle
  • -cardial = of the heart
  • infarction = tissue death
  • append- = appendix
  • -ectomy = removal

Importance of Knowing Medical Terminology

The ability for all members of a healthcare team to understand and communicate using medical terminology is important for a number of reasons:

It promotes clarity and precision.

Medical terminology eliminates ambiguity by providing precise words and phrases to describe conditions and procedures. This clarity is vital to prevent misunderstandings that could have serious consequences for both patients and care providers.

It standardizes healthcare around the world.

Healthcare is a global industry, and standardized medical terminology ensures that professionals worldwide can understand each other. This is especially important in today’s interconnected healthcare systems.

It supports efficiency.

In fast-paced healthcare settings, concise and standardized language helps healthcare providers save time. It allows for quick, accurate documentation of patient information and facilitates efficient communication between care team members.

It ensures patient safety.

Medical terminology helps prevent errors in diagnoses and treatments by ensuring that everyone involved in a patient’s care understands the same information, reducing the risk of mistakes.

It contributes to furthering medical research.

Medical terminology is the foundation of medical literature and research. It enables healthcare professionals to access, understand, and contribute to ever-expanding medical knowledge.

It supports career advancement.

As with any type of professional and continuing education, building your medical terminology skills can lead to promotions and increase your hireability in the healthcare field. Even if you don’t work in a clinical role, being able to list this as a skill on your resume can make you stand out as a particularly valuable asset.

If you are an aspiring doctor, nurse, physician’s assistant, physical or occupational therapist, or even veterinary student, medical terminology is a cornerstone of your profession, and is a skill you will likely need to advance to graduate school. The good news (especially if you are a non-clinical healthcare worker) is that you do not need to attend medical or nursing school to become proficient in medical terminology.

Courses are available through many colleges and universities, often in a convenient online format. The online Medical Terminology course from the University of San Diego (USD) School of Professional and Continuing Education, for example, is a self-paced course that gives students six months to complete all units. You may also be able to find medical terminology courses through local trade schools, adult education programs, training manuals and textbooks, and even trade publications.

Proficiency in medical terminology can open up many new career possibilities — plus, it helps both clinical and non-clinical professionals become stronger members of their teams. For more convenient, practical continuing education programs, explore USD’s catalog of healthcare courses and certificates .

Where can I learn medical terminology?

Medical terminology courses are available through many colleges and universities, often in a convenient online format. You may also be able to find medical terminology courses through local trade schools, adult education programs, training manuals and textbooks, and even trade publications.

Who needs to know medical terminology?

Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals must learn medical terminology so they can administer proper patient care and communicate with their colleagues. Additionally, many non-clinical roles are typically required (or at least strongly encouraged) to learn common terms, including healthcare informaticists, billing specialists, medical receptionists, pharmacists, medical researchers, and healthcare compliance officers.

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The Importance of Medical Terminology in the Healthcare Field

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Updated Jan. 31, 2022.

If you work in healthcare, a firm grasp of medical terminology is vital to your job performance whether you spend every day at a patient’s side or never step foot into a medical clinic. At PCC, the medical terminology class is an integral prerequisite for its Medical Coding program, among other programs dedicated to strengthening skills for healthcare providers of all experience levels. Both people in clinical and nonclinical positions within a healthcare system must be able to easily use medical terminology every day to understand what is being read, written, billed, or communicated during day-to-day job duties.

For people new to healthcare, medical terminology can sound like Latin nonsense, but medical terminology courses can help cut through the noise. These classes and trainings ( provided by the PCC Institute for Health Professionals ) are important not only for your career, but for the patients who rely on you.

essay using medical terminology

Reasons Why Knowing Medical Terminology is Important

Understanding medical terminology can improve your job performance or make you a more competitive candidate for healthcare positions. Some of the top reasons to learn medical terminology include:

Speaking the Standardized “Language of Medicine”

Medical terminology allows all medical professionals to understand each other and communicate effectively. When everyone understands what a condition, medicine, or procedure is, they are able to fulfill their roles accordingly, whether that is delivering medicine or billing for a medicine.

Understanding medical terminology also allows all employees to fully understand staff communications and training, whether it is HIPAA compliance training or infection control training. These trainings are vital to creating a safe environment for both patients and employees.

