English for Medical Purposes - Making a Doctor's Appointment

Role Play: Making a Doctor's Appointment

Doctor's Assistant: Good morning, Doctor Jensen's office. How may I help you?
Patient: Hello, I'd like to make an appointment to see Doctor Jensen, please.
Doctor's Assistant: Have you been in to see Doctor Jensen before?
Patient: Yes, I have. I had a physical last year.
Doctor's Assistant: Fine, what is your name?
Patient: Maria Sanchez.
Doctor's Assistant: Thank you, Ms. Sanchez, let me pull up your file... Okay, I've located
your information. What's the reason for your making an appointment?
Patient: I haven't been feeling very well lately.
Doctor's Assistant: Do you need urgent care?
Patient: No, not necessarily, but I'd like to see the doctor soon.
Doctor's Assistant:  Of course, how about next Monday? There's a slot available at 10 in the
morning.
Patient: I'm afraid I'm working at 10. Is there anything available after three?
Doctor's Assistant: Let me see. Not on Monday, but we have a three o'clock opening next
Wednesday. Would you like to come in then?
Patient: Yes, next Wednesday at three would be great.
Doctor's Assistant:  All right, I'll pencil you in for three o'clock next Wednesday.
Patient: Thank you for your help.
Doctor's Assistant: You're welcome. We'll see you next week. Goodbye.
Patient: Goodbye.
Key Making an Appointment Phrases

 Make an appointment: schedule a time to see the doctor

 Have you been in before?: used to ask if the patient has seen the doctor before
 Physical (examination: yearly check-up to see if everything is okay.
 Pull up a file: find a patient's information
 Not feeling very well: feel ill or sick
 Urgent care: similar to an emergency room, but for everyday problems
 A slot: an available time to make an appointment
 Is there anything open?: used to check if there is an available time for an
appointment
 Pencil someone in: to schedule an appointment

True or False?

Decide whether the following statements are true or false: 

1. Ms. Sanchez has never seen Doctor Jensen.

2. Ms. Sanchez had a physical examination with Doctor Jensen last year.
3. The doctor's assistant already has the file open.
4. Ms. Sanchez is feeling fine these days.
5. Ms. Sanchez needs urgent care.
6. She can't come in for a morning appointment. 
7. Ms. Sanchez schedules an appointment for next week.

Answers: 

1
 1. False
2. True
3. False
4. False
5. False
6. True
7. True

Preparing for your Appointment

Once you've made an appointment you'll need to make sure you're prepared for your doctor's
visit. Here is a short overview of what you'll need in the United States.

Insurance / Medicaid / Medicare Card

In the US doctor's have medical billing specialists whose job it is to bill the correct insurance
provider. There are many insurance providers in the US, so it's essential to bring your
insurance card. If you are over 65, you probably will need your Medicare card.

Cash, Check or Credit/Debit Card to Pay for Co-payment

Many insurance companies require a co-payment which represents a small portion of the total
bill. Co-payments can be as little as $5 for some medicines, and as much as 20 percent or
more of larger bills. Make sure to check with your insurance provider for much information
on co-payments in your individual insurance plan as these vary widely. Bring some form of
payment to your appointment to take care of your co-pay.

Medication List

It's important for your doctor to know which medications you take. Bring a list of all
medications that you currently take.

Key Vocabulary

 Medical billing specialist: (noun) a person who processes charges to insurance

companies
 Insurance provider: (noun) company that insurances people for their health care
needs
 Medicare: (noun) a form of insurance in the US for people over 65
 Co-payment / co-pay: (noun) partial payment of your medical bill
 Medication: (noun) medicine

True or False?

1. Co-payments are payments made by the insurance company to the doctor to pay for
your medical appointments.
2. Medical billing specialists will help you deal with insurance companies.
3. Everyone in the US can take advantage of Medicare.
4. It's a good idea to bring a list of your medications to a doctor's appointment.

2
Answers:

1. False - patients are responsible for co-payments.

2. True - medical billing specialists specialize in working with insurance companies.
3. False - Medicare is national insurance for those over 65.
4. True - it's important for your doctor to know which medications you are taking. 

If you need English for medical purposes you should know about troubling
symptoms and joint pain, as well as pain that comes and goes. If you work in a pharmacy, it's
a good idea to practice talking about prescriptions. All medical staff might be faced with a
patient who is feeling queasy and how to help a patient.

