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MEDICAL ENGLISH – PRESENT SIMPLE

This tense is used to talk about:

 Something that is true at the moment of speaking.

I’ve got chest pains.
I feel better

 Something that is happening on a regular basis around now.

I get these headaches in the morning.

 A process.
When I learn forward, the pain goes away.
The pain starts in my chest and moves up to my shoulder.
MEDICAL ENGLISH – PRONUNCIATION
MEDICAL ENGLISH – PRONUNCIATION
READING : HUMAN BODY

Head
Inside the head is the brain, which is responsible for thinking. The top of
a person's scalp is covered with hair. Beneath the hairline at the front of
the face is the forehead.
Underneath the forehead are the eyes for seeing, the nose for smelling, and
the mouth for eating. On the outside of the mouth are the lips, and on the inside of the
mouth are the teeth for biting and the tongue for tasting. Food is swallowed down
the throat. At the sides of the face are the cheeks and at the sides of the head are
the ears for hearing. At the bottom of a person's face is the chin. The jaw is located on
the inside of the cheeks and chin. The neck is what attaches the head to the upper
body.

Upper Body

At the top and front of the upper body, just below the neck is the collar
bone. On the front side of the upper body is the chest, which in women
includes the breasts. Babies suck on the nipples of their mother's breasts.
Beneath the ribcage are the stomach and the waist. The navel, more commonly referred
to as the belly button, is located here as well. On the inside of the upper body are
the heart for pumping blood and the lungs for breathing. The rear side of the upper body
is called the back, inside which the spine connects the upper body to the lower body.
READING : HUMAN BODY

Upper Limbs (arms)

The arms are attached to the shoulders. Beneath this area is called

the armpit or underarm. The upper arms have the muscles known
as triceps and biceps. The joint halfway down the arm is called the elbow.
Between the elbow and the next joint, the wrist, is the forearm. Below the wrist is
the hand with four fingers and one thumb. Beside the thumb is the index finger. Beside
the index finger is the middle finger, followed by the ring finger and the little finger. At
the ends of the fingers are fingernails.

Lower Body

Below the waist, on left and right, are the hips. Between the hips are the
reproductive organs, the penis (male) or the vagina (female). At the back
of the lower body are the buttocks for sitting on.
They are also commonly referred to as the rear end or the bum (especially with
children). The internal organs in the lower body include the intestines for digesting
food, the bladder for holding liquid waste, as well as the liver and the kidneys. This area
also contains the woman's uterus, which holds a baby when a woman is pregnant.
READING : HUMAN BODY

Lower Limbs (legs)

The top of the leg is called the thigh, and the joint in the middle of the leg
is the knee.
The front of the lower leg is the shin and the back of the lower leg is the calf.
The ankle connects the foot to the leg. Each foot has five toes. The smallest toe is
often called the little toe while the large one is called the big toe. At the ends of the
toes are toenails.
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Medical English – Present Continuous

This tense is used to talk about:

 Something that is happening at the moment of speaking
His blood pressure’s rising.
I’m having diffulty breathing.

• something that is happening around now, though not necessarily at the moment of
speaking.
Are you taking any medication?
I’m having chest pain

• Something that has been arranges for a date in the near future.
I’m seeing a physiotherapist next Wednesday.

The use of have in the present continuous refer to a moment of speaking is more limited than in
the Present Simple. It is generally restricted to expression such as:
- Have a difficulty + ing form
- Have something to eat and have a shower.
Doctor's Diagnosis - English Vocabulary

Example Sentences

Physician
 Your test results have come in.
 I'm afraid the prognosis isn't good.
 You have a long road to recovery.
 We have several options to discuss.
 The blood test came back negative.
 The transfusion was a success.
 It looks like you're ready to go home.
 I'd like to keep you here overnight.
 We'll know more in a few days.
 You're not in the clear yet.
 We've ruled out diabetes.
 I'm hoping to get to the bottom of this soon.
Doctor's Diagnosis - English Vocabulary

Example Sentences

Patient

 I don't understand what this means.

