What does appreciated mean in medical terms?
Appreciated, in the medical context, is commonly used to describe the perceived improvement or positive changes in a patient's condition or symptoms. Usually, it refers to a favorable response to treatment or intervention. "Appreciated" does not have a very precise medical definition and is often used in notes and reports to indicate that there is a noticeable betterment or progress.
Here are a few examples of medical phrases that use the word "appreciated":
- "Rales are appreciated in the right lung." This means that crackles or abnormal breath sounds are heard upon listening to the chest with a stethoscope, suggesting the presence of fluid in the lung.
- "Neurological deficit is appreciated on the left side." This indicates a noticeable functional impairment, such as weakness or sensory changes, affecting the left side of the body.
- "Slight improvement in range of motion is appreciated post physical therapy." This refers to a small but noticeable increase in the patient's ability to move a joint, indicating therapeutic benefits from physical therapy.
- "Reduction of pain is appreciated after medication administration." This suggests that the patient experienced a decrease in their pain level after taking medication.
- "Hemoglobin levels are appreciated within normal limits." This means that the patient's hemoglobin levels are found to be within the standard reference range for their age and gender.
In summary, "appreciated" in medical terms conveys that there is an improvement, alteration, or observable difference in a patient's condition that is deemed positive or favorable, based on the healthcare professional's assessment and observations.