Improved Patient Safety

Quality communication among all members of a healthcare team improves patient safety by reducing the number of mistakes. For instance, if a physician knows the patient’s full medical history, including procedures or prior conditions, it helps that physician prescribe a safe, effective treatment for that patient. If someone confuses the terminology, putting the wrong condition or procedure into the chart, this can make a huge difference in the care the patient receives. Treatment may be less effective, or in some cases, dangerous.

Improved Patient Experiences

When all members of a team know medical terminology, they can also help the patient learn what those terms mean. Patient education helps patients become a more active part of their care team, leading to improved satisfaction. Knowing medical terminology can also help you avoid making coding or billing mistakes that a patient may have to call to correct—a major patient dissatisfier.

More Efficient Care

Healthcare professionals may see dozens of patients every day. To provide more efficient care, physicians or nurses may write quickly and scribble common abbreviations. All members of the care team should be able to understand these abbreviations and terms to provide the best care.

If you are looking to improve your medical terminology skills to enhance your job performance or make yourself a strong candidate for a healthcare position, the  Portland Community College online Medical Terminology course  can help you. The course helps you understand the different parts of medical terms so you can recognize new words in practice and understand their meanings. It also helps you build a strong medical terminology vocabulary that can help you perform your job whether you are in medical coding, healthcare marketing or working as a patient service representative.

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Why Medical Terminology is Important

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Medical terminology is used every day throughout the healthcare industry by doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and medical assistants. It is also used by billing specialists and medical coders as well as insurance companies to document conditions, process claims, and enable patients to apply for their insurance coverage.

Healthcare terminology is important for three key reasons: First, it enables medical specialists to communicate seamlessly with one another. Second , it serves as a universal language to use when diagnosing conditions and ailments in patients.  And third , it enables healthcare workers to give and follow orders to treat patients.

What Is Medical Terminology?

Medical terminology refers to the words and phrases used to describe elements of the human body and how they function. Professionals also use it to describe diseases, illnesses, and diagnoses assigned by healthcare professionals.

Here is a look at the basics and application:

  • Who : Doctors, registered nurses, and physician assistants are just a few of the many healthcare professionals who use it.
  • What : It may refer to symptoms, official diagnoses, treatment  protocols, and medication instructions.
  • When : Healthcare professionals use it when diagnosing and treating patients. Professionals also use it during medical coding and billing processes.
  • Where : It is used in hospitals, surgery centers, private practices, and within healthcare management organizations.
  • How : In many cases, the terminology is abbreviated for documentation ease. For example, PRN means “as needed” when taking medications. 

When Is Medical Terminology Used?

Professionals use medical terminology throughout the patient care journey. From the moment a patient enters the front door of a hospital or doctor’s office to the time of discharge, healthcare providers depend on key medical terminology to ensure that patients receive the proper treatment.

Medical terminology-scitexas.edu

Here is a look at some specific points in the patient care journey when professionals use medical terminology:

  • During intake or admission : For example, an intake specialist may note that a patient “presents with fever and chronic gastritis.”
  • During an initial examination : Providers often use terminology to describe abnormalities they find during a brief initial examination.
  • Throughout a hospitalization : Doctors and nurses regularly use terminology when documenting changes in a patient’s condition.
  • During discharge planning : Professionals use it when preparing to discharge a patient after a hospital stay.
  • When prescribing medications : Doctors will use common phrases or abbreviations for prescriptions. For instance, “BID” means twice daily.
  • During the coding and billing process : It is the cornerstone of efficient and accurate medical billing.

In addition to these specific cases, people use medical terminology during treatment team meetings, healthcare management meetings, and nursing shift changes. Finally, researchers and experts commonly use it when presenting their findings. 

How Can You Learn Medical Terminology?

You can learn medical terminology through a variety of channels. The two most popular ways are to take specific courses offered by colleges and universities or to participate in featured programs and trade school training platforms.

For example, Southern Careers Institute (SCI) offers medical programs that feature courses in medical terminology. SCI’s programs train students to become medical assistants, nurse aides, medical office managers, and specialists in medical billing and coding.

In addition to structured education and training programs, you can learn terminology simply by working in the healthcare field.

