Medical Terminology - Adonis Health Informatics

Learn this list of medical terms if you're just starting to train for a career in healthcare. Get definitions, examples of usage and some pronunciation help. Lessons are fast, free, & packed with illustrations to help you remember .

Practice your word skills and make a good impression in class by studying these common medical prefixes. Memorize medical terms more easily by learning how to break down words into prefixes, suffixes and roots.

 Ace that medical terminology course by studying this list of common medical suffixes. Intimidated by long medical words? Sharpen your word breakdown skills by learning the building blocks of medical vocabulary.

Quickly test your medical vocabulary with our Medical Terminology Quiz Series. Use for self assessment or as a fun classroom activity. Challenge your classmates or coworkers and compare scores!

Use as a study tool to refresh your word skills, revise for a medical terminology test or prepare for an interview. These review lessons are a compilation of individual tutorials, grouped to maximize fast memorization and recall.

Learn fun facts about medical terms named after patients, doctors, sports - and even food! Not prefixes, suffixes or roots, these medical names are called medical eponyms.

From the first day of medical school until graduation day, you will need to be fluent in the language of medicine. Nothing says "unprepared" more than med students misspelling medical words. Having the ability to express your knowledge using correct medical terminology is essential on rounds, in medical records, and in research papers. You will need to know more advanced terms than other students of medical terminology. Some of that will come naturally through your courses. Still, it's worth going the extra mile to acquire those skills before you need them, and it's never too late to brush up on your Greek and Latin vocabulary!

Right after orientation day, you will realize how hectic life in nursing school can be. Coursework and exams will definitely be easier to handle if you are proficient in using medical vocabulary. Imagine being able to confirm your answer choices in a test, by figuring out word meanings from their prefixes and suffixes. But learning the meaning of medical words will help you beyond graduation day and passing the NCLEX. As an RN or LVN, this will help you understand your the complex medical needs of your patients and improve your ability to avoid errors. In short, it can help you be a better nurse.

This is one career choice in which students definitely could benefit from starting out with a good command of the language of the workplace. That's because the shorter timeline of training (as compared to medical school) may provide less opportunity to absorb or medical terminology naturally over time. That of course depends on your particular path to PA school but most students will need to at least expand their medical vocabulary. The benefits of knowing medical terms well are the same as for medical students and nursing students - quality documentation and communication.

Being a medical assistant means having the skills to make a valuable contribution in a variety of settings and medical specialties. Your medical assistant course will teach you the essentials, but on the job training is where you gain competency in your specific role. Starting out with a good grounding in medical terminology will make your learning curve much easier to navigate. Fluency with medical terms is often tested at job interviews. Not only that, it gives you flexibility and opens up opportunities. If you're planning to move on to other healthcare careers, this is an excellent time to get really good at using the language of the workplace. 

Trainees in medical billing and coding often feel intimidated by the medical terms involved. The terminology portion of certification exams is what scares some candidates the most. Newly-certified coders often find that most jobs demand experience and fluency in medical terminology. One way to prepare for facing all these challenges, is to learn the language of doctors well, before you sign up for expensive courses or certifications. Learn medical terms at your own pace first. When you're confident in your skills, you'll be better equipped to code accurately. Even if you're already a coder, it still helps to improve and expand your medical vocabulary. 

 For everyone else, using medical terminology is part of the job, but for scribes and medical transcriptionists, it is the job. In these roles, learning medical terms is an ongoing process which doesn't end with passing a test or exam. In addition to learning standard medical terminology, you will need to know commonly used medical abbreviations, acronyms and slang. Some of those will only stick in your memory as you get used to hearing them everyday. Initially, you will likely have to ask for clarification often. But with time, this hybrid medical jargon will become your second language, making you an invaluable member of the medical team.  

Everyone using patient data should learn medical terminology. That includes medical receptionists, practice managers and insurance specialists. Practically all patient-related communication involves naming diseases, procedures or medical tests. To book an appointment, get insurance approval for care, or appeal a denial, you will need to state a justification using correct terminology.  Simply cutting and pasting words is not the best approach. Eventually you'll have to enter a verbal order or relay a telephone message. Avoid errors and embarrassment by equipping yourself with the knowledge of common medical terms and their definitions.

As a pharmacist, you will be expected to have detailed knowledge about a large variety of drugs. That includes some familiarity with the medical conditions which these medications are used for. So in addition to keeping up with the growing list of available pharmaceutical, you will need to know basic medical terminology. As indicated elsewhere, learning the meanings of basic medical suffixes and prefixes is the best way to acquire a good medical vocabulary. Pharmacology comes with its own unique demands on your vocabulary skills. So it makes sense to start pharmacy school with having a good grasp of medical terminology. 

To build a network of healthcare providers who trust you, it will be necessary to speak their language. It's not enough to know your products inside out, or to have statistics and studies at your fingertips. You have to be ready for the curveballs. No one will expect you to know all the answers, so there isn't any shame in saying "Let me find out and get back to you with that information". But you will want to be familiar with basic medical terms relevant to your providers' questions. Misspelling common medical words is guaranteed to make you appear unprofessional. Instead, leave good impressions on your clients by maintaining an adequate medical vocabulary.