...The Importance of Medical Terminology Francine Harrilal HCS/120 May 9th, 2016 Ms. Tammy Williams The Importance of Medical Terminology What is the importance of medical terminology? Coming from the Greek and Latin origin, medical terms have been used by Greek and Roman physicians from long ago. The majority of the words are still used in today's society. Medical terminology is made up of combining forms, suffixes and prefixes. Once you learn the combining form (the foundation of a word), the suffix (the word ending), and the prefix (optional word beginning), you will be able to decipher complex information to understand a patient’s condition and diagnose them (Stanfield, Cross, and Hui, 2012). For example, if a patient were complaining of pain on the lower right side of the abdomen, maybe you would diagnose him/her with appendicitis. If the infection is severe, it might be to the point of having to have an appendectomy; the surgical removal of the appendix. Without knowing the suffix meaning of –itis (infection of) and the meaning of -ectomy (the surgical removal of), then you wouldn’t have been able to diagnose or treat the patient (Stanfield, Cross, and Hui, 2012). Medical terminology goes way beyond just diagnosing and treating in the health care field, it is essential in this industry. Everything that is done in the health care field is based on the knowledge of medical terminology. Communication within the field will consist of using this language in every different...
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...Development The healthcare field is always changing, so it is vital that all healthcare employees receive needed training to keep stay current with all the changes within a particular career field. The proper training and development will help ensure that patients will receive the highest degree of treatment possible. Training and development will also help ensure that the medical facility has provided all staff members with all changes that occur in the medical at any given time. The healthcare field is among one of the top career fields that require employees to always be as current as possible with changes in the medical field because in many cases employees in the medical field are responsible for a person’s life, depending on the type of medical treatment they are receiving. Every action of a healthcare employee including personnel in the administration section of healthcare must be performed according to established rules and regulations as determined by local, state, and federal laws. The training helps protect the employee and the employer from the possibility of making critical mistakes leading to termination of the patient or the employee. Healthcare training and development also protects the medical facility from possible lawsuits. Healthcare industry training and development is vital towards the success of a clinic or hospital. Another area of importance other than training and development within the healthcare field is measuring and addressing...
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...1. It turns out that professionals, such as science journalists, make mistakes as well in reporting their news stories. Since there are millions of peer-reviewed papers published annually and many science journalists do not specialize in any particular field, it is common for them to make mistakes. A question arises then, what are common mistakes made by science journalists, and how can they be corrected? 2. One example of misunderstanding and confusion in science reporting is about the news stories regarding a condition called ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS). There is a possibility that it is a precursor of breast cancer; however, that is all it is, a possibility. Doctors differ on the subject matter. All the same, when a study about the condition appeared in a peer-reviewed medical journal about cancer, different news outlets made varying...
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...causes and solutions for three of the most common billing and coding errors. What effects does the medical national correct coding initiative have on the billing and coding process? Pg.207- 211 Working in medical billing and coding can be very challenging and demanding. In this field there is absolutely no room for any mistakes. There are many common billing errors such as using inappropriate modifiers or no modifiers, billing an invalid or outdated code and billing non covered services. Most health care payers base their decision to pay or deny claims only on the diagnosis and procedure codes. Simple errors and mistakes such as typos, incorrect dates, and double billing. Typos, or typing mistakes, can occur when entering a patient’s name or address. Although these may seem not as vital compared to entering the correct code it’s still very important to double check all records, files, and bills before submitting them. There are ways errors in billing and coding can be solved. Patients need to review billing statements when they receive them by mail, to be certain that the statements contain no typos, incorrect dates, or double billing. Improper coding that can lead to incorrect payment for Medicare claims. These claims are controlled by the Medicare National Correct Coding Initiative (CCI). The coding policies of the CCI are derived from the coding guidelines of national medical societies. Physicians are required by CCI to report the most extensive version of a procedure performed...