Here are some other resources for learning medical terminology:

  • Textbooks : You can purchase textbooks recommended by colleges and medical trade schools.
  • Scientific Journals : While the terminology is often quite advanced, scientific journals feature articles that are rich with medical phrases.
  • Training Manuals : Some hospitals, surgery centers, and medical offices provide employees with training manuals filled with commonly used terms.
  • Educational Videos : The internet is full of videos and presentations from doctors who regularly use it in their speeches.
  • Volunteer work : You can learn commonly used medical phrases just by volunteering at a local hospital or healthcare organization.

What Purpose Does Medical Terminology Serve?

Medical terminology serves a variety of important purposes for healthcare specialists who work with patients as well as those who work behind the scenes in billing and coding. 

In general, healthcare terminology offers three key benefits:

  • Improve efficiency : Using standardized terminology – especially abbreviations or acronyms – can help patients receive the care and medications they need faster. This allows facilities to see a greater number of patients and improve their overall efficiency.
  • Facilitate communication : The average doctor sees roughly  20 patients per day . Nurses, aides, and other healthcare providers see a similar number of patients, and treatment team meetings involving multiple providers are commonplace at hospitals. By using the same universal medical terminology to provide progress updates and discuss treatment plan changes, all members of the patient’s treatment team can communicate more easily.
  • Standardize documentation : Healthcare regulations and insurance company policies require timely and accurate documentation. By using standardized medical terminology to document patient symptoms and diagnoses, healthcare workers can make a seamless transition from one job to the next.

What are Medical Job Education Requirements?

Learning medical terminology is an important part of training to enter the healthcare field. Whether you long to become a medical doctor, a physical therapist, a  nurse aide , or a  medical office specialist , you need to ensure that you fulfill the proper educational requirements. 

The path to mastering key medical phrases and abbreviations begins with enrollment in a medical terminology course.  

By learning the most common medical terminology used with patients and in the coding profession, you will be positioned to excel in your on-campus training program or your  online training courses . Most importantly, these courses will help you to succeed in your career as a healthcare worker.

Southern Careers Institute (SCI) offers a variety of training programs to prepare you for a rewarding career in the healthcare field. SCI’s programs include courses in medical terminology to ensure that you are properly prepared for an exciting career in medical billing and coding, medical office specialist, nurse aide, and medical assistant. 

We encourage you to contact us today to learn why aspiring healthcare professionals across Texas choose SCI to prepare them for careers in the medical field. We look forward to introducing you to some of the many programs at SCI that enable you to apply the medical terms that you master!

  • https://www.physicianleaders.org/news/how-many-patients-can-primary-care-physician-treat
  • https://selecthealth.org/blog/2016/08/25-important-medical-terms-you-need-to-know

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This article was published on: 05/19/20 8:30 AM

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IMPACT OF MEDICAL TERMINOLOGY ON PATIENTS' COMPREHENSION OF HEALTHCARE

Affiliation.

  • 1 Kharkiv National Medical University, Ukraine.
  • PMID: 30618411

Modern medical practice require close communication both doctors and patients. Development of medicine, especially seen in past decades, promoted changes in medical procedures and documentation, i.e. development of more accurate and valuable informed consent, which is an important part of treatment or diagnostic process. On the other hand, novel researches and achievements in medicine brought new terminology, descriptions and widened medical language, which complicated understanding of information both by practitioners (in any field, including psychiatry), and by patients. Clear understanding of information during diagnostic and treatment process by patients is considered an important factor of success, because researches show increasing of anxiety, depression and indifference, and decrease of involvement of patients in case of incomprehension or misunderstanding of medical information. At the same time, correct insight of information leads to improvement of patient-doctor relationships and is considered as a stimulus to reduction of morbidity and mortality and misuse of health care. Literature analysis have shown both various causes of this and ways to solve this existing problem. Most common ideas include lack of comprehension, low medical literacy and complexity of medical language. Some authors insist on existence of "medical sublanguage", due to plenty of terminology, synonymic words and constructions, which can completely replace "normal" language in some situations. Despite this development, cultural, geographical and historical influence still brings confusion in terminology. Variety of terms, which describe the same structure or process, variety of eponyms, which differ from country to county, frequently bring confusion, especially in patients, who are usually not conceived on what can the information be about. Moreover, in situation of high mobility, those geographical and cultural medical peculiarities are able to confuse even practitioners. This led to development of several classification systems and tools in attempt to equate and classify terminology.

  • Communication*
  • Comprehension*
  • Physician-Patient Relations*
  • Quality of Health Care / standards*
  • Terminology as Topic*

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