 Am I going to need surgery?
 Is it good news or bad?
 When will the tests results come in?
 How long do I have to stay in the hospital?
 What is the success rate?
 Are they going to run more tests?
 Is this a common problem for people my age?
 I'd like to discuss other options.
 I'm going to get a second opinion.
Doctor's Diagnosis - Sample Conversation
Doctor: Hi Jessica. How are you feeling today?
Patient: A bit better.
Doctor: That's good to hear. Are you still feeling nauseous?
Patient: No, I haven't felt sick to my stomach since you switched my medication.
Doctor: Great. Say, your test results came in this morning.
Patient: It's about time. Is it good news or bad?
Doctor: I guess it's a bit of both. Which do you want first?
Patient: Let's get the bad news over with.
Doctor: Okay. It looks like you're going to need surgery to remove the tumour from
your leg. After the operation you're going to have to stay off your feet for at least
three weeks. That means no soccer.
Patient: I was afraid you were going to say that.
Doctor: Now for the good news. The biopsy shows that the tumour is benign, which
means it's not cancerous. We're going to take it out anyway just to be on the safe
side.
Patient: Wow, that's a load off my mind. Thanks Doctor.
Doctor: Don't get too excited. We still need to get to the bottom of all of this weight
loss.
Patient: I've probably just been so worried about this stupid lump.
Doctor: These things often are stress related, but we're still going to do a few blood
tests just to rule a few things out.
Patient: Things like what? Cancer?
Doctor: Actually, I'm thinking more along the lines of a food allergy.
A Physician’s Typical Day

Take a look into a physician’s typical day.  With an average of 20 patients daily, physicians
jump from patient to patient and diagnosis to diagnosis. One may come in with a rash; the next
complains of heartburn; the next, chest pain; and so on. To fit 20 patients in a day, the little time
doctors spend with each patient creates room for misdiagnosis.
Research has confirmed that cognitive mistakes by physicians are the predominant cause of this
error.1 Although most medical cases are ultimately correctly diagnosed and treated, errors
leading to delay may result in poor quality of care, patient safety risks, increased costs, and, in
some cases, malpractice litigation. 2
This physician diagnosed a patient with a tension headache. But he failed to ask for a detailed
history and consider other diagnoses. If he had, he would have realized the patient is exposed to
carbon monoxide at work and that is the root cause of his headache.
Later in the day, a patient complained of dizziness and diagnosed it as benign positional vertigo.
He locked in on a diagnosis because of initial symptoms and failed to adjust. The patient
actually had suffered a cerebellar stroke.
Asking for more information and documenting all symptoms can seem impossible with big time
constraints but that is where VisualDx can help. The clinical diagnostic support system allows
frontline health care professionals to enter specific data about the patient’s condition and
quickly build a unique differential diagnosis for their patient.  VisualDx users can then work
through the list of possible diagnoses to arrive at the best one, explain the process to the patient
and decide on the right treatment moving forward.  
This technology puts fast and accurate diagnosis at your fingertips, lowering the risk of
misdiagnosis, contributing to a high quality of care and keeping patient safety top of mind.
 
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Medical English – Past Simple

Positive
The coughing became worse this morning
Subject + Past Simple

Negative
The doctor didn’t’ come.
Subject + didn’t + infinitive

Questions
Did you take anything for the pain?
Did + subject + infinitive
Medical English – Past Simple

Rememember that be is irregular:

Positive
I/He/She/ It was
You/We/They were

Question
Was I/He/She/It?
Were You/we/they?

Negative
I/He/She/It wasn’t
You/We/They weren’t
Booking Appointments - Medical English

Example Sentences

Patient

•I need to make an appointment.

•I need to see the doctor.
•When is the doctor free?
•I need to renew my prescription.
•Do you think the doctor could squeeze us in today?
•I need to make an appointment for my husband.
•My child needs to come in for a check-up.
•The doctor wants to see me again in two week's time.
Booking Appointments - Medical English

Example Sentences

Receptionist

•What is your chart number?

•What is the appointment regarding?
•Which day/what time is good for you?
•Is January the 3rd okay with you?
•How does four o'clock sound?
•We'll see you then.
•I'm sorry the doctor is not taking new patients.
•We'll call you if there are any cancellations.
•We're running an hour behind schedule.
•Dr Jones is away. You'll be seeing Dr Lindsay.
Booking Appointments – Sample Conversation

Receptionist: Doctor's office. Jane speaking. How can I help you?

Caller: I need to make an appointment with Dr. Harris.
Receptionist: Do you know your chart number?
Caller: No, sorry. It's at home and I'm at work right now.
Receptionist: No problem. What's your name, please?
Caller: George Mason.
Receptionist: Okay Mr Mason. Hold one moment while I grab your chart, please.
Caller: Sure.
Receptionist: Thanks for waiting. Now, what do you need to see the doctor about?
Caller: Well, I've been fighting a cold for more than a week, and I think I might have a chest
infection or something. My cough is getting worse each day.
Receptionist: Hmm. Doctor Harris is off tomorrow. Do you think it can wait until Wednesday?
Caller: Oh, I was really hoping to get in today or tomorrow in case I need some antibiotics.
Maybe I'll have to go to the walk-in-clinic instead.
Receptionist: Actually, we had a cancellation for 2:00pm today if you can get away from the
office.
Caller: Gee, it's almost 1:00pm already. I think I can make it if I leave right now.
Receptionist: We're running a bit behind schedule, so you can probably count on seeing the
doctor around 2:30.
Caller: That's great. Thanks for fitting me in.
Receptionist: No problem, Mr. Mason. We'll see you in an hour or so.
My first online Gp Appointment
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Language Spot: Giving Instructions

The imperative form of the verb can be used for giving very clear and direct
instructions.