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...What are diagnostics? How is this related to Health Sciences? Diagnostics covers the identification of diseases, illnesses, and other conditions and the process by which the identification is made. It is related to Health Sciences, because it helps doctors diagnose a patient's illness, describing their symptoms and for doctors to have a better knowledge of the illness. What is trepanation? Why was this used? Trepanation involves drilling a hole into the skull of the patient in order to release intracranial pressure. Describe three ways that healthcare is funded. Some healthcare systems are funded through taxations; use tax from individual taxpayers to pay for a portion of the healthcare. Another is funded through social insurance programs; run by the government and paid for through taxes. Finally, private health insurance is another way to fund for health care; purchased by individuals. What are private healthcare sites? What are their characteristics? Private healthcare sites are those where the hospital or office is owned by a for-profit company and the funding comes from patient and insurance payments. What is patient-centered care? Patient-centered care are healthcare and medicine that is based on treating patients. Critical Thinking Questions Private health insurance is a common form of healthcare payment in the United States. What are some of the advantages and disadvantages of private health insurance? Private health insurance provides...
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...to be a very informative and moving story. The book highlighted the intense and at times inefficient medical liability system. This book made me realize how often these kinds of tragic medical mistakes happen and that there are most likely many people who never receive justice. The Sabias suffered so much and their life changed so drastically because of one seemingly avoidable mistake. They definitely earned both my compassion and admiration. Having to go through years of grueling legal battle and also dealing with a very difficult home life was no easy task. Luckily after all those years the Sabias eventually got relief of some sort. They did not ever conclusively find out just how little Tony’s brain was damaged, but they ended up settling for $6 million. Although this does not make up for the loss of a child and permanent life-altering disability to another, at least they will be able to give their child top of the line care. I did find it ethically questionable how doctor Humes was still being allowed to practice after the first incident with Mary Gay and then again after this whole ordeal with the Sabias. She ended up delivering another baby who sustained brain damage in 1994. She was in turn sued a third time for medical malpractice. I found that rather shocking and was surprised any hospital...
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...role does terminology play in the medical field? Healthcare terminology provides a standardized “language of medicine” that allows healthcare provider and other healthcare professionals such as nurses, medical assistants and others the ability to get their daily work done. Although it seems scary at first glance, medical terminology is not rocket science. The majority of terms are derived from Greek and Latin and the science-based vocabulary follows a systematic methodology; each term contains two or three components and can be broken down into parts. How does the use of medical abbreviations affect medical terminology? At present, the only approved medical abbreviations that are acceptable for Local Health Department (LHD) documentation are in this section, the Immunization Section, and Marilyn Fuller Delong’s “Medical Acronyms, Eponyms & Abbreviations, 3rd Edition” or later. Regardless of their convenience, medical abbreviations have been responsible for serious errors and deaths. According to the Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) over 7,000 deaths per year may be attributed to medication errors. The use of abbreviation and medical notation makes a significant contribution to this statistic. The literature is filled with many examples of the problems arising from their use. The following are examples of the most common problem-types grouped for organization and clarity. Do abbreviations reduce or increase medical errors? Some abbreviations, symbols...
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...Malkinski Theoretical Foundations of Advanced Nursing Dr. Linda Phelps November 29, 2015 Accountability as a Concept Accountability in the field of nursing is very important as everything we do can either save or take lives. When mistakes are made at this level of care it affects public trust and someone must take responsibility for mistakes and also life saving measures. This is one of the cornerstones of the medical profession as a whole. As we have taken an oath to do no harm. Responsibility equals accountability. Accountability shows in many ways, shapes and forms. This concept also shows up in more than just the medical field, and nursing. It appears in everything from architecture, government, and even our personal lives. All throughout history the concept of accountability has appeared on the canvas. For example, President Truman embraced the term “The buck stops here”. Basically saying that instead of passing the blame or the “buck”, the responsibility lies with him as our leader and president. (The Harry S. Truman Library, n.d.). What the Literature Says During a preliminary literature search, I found the accountability concept displayed in many different disciplines and categories. For example, I found accountability mentioned in the medical field, government, sociology, psychology, and even engineering / architecture. Going a little further in a literature search accountability was even...
