1 / 12

Medical Terminology

Medical Terminology. Jeff Steele, LDO, CPOT, ABOC. Objective. State the importance of correct spelling and accurate usage of medical terms Describe the use of prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms in medical terms

karen-ware
Download Presentation

Medical Terminology

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Medical Terminology Jeff Steele, LDO, CPOT, ABOC

  2. Objective • State the importance of correct spelling and accurate usage of medical terms • Describe the use of prefixes, suffixes, and combining forms in medical terms • Demonstrate the knowledge of word meanings to analyze and understand medical terms

  3. Overview • All business office employees and technicians should have a basic knowledge of medical terminology and abbreviations: • Used in bookkeeping • Accounts receivable • Insurance claims • Transcribing in patient’s records

  4. Accuracy • Accuracy is essential! • Your accuracy and spelling is extremely important because the wrong term can have serious consequences for the patient: • Palpation vs. palpitation • Palpation= examination technique in which the examiner’s hands are used to feel the texture, size, and location of certain body parts • Palpitation= pounding or racing heart

  5. Spelling • Let’s be honest, spelling is important in any form of written communication (we always want to sound intelligent!) • Changing just one or two letters can alter the meaning of a word! • A medical dictionary is a convenient reference that should be kept on your desk and used as necessary

  6. Abbreviations • Very frequently used in medicine. Many have only one meaning, but others have multiple meanings! • Example CC can be 1. chief complaint, or mean 2. with correction • Everyone should be on the same page when using abbreviations, so as not to cause confusion!

  7. Common Abbreviations • S M D W= single, married, divorced, or widowed • REF BY= referred by • TB= tuberculosis • DIAB= diabetes • HT DIS= heart disease • HA= headache

  8. Prefixes • Added to the beginning of a word, to change the meaning: • ab= away from • ad= toward • Hyper=above • Hypo=below • Intra= within • Post=after • Sub=under or below • Super (or supra)= above, excessive or beyond

  9. Suffixes • Added to the end of a word and usually indicate a procedure, condition, disorder, or disease • itis= inflammation • ectomy= surgical removal • ologist=specialist • oma=tumor • osis=abnormal condition • scopy=visual examination

  10. Root Words • angio=blood or lymph vessels • arterio=artery • arthro=joint • cario=heart • cranio=skull • neuro=nerve

  11. Common Ophthalmic Abbreviations • Cats= cataracts • ARMD= macular degeneration • HA= headache • VA= visual acuities • PD= pupillary distance • RP= retinitis pigmentosa • DR= diabetic retinopathy • POAG= primary open-angle glaucoma • PCAG= primary closed-angle glaucoma • STBM= strabismus • BLRI= blepharitis • CJ= conjunctivitis

  12. Summary • If in doubt- don’t use abbreviations, are many have a variety of meanings! Spell it out!!! • Accuracy in spelling, and a basic knowledge of abbreviations and terminology is a must for all technicians

More Related