
Medical terminology is important for many reasons:
- It allows all healthcare workers to communicate in one language.
- You will use it every day when you work in the healthcare field.
- If you have to get your medical dictionary out every time you get asked to do something, you will be wasting valuable time. ...
- One small mistake can make a big difference. ...
- Common abbreviations are used in patient records. ...
What are the advantages of using medical terminology?
What Are the Advantages in Using Medical Terminology?
- Understanding. The primary benefit of using medical terminology is so that those involved in the medical field will have a common language.
- Specifics. Medical terminology is also very specific. ...
- Language Barriers. ...
Why is it important to understand medical terminology?
Why is it important to understand medical definitions. Medical terminology can look and sound complex, but it's important to be able to break words down and understand their roots, prefixes and suffixes to prevent any misunderstandings or errors. The Virtual College Medical Terminology Training Package focuses on this area.
Why do pharmacists use medical terminology?
The importance of medical terminology in the healthcare industry enables those involved to use medical terms that are abbreviated so that they appear simpler to those involved. This standardised use of medical language helps to avoid errors especially when documenting a patient’s condition and medical needs.
Why do we need medical terminology?
Why do signs and symptoms matter?
- Sign vs. symptom. ...
- History. The identification of signs has become increasingly more dependent on the doctor as time and technology have progressed.
- Symptoms. Remitting symptoms: When symptoms improve or resolve completely, they are known as remitting symptoms.
- Signs. ...

Why is medical terminology important?
Medical terminology is important for many reasons. It allows all healthcare workers to communicate in one language. You will use it every day when you work in the healthcare field. If you have to get your medical dictionary out every time you get asked to do something, you will be wasting valuable time. Nurses, doctors, and other health care ...
Why do we use abbreviations in medical records?
Common abbreviations are used in patient records. This helps doctors and nurses write quickly and efficiently in the records so that they can be onto the next patient. It also allows you to read and understand the records quickly.
Is it better to check your dictionary or get something wrong?
If you are unsure, it is better to check your dictionary than get something wrong. However, with a basic understanding of medical terminology, you will be able to communicate quickly and efficiently with other healthcare professionals.
Working or applying to work in the medical field
You might not be a practicing doctor or nurse but, instead, might be working or looking to work in a medical environment, perhaps in a hospital's technology department, as an assistant in a clinic or as a medical transcriber.
Studying for some form of medical certification or degree
You may be planning to take certification exams to advance your career or engaging in a course of study to enter the medical profession. If so, you more than likely need to learn medical terminology in order to succeed.
Understanding your medical benefits
If your workplace offers medical benefits, you might receive documentation with those benefits detailing the various medical services and conditions that your provider covers. Knowing medical terminology can be helpful to you as you read the documentation and interact with your provider about your healthcare.
Medical slang
This is a list of some informal terms often used by medical professionals:
Prefixes and suffixes
You can often determine what a medical term means if you understand some basic prefixes and suffixes, such as:
Root words
Many medical terms come from Greek or Latin root words. Knowing some of these may help you determine the meaning of a term:
What is medical terminology?
Medical terminology is a language used for thousands of years. Many of the terms created in early times by scientists like Aristotle are still in use today. Learning medical terminology serves several important functions for medical professionals.
Why is medical terminology important?
Standard terms are important to ensure a complete understanding of patient issues.
Why do we use abbreviations in medical terminology?
Much of medical terminology is made up of abbreviations. Clinicians treat many patients within one day, which means a great deal of documentation. Methods such as abbreviations allow for a fast way to document in the patient’s record.
Why do we speak the standardized language of medicine?
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 according ly, whether that is delivering medicine or billing for a medicine.
Why is patient education important?
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.
What is the medical terminology class at PCC?
At PCC, the medical terminology class is an integral prerequisite for its Medical Coding program.
Why is it important to know medical terminology?
Learning medical terminology is important to build a successful career as a medical professional. It will allow you to communicate intelligently and effectively with other professionals in your field. Learning medical terms will also help you learn more about your patients and enable you to educate your patients about their conditions successfully.
71 medical terms to learn
Here are some important medical terminology to be familiar with as you prepare for your career as a medical professional:
17 medical abbreviations and acronyms
Here are common medical abbreviations and acronyms and what they mean:
Why is medical terminology considered a medical language?
The purpose of medical terminology is to create a standardised language for medical professionals. This enables staff to save time by ensuring they don’t have to explain complex medical condition in plain English and can focus on the treatment of patients.
What is medical terminology and why is it important?
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.
What are 3 key reasons why medical terminology is important?
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.
Why is medical terminology like learning a new language?
Medical Terminology is like learning a new language, so we start by figuring out how the roots, prefixes and suffixes fit together, then how to figure out the meanings of words used in everyday medical settings.
Why are abbreviations important in the medical field?
Abbreviations are commonly used in the medical world to save time and space whilst writing in the patients’ medical records. As various specialties have evolved, each has developed a collection of commonly used abbreviations within its practice, which may not be recognizable to those not working within the same field.
What is considered medical terminology?
Medical terminology is the language used to describe components and processes of the human body, medical procedures, diseases, disorders, and pharmacology. Simply put, it is the vocabulary that medical professionals use to describe the body, what it does, and the treatments they prescribe.
What is medical terminology used for?
Medical terminology is language used to precisely describe the human body including its components, processes, conditions affecting it, and procedures performed upon it.
Why is knowing medical terminology important?
Job preparation is one of the most important parts of an interpreting session. Whether you’re with an agency, a fully independent contractor, or employed full-time, knowing what to expect is key. Having a basic knowledge of medical terminology allows you the confidence to handle any situation that arises.
How do I learn basic Medical Terminology?
We all agree that learning medical terminology is important, but what’s the best way to go about it? With so many medical specialties and terms. It’s tough to know where to start! With this in mind, Global Arena put together an interactive, eLearning medical terminology course.

Abbreviations and Acronyms
Diseases and Conditions
Medical Slang
Prefixes and Suffixes
Procedures and Tests
Root Words
- Many medical terms come from Greek or Latin root words. Knowing some of these may help you determine the meaning of a term: 1. Aqua-:Pertaining to water 2. Asphyxia:Choking or loss of consciousness due to oxygen deprivation 3. Carcin(o)-:Related to or causing cancer 4. Cyto-:Pertaining to a cell or cells 5. Derma-:To do with the skin 6. Digit:Eithe...
Tools and Equipment