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...would more than likely decreased by size drastically... Many people would be dead and slowly dying. The nursing shortage affects not only the nursing profession, but patients alike. More than 3 million of people need medical attention every year. With less nurses patient care will suffer and the health care needs of people will not be met. In this essay a discussion of the nursing shortage and the solutions the world is coming up with will be covered. There is a larger type of nursing shortage going on for many reasons. One main reason is that older people also known as the “baby boomer” meaning people over the age of 65, this age group has many medical and health needs that need to be taken care of. With that being said, it is putting a very large strain on the nursing field and in our health system all around. Another reason is there isn’t enough nursing school, along with that it takes a lot of commitment and its cost a lot of money. Lastly a large portion of nurses will be retiring within the next few years. Many times people don’t want to become a nurse because it's a stressful job, working long hours, holding the lives of people in your hands. They work under stressful conditions and in these environments they are more likely to make a mistakes and medical errors. Along with this nurse shortage, there isn’t really any solutions to end nursing shortage. This nursing shortage has been happening for years now and it near the top of the list when it comes to employment...
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...the different companies that are competing for the services of the different hospitals and how they will create a “social benefits”. (content.healthaffairs.org/content/22/6/88.ful,Peter J.Hammer and William M. Sage) Because so many things that have happened in hospitals and with doctors that have made patients and their families file law suits against so many doctors and hospitals that this law was put in affect and how it has helped when it comes to the different “medical markets” and because so many people and businesses have lost faith and trust because of critical issues and mistakes upon the part of doctors and hospitals. (content.healthaffairs.org/content/22/6/88.ful,Peter J.Hammer and William M. Sage) As in any business who provides a service or a product, hospitals and doctors are suppose to provide medical care for patients and to provide a medical diagnosis that patients are supposed to trust is true. It is understandable that doctors and hospital staff are human and can make mistakes, but as a doctor, they are supposed to know what they are talking about and make the right diagnosis to save a patient’s life or keep a patient safe. Health Care is a major business and there should be...
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...my goals for my future is to be happy as a Medical Administrative Assistant. As a Medical Administrative Assistant my future job will consist of answering telephones, greeting patients, updating and filing patients’ medical records, filling out insurance forms, handling correspondence, scheduling appointments, arranging for hospital admission and laboratory services, and handling billing and bookkeeping. I want to be satisfied with my decision, to be able to accept my decisions and forgive myself for some mistakes that I‘ve might have made such as not going to college after graduating high school. Most of all, to be able to live up to the expectations I have for myself. I realize I cannot set my goals and dreams based on others and I need to achieve things for myself. I will accomplish my goals when I am able to live my life for myself and still able to provide love and support to others. Another goal of mine is to be a role model for my nephew, younger cousins andto all younger kids to never give up and always believe in yourself that you can succeed. Someday, I will reach my destination in life, when I earn my Associates degree as a Medical Administrative Assistant. One thing helping me focus on my goal is that I will be the first in my family to receive a degree in college. To achieve my goal, I plan to put all my effort in my schoolwork, and manage my time between school and work to receive better grades. I choose Medical Administrative Assistant rather than Executive...
