Medical Jargon in Practice: A Real-World Guide to Mastering and Applying Medical Language

Medical Jargon News – You leave the medical appointment with confirmation from your primary care physician that you are "bouncing back." A revitalized spring in your step, you celebrate later that day with a Dr. Pepper—the refreshment you’ve been denying yourself since your diagnosis. However, as the day winds down, the bloating and knots in your stomach won’t go away, and the words "bouncing back" echo in your mind. You begin to wonder, “What does ‘bouncing back’ really mean?”

Later that evening, you find yourself at your local urgent care center, clutching the medical documentation from earlier in the day that assured you were on the right track to recovery. The staff at the clinic review your medical records and confirm that, while your condition is stable, you may still need time to fully recover. As you move from office to office and interact with various staff members and clinicians, you realize that understanding the difference between medical terminology and medical jargon is crucial for advocating for yourself and receiving the best medical care. Whether at a walk-in clinic, with a primary care provider, specialist, or in an emergency situation, grasping the language of medical jargon empowers you to take control of your health journey.

However, the simplicity of medical jargon does not always translate into straightforward patient-provider interactions. These encounters, often brief and under time constraints, can inadvertently become the breeding ground for misunderstandings – a situation where medical jargon, though increasingly less prevalent, might still surface.

Consider a scenario where Molly, an experienced engineer, is at a clinic and hears the phrase "hit the ground running." In her job, this might mean starting a project quickly and with excitement. But in healthcare, it could mean starting a new treatment plan immediately. The same phrase can mean different things depending on the situation. This shows how important it is for healthcare providers to be clear with their language so patients don’t get confused.

This article is here to help make medical language easier to understand. While doctors, nurses, and other healthcare providers may know exactly what these phrases mean, it can be hard for patients and caregivers to keep up. Patient Better knows this is a problem and offers tools to help patients understand what’s happening during their care.

Over time, healthcare professionals have tried to use less confusing language, focusing more on clear communication with their patients. This change shows how much the healthcare industry values making sure patients understand their care, which leads to better outcomes for everyone.

Understanding the Role of Medical Jargon Plays in Healthcare

The purpose of this section is to demystify medical jargon and distinguish it from the structured and precise medical language of medical terminology also used in various healthcare settings. We recognize that while medical terminology is clear and specific, medical jargon can be ambiguous, especially to those unfamiliar with healthcare settings. By clarifying these differences, we aim to enhance the understanding of patients and caregivers, ensuring they can navigate the healthcare environment more effectively, without being misled or confused by misinterpreted jargon.

Defining Medical Jargon

Medical jargon, in the context of healthcare, encompasses phrases or terms that can be used across various industries but are employed with specific nuances in medical settings. However, these “terms” are not unique to healthcare and have been recognized to cause confusion if not properly contextualized. For example, "running on fumes" might describe a vehicle low on fuel in the automotive world, but in healthcare, it could metaphorically refer to a patient’s or caregiver‘s state of exhaustion, which could be interpreted completely differently by someone unfamiliar with the healthcare setting.

Explaining Medical Language

Medical language is a collection of terms, phrases, codes, and abbreviations that serves as a clear form of communication used by healthcare professionals. It is often based on Latin or Greek roots and includes terms that are universally understood within the medical community, ensuring accurate and unambiguous communication. Even though medical jargon has been used in the past, it has been slowly phased out since the implementation of digital records and the decrease in face-to-face interactions.

Understanding Medical Terms and Terminology

Medical terminology is the specialized language used to precisely describe the human body, its components and processes, as well as medical procedures, diseases, disorders, and pharmacology. This terminology forms a fundamental component of the broader medical language, which is intricately woven through multiple sectors within the medical community.

Medical terms play a crucial role not only in clinical settings but also in medical billing, communication with insurers, and coordination among ancillary care providers, such as diagnostic centers, physical and occupational therapy facilities, and home health or transitional care services. This extensive application of medical terms ensures consistent and accurate communication across all areas of healthcare.

Jargon in Written Documentation

Rarely used in written medical documentation, medical jargon is intentionally avoided to maintain clarity and prevent misunderstandings. Today, medical records and educational materials use medical terms to ensure information is clear and accurate for both healthcare professionals and consumers.

Jargon in Provider-Patient Interactions

The use of medical jargon in interactions between healthcare providers and patients is also decreasing, reflecting a trend towards more patient-centered communication. This change underscores the healthcare industry’s commitment to clear, understandable language, essential for building strong provider-patient relationships and empowering patients in their healthcare journey.

Jargon Across Industries & Application in a Healthcare Setting

This section focuses on understanding how certain terms and phrases, while part of medical language, can also function as jargon with different meanings in healthcare and other industries. The following examples are provided to help you develop an ear for applying jargon in real-world scenarios and to distinguish between formal medical terms that are sometimes used informally (and may appear in documentation) and informal phrases that are characteristic of jargon and less likely to be found in formal reports.

• Code: Formally, this term refers to emergency situations in healthcare, such as "code blue" for cardiac arrest. Informally, it can be used more loosely in healthcare settings. In IT, it denotes computer programming.
• Discharge: In healthcare, this term refers to a patient being released from a hospital or medical care. Conversely, in the military, it might mean the release of a service member from duty. In electrical engineering, it refers to the release of electricity from a source.
• Crash: In the medical field, "crash" often implies a sudden decline in a patient’s condition, as in "crash cart" used for emergencies. In the automotive industry, it refers to a collision. In technology, it describes a system failure or software malfunction.
• Terminal: In healthcare, "terminal" typically describes a disease or condition that is likely to lead to death. In transportation, it refers to a major station or endpoint, like an airport terminal. In computing, it means a device or program for entering data into a computer system.
• Virus: In medicine, a "virus" is a pathogen that causes diseases. In technology, it refers to malicious software that can infect computers and spread to other systems.
• Resistance: In healthcare, "resistance" often relates to the body’s or a pathogen’s resistance to medication, like antibiotic resistance. In physics and engineering, it refers to the opposition to the flow of electric current.

Informal Phrases as Medical Jargon

As we shift our focus to phrases more commonly used in healthcare, it’s important to identify how these might be perceived by patients and caregivers.

• Taking it day by day: Healthcare professionals might use this phrase to indicate a cautious approach to treatment, acknowledging the ongoing evaluation of the patient’s condition.
• Bouncing back: This term is often used to describe a patient’s recovery or improvement after an illness or medical procedure, emphasizing their return to health.
• Playing it safe: This phrase is commonly used by healthcare providers to emphasize conservative approaches to treatment or interventions, focusing on patient safety.
• Feeling under the weather: Often used by patients, this phrase describes a general sense of not feeling well or being slightly unwell, without specifying a particular illness or diagnosis.
• Cutting to the chase: Healthcare professionals might use this phrase to transition directly to the most important or relevant information during a discussion, especially in time-sensitive situations.

Understanding the dual nature of some medical jargon terms and the informal usage of certain phrases is helpful for patients and caregivers. While the trend in healthcare is moving towards more precise language in both formal documentation and informal interactions, being aware of these terms and their varied uses can aid in clearer communication and understanding within healthcare settings. This knowledge is particularly useful for navigating informal conversations, where such jargon may still be encountered.