Joint Pain Terminology and English for Medical Purposes

Joint Pain
Patient: Good morning. Doctor Smith?
Doctor: Yes, please come in.
Patient: Thank you. My name is Doug Anders.
Doctor: What have you come in for today Mr. Anders?
Patient: I've been having some pain in my joints, especially the knees.
Doctor: How long have you been having the pain?
Patient: I'd say it started three or four months ago. It's been getting worse recently.
Doctor: Are you having any other problems like weakness, fatigue or headaches?
Patient: Well I've certainly felt under the weather.
Doctor: Right. How much physical activity do you get? Do you play any sports?
Patient: Some. I like to play tennis about once a week. I take my dog on a walk every
morning.
Doctor: OK. Let's have a look. Can you point to the area where you are having pain?
Patient: It hurts right here. 
Doctor: Please stand up and put weight on your knees. Does this hurt? How about this? 
Patient: Ouch! 
Doctor: It seems you have some inflammation in your knees. However, there's nothing
broken.
Patient: That's a relief!
Doctor: Just take some ibuprofen or aspirin and the swelling should go down. You'll feel
better after that.
Patient: Thank you!
Key Vocabulary

 joint pain = (noun) the connection points of the body where two bones connect
including wrists, ankles, knees
 knees = (noun) the connection point between your upper and lower legs
 weakness = (noun) the opposite of strength, feeling like you have little energy
 fatigue = (noun) overall tiredness, low energy
 headache = (noun) a pain in your head that is steady
 to feel under the weather = (verb phrase) not feel well, not feel as strong as usual
 physical activity = (noun) exercise of any kind
 to have a look = (verb phrase) to check something or someone
 to have pain = (verb phrase) to hurt 
 to put your weight on something = (verb phrase) put the weight of your body onto
something directly

3
  inflammation = (noun) swelling 
 ibuprofen/aspirin = (noun) common pain medicine that also helps reduce swelling
 swelling = (noun) inflammation

Check your understanding with this multiple choice comprehension quiz.

Comprehension Quiz

Choose the best answer to each question about the dialogue.

1. What seems to be Mr. Smith's problem?

  Broken knees
  Fatigue
  Joint pain

2. Which joints are bothering him the most?

  Elbow
  Wrist
  Knees

3. How long has he been having this problem?

  three or four years

  three or four months
  three or four weeks

4. Which other problem does the patient mention?

  He's felt under the weather.

  He's been vomiting.
  He doesn't mention another problem.

5. Which phrase best describes the amount of exercise the patient gets?

  He works out a lot.

  He gets some exercise, not a lot.
  He doesn't get any exercise.

6. What's Mr. Anders problem?

 He has broken his knees.

 He has some swelling in his knees.
 He has broken a joint. 

Answers

1. Joint pain
2. Knees
4
 3. Three or four months
4. He's felt under the weather.
5. He gets some exercise, not a lot.
6. He has some swelling in his knees. 

Vocabulary Review

Fill in the gap with a word or phrase from the dialogue.

1. I've had a lot of _________for more than a week. I'm really tired!
2. Are you feeling _________the weather today?
3. I'm afraid I have some _________around my eyes. What should I do?
4. Could you please put your _________on your left foot?
5. Take some _________and stay home for two days.
6. Are you having any pain in your _________?

Answers

1. fatigue/weakness
2. under
3. inflammation / swelling
4. weight
5. aspirin/ibuprofen
6. joints


1. I'd like to make an __________ to see the doctor. When is she __________?
 time...here
 appointment...available
 appointment...mine
2. Just a moment while I _________ up your file.
 pull
 look
 Both answers are correct.
3. Have you had your ______________yet this year? If not, you should _________ an
appointment.
 physical...make
 check up...schedule
 Both answers are correct.
4. You should stay home from work or school if you have a fever, cold, bad cough or
other __________ illness.
 contagious
 disgusting
 unhealthy

5
 5. I'm not feeling very ________. I think I need to sit down.
 nice
 well
 frisky
6. Thank you for arriving on time. Have you been to this __________ before?
 practice
 place
 planet
7. Could you make a __________ appointment in the next two weeks?
 next
 beginning
 follow-up
8. I have a two o'clock __________ next week. Would you like that?
 slot
 opening
 Both answers are correct.