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...meaning of substandard patient care, discuss a professional experience with substandard patient care, and describe how it relates to quality care. Every organization in the health care field should avoid delivering substandard care to their patients. According to the Collins English Dictionary (2003), substandard is defined as, “falling short of some prescribed norm”. In other words, substandard patient care is care for patients that are below the facility’s standards. Substandard care can be a result of multiple factors. Negative situations can get worse from actions of the patient or their family members, which can be outside of the controls of the healthcare professional. Shortage of staff members such as nurses can also add to substandard patient care. Administrative failure is another factor that can add to substandard care. Wrong decisions made by the administrative staff can at times affect the patient as badly as a physician’s mistake. According to Cohen, Placitella, & Roth (2007), “The medical industry overall contributes to higher than necessary rates of [substandard patient care]. Although some errors are unavoidable, the industry could do much better” (para. 3). They support their opinion by stating that at times the medical industry is under-funded. Another issue in the medical industry that adds to substandard care is the health care industry’s “Inefficiency [that leads to] poorly used funds”. Cohen et al. (2007) continues by stating that substandard patient...
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...An Ethical Analysis of Negligence In this paper, the author will describe the main differences among negligence, gross negligence, and malpractice in the medical field. In addition, the author will explain his opinion about this article and the facts described in it as well as the rationale used to form this opinion. Furthermore, the author will describe the importance of documentation in the medical field as well as how nurses should document when providing care while complying with legal and ethical requirements. Unintentional torts are the most common torts in the medical field. Torts are acts occurred without the tortfeasor intention to cause harm; however, some type of harm results from it. Torts are also actions committed unreasonably or disregarding the consequences, in legal terms this represents negligence (Judson & Harrison, 2010). According to Judson and Harrison (2010), negligence is an unintentional tort and a person is negligent when in similar circumstances he or she did not performed as expected from a reasonable person (Judson & Harrison, 2010). Defining gross negligence is a more complicated issue. According to Thornton (2006) the Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code defines gross negligence as an act of omission that when viewed from the position of the actor at the time the omission occurred it shows a significant degree of risk and possible harm to others (Thornton, 2006). In addition, the actor is aware of the risks but proceeds disregarding the rights...
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...In the health care field, the term malpractice originally encompassed only the negligent wrongs of a physician. In the past, a distinct division existed between a nurse and a physician. Rather than diagnose patients, treat symptoms, or prescribe medication, it was sufficient for the nurse to wait for and then simply implement a physician’s order. In years past it was virtually unprecedented for a nurse to criticize a physician’s order. The role of the nurse, however, has changed. Today, nurses commonly assume functions previously performed only by the physician. In hospitals and clinics across the country, nurses have assumed the responsibilities such as the actual examination, diagnosis, and treatment of a patient, oftentimes without any direct supervision by a physician. Medical malpractice is generally defined as negligence on the part of a physician, nurse, EMT, hospital or other health care professionals. Negligence is at part with failure to perform medical obligations under normal standard of care. The nurses are also involved when patients get injured either physically and/or mentally as results of medical malpractice. Due to current shortage of nursing professionals, nurses on the job are inevitably overloaded with work and duties. Nurses are not getting enough rest that they need to stay alert at all times due to longer shifts. Inattentiveness often leads to medical mistakes that cause serious harm to patients. Another root of the nurse malpractice is under...
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...Critical Response Essay Life is full decisions, some harder than others, but those hard decisions have to be made sometimes for the wellbeing of others. Medical technology is beginning to take of the medical field and is making ethical decisions and issues a thing of the past. Due to this there are has been some debate on whether or not the technology in the medical field is harming the medical profession or not. Some people agree with the topic others do not and think that the medical team should be the ones making the decisions not the computers. The passage, Medical Technology and Ethical Issues by William E. Thompson and Joseph V. Hickey, explains the dilemma of technology in the medical field, and the different sides of it. The technology that is being referred to is the RIP computer. This is a computer program that doctors us to help make decisions about whether to administer lifesaving actions to patients that are dying or to let them die. In the passage critics and supporters take opposing sides to the issue of technology being used in the medical field. Some believe computers will be making the decisions, while others believe it just provides data to make decisions on who to treat. On the debate of the use of the RIP in medical field has two main positions, the critics and the supporters. The critics disagree with the technology because, they say that it is a “frightening example” of the overreliance of computer technology that makes decisions that should be...
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