It is very direct, and it certain contexts (for example a doctor speaking to a

patient), it can sound abrupt or even rude.

Infinitive without to
Complete the drug charts.

Negative
Don’t/ Do not forget to complete the drug charts.

Adverbs
Always complete the drug chart.
Language Spot: Explain Procedures

The presente simple and You are used for describeing steps in a procedure.

You wash your hands. Then you put on gloves.

Adverbs
You clean the area thoroughly.

Negative

You don’t need to put the instruments away yet.

Medical Supplies - English Vocabulary

Here is a list of some of the most common supplies found in doctors' offices, operating rooms and
medical kits

Term meaning
antiseptic liquid used to sterilize (clean) the surface of the
skin

bandage a cloth covering that is placed over a wound to

prevent bleeding, swelling and infection

bandage scissors tool used to cut bandages

blood pressure monitor a tool that measures the force of blood flow
through a person's body

dressing protective covering that is placed over a wound

elastic tape a thin roll of stretchy material that is sticky on
one side

eye chart a poster of letter, word, and number

combinations of various sizes used to test a
person's eyesight
Medical Supplies - English Vocabulary

forceps instrument used during operations and medical procedures

(assists the doctor in pulling, holding, and retrieving)

gauze thin, netted material used for dressing wounds

hypodermic needle sharp pointed metal piece that pricks the skin (attached to a
syringe), used for taking blood or administering medicine

IV bag the pouch that contains liquids to be pumped into a patient's

body

medicine cup small plastic measuring cup

microscope equipment that makes small things appear larger than they
are

otoscope a device used for looking into a patient's ears

oxygen mask equipment that fits over the nose and mouth and supplies
oxygen
Medical Supplies - English Vocabulary

privacy screen an object that is used to separate the doctor and patient
from others in an open room

scales a device that measures a person's weight

stethoscope equipment for listening to a person's heart and lungs

syringe a cylinder-shaped piece that attaches to a needle and can

be filled with liquid

table and head-rest paper paper that is placed on an examining table or head-rest to
prevent the spread of germs

test tube glass cylinder that is filled with blood or other liquids and
can be capped and placed in a storage area

thermometer an instrument used to check a person's body temperature

vial a small bottle or container used for storing liquids

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LANGUAGE SPOT: ASKING SHORT AND GENTLE QUESTIONS
There are two types of questions, YES/NO questions and WH- questions.

YES/NO QUESTIONS
We use YES/NO QUESTIONS when we only need a simple yes or no answer.

Do you feel any pain in your abdomen?

Do/does + subject + infinitive

Other verbs, such as be, have got, and modal verbs don’t use the auxiliary do.

Is the pain worse now?

Present Simple of be + subject

Have you got your medication with you?

Present Simple of have + subject + got

Can you feel your legs?

Can+subject+infinitive

We can also begin yes/no question with

Is it…..? Or Is there…?
Is it difficult to raise tour leg?
Is there anyone we can contact for you?
LANGUAGE SPOT: ASKING SHORT AND GENTLE QUESTIONS

WH- QUESTIONS

We use questions beginning with a question word when we want someone to give us some
information.
Often, these came after a yes/no question.

Question word include what, which, who, when, where, why and how. The word how can be
used in expression such as how long, how much and how many, and is udes with a number of
adjectives and adverbs.

How far can you extend your arm?

How well can you see?

The question words what, which, how much and how many can be followed by a noun.

Which doctor did you speak to?

How much pain are you?
LANGUAGE SPOT: ASKING SHORT AND GENTLE QUESTIONS

With both yes/no questions and wh- questions we use the present simple or present continuous
to talk about the present situation.

However, we use the Present Perfect or Present Perfect continuous to talk about a situation that
began in the past and which continues up to the present.

It’s important to remember that we don’t use the Present simple or Present continuous to
express this.

YES/NO QUESTION: Have you had these dizzy spells before?

Have you been having difficulties with your breathing?

WH- QUESTION: How long have you had these dizzy spells?
How long have you been having difficulties with your
breathing?

NOT Do you have these dizzy spells before?

How long are you having difficulties with your breathing?
READING: PRESENTING COMPLAINTS
1-DOCTOR: What’s brought you here?
PATIENT: My wrist is trobbing since I feel in the street.

