English, please.

For YouTubeviewers who are Healthy Survivors, the underlying message of the "Medical Terminology Concerto" video is worrisome: Medical terminology is an effective way for clinicians to keep patients from understanding what they are saying.

Okay, I'll lighten up. The video is clearly intended as a spoof for clinicians' enjoyment. But the video satirizes clinicians who use technical language in ways that hamper effective clinician-patient communication. And that's a real-life problem.

Medical vernacular serves a purpose: helping clinicians communicate effectively about patients. Imagine a physician in Montana calls a physician in Tennessee. Their accents may differ, but each medical word and phrase carries a clear and concise meaning that helps them discuss the patient's care.

Sometimes clinicians forget that "subdural" and "hematoma" are not everyday words. It's getting easier to forget, since so many patients have become semi-fluent in the medical terms related to their conditions. Thanks to the Internet and the patient empowerment movement, newly diagnosed breast cancer patients often ask about "receptor status" or "sentinel node pathology." 

As a Healthy Survivor, keep the lines of communication open and clear with your healthcare team. Don't hesitate to let your physicians and nurses know whenever you don't understand what they are saying. Ask them to please rephrase, using everyday words. And if you are inclined, ask them to refer you to a resource where you can learn the medical terms you need to know to participate effectively in your care.

Comments

[Debby]

Every profession has its own language.

[Lisa Thompson]

My parents have been encountering this often. My dad has stage 4 colon cancer, and his oncologist often gives my mother a blood-cell chart to review. She doesn't understand most of the terms, and since the office is short-staffed, the nurses don't always have time to explain it to her.

When I go with them to their oncologists' appointments, I quiz him about the CEA level, an important measure for colon cancer survivors who need to know how the cancer is progressing or receding.

If your doctor doesn't have time to answer your questions or at least give you some Web sites and easy-to-understand brochures, I suggest you seek out another doctor who will.

It's extremely helpful to have a friend or relative attend the survivor's doctor visits, because one person, especially if he has some dementia or aging issues, cannot possibly remember and write notes while listening to the doctor. Often, emotions can cloud our logical thinking.

[Wendy S. Harpham, MD]

Dear Lisa,
Thanks for making these two points: If the communication isn't good, and if you have a choice, you may need to switch physicians (no matter how glowing the physician's reputation). And communication problems can stem from difficulty absorbing what is said in doctor's office. I'm a physician, and I take someone with me for important visits because I know I can't absorb and process everything. Two sets of ears can be better than one.

With hope, Wendy