Uniform Terminology in Medical Practices

Medical terminology is the language of health care. People at all levels of the health care industry, from the billing clerk to the physician, need to know how to use medical terminology. This "language" is complex and can seem overwhelming, but medical terminology results from ancient languages and follows predictable patterns. Its uses help make health care an easier process.

Benefits

• Having uniform terminology in medical practices helps ensure that information can be shared seamlessly from one doctor to the next. Rather than needing to provide direct information to another care provider in person or on the phone, doctors can forward medical records. Patients then can use those records to take to any doctor without any communication problems.

Drawbacks

• Some people can have difficulty learning medical terminology because the terms use Latin as a base language. The process of learning terminology typically requires at least one course, which can be time-consuming. Employing tips and tricks, such as how to break down words into prefixes, roots and suffixes, can make the process less overwhelming.

Significance

• Doctors or nurses can record information using medical terminology, and there are no ambiguities about what those terms mean. Some terms, such as "pain," are difficult to describe precisely. By determining what a patient needs and then using medical jargon, health care providers can share with each other what is wrong with a patient using clear terms.