2- DOCTOR: Can you tell me what seems to be bothering you?

PATIENT: I’ve got a really sore throat.

3- DOCTOR: What’s brought you here?

PATIENT: I’ve been getting a kind of boring pain right here, which goes through to my back.

4- DOCTOR: Can you tell me what seems to be bothering you?

PATIENT: Well, it feels a bit tender just here onn my right side.

5- DOCTOR: Can you tell me what seems to be bothering you?

PATIENT: I’ve got this gnawing kind of plain right about here in my stomach.

6- DOCTOR: What can we do for you?

PATIENT: Well, I’ve got this sharp pain up and down my leg.

7- DOCTOR: What can we do for you?

PATIENT: I feel as if there’s a tight band.

8- DOCTOR: What’s brought you here?

PATIENT:I’ve got this crushing pain right here in my chest.
TEARMS FOR BODY PART:
6
LANGUAGE SPOT: OPEN AND CLOSED QUESTION

• A closed question can usually be answered with one or two

words.

DOCTOR: Are you sleeping well?

PATIENT: Yes.

• Closed questions are used to elicit specific pieces of information.

However, sometimes the answer is vague, and doctors need more
information to make a diagnosis.

DOCTOR: Is everything OK at work?

PATIENT: Sort of.
LANGUAGE SPOT: OPEN AND CLOSED QUESTION

• An open question usually can’t be answered with just one or two

words, so it encourages a patient to explain more.

Can you tell me more about your work /the pain/the headache?

• Often an open question is formed as a gentle imperative statement.

Tell me more about your work/the pain/ the headache.

And what about your home life?

LANGUAGE SPOT: OPEN AND CLOSED QUESTION

• Doctors usually use a combination of open and closed question to help

clarify vague answers that patients give and to build up a relationship
of trust that encourages the patient to explain fully and clearly.

DOCTOR: Tell me more about your work.

PATIENT: Well, there’s an awful lot of it! At the moment I have to cover
for people and I am run off my feet with no help and…

DOCTOR: You say you have no help. Why is that?

PATIENT: Another manager is off sick.

DOCTOR: Do you feel stressed about it?

PATIENT: Yes I guess I do.

DOCTOR: Stressed about..

PATIENT: Deadlines, paperwork, sales target
7
MEDICAL ENGLISH – PRESENT PASSIVE

EXPLAINING INVESTIGATIONS/ PRICEDURES WITH THE PRESENT PASSIVE:

POSITIVE
A needle is attached to the syringe.
SUBJECT + am /is/are + past participle

Example:
Active: The doctor attaches the needle to the syringe
Passive: The needle is attached to the syringe. (by the doctor)

Note: We don’t need to say who it is done by because it is part of a procedure.

NEGATIVE
The patient isn’t sedated for this procedure.
SUBJECT + am not/is not /are not + past participle

Example:
Active: A doctor does noy use a tourniquet in this procedure.
Passive: A tourniquet is not use in this procedure.

Active: Nurses don’t perform this procedure.

Passive: This procedure is performed only by experience doctors.
MEDICAL ENGLISH – PRESENT PASSIVE

QUESTIONS
Is the syringe sterilized before that?
Am/are/is + SUBJECT + part participle

We can use the Present passive to describe how a procedure is carried out. Whereas
in the active it is necessaryto say who performs an action, the Passive avoids doing
this.

The Passive is preferred where the agent of the action is irrelevant, not know, or is
understood.
READING: TAKING AN X-RAY

A: I need take a chest X-ray test.

B: I will need you to take your clothes off from the waist up and put on the gown,
leaving the opening in the back.

A: What's the next?

B: I will need you to face this glass plate right over here.

A: Should I do anything else?

B: Your arms need to be raised to shoulder height.

A: Is this OK?
B: So far, so good.

A: How come you are walking away?

B: I am not leaving. I just need you to take a really deep breath, hold it, and then let it
out.

A: Will I be finished then?

B: You will be able to put your clothes on as soon as I have checked the film.
READING: Typical day for a nurse

5:00 a.m. – Wake up

A nurse’s day often begins before the sun is up. Many nurses are out of bed, showered, and
eating breakfast before other professionals even hit the snooze button. If there’s time in the quiet
morning hours, they’ll steal a few moments of solitude before beginning the day.

7:00 a.m. – Relieve the night shift

Most day shift nurses will begin by conferring with their colleagues on the night shift. The night
staff will update them on any change in patient status since the last day shift, admissions, or
other matters they should be aware of. At the start of their shift, nurses will also review
assignments and physician notes, and read up on each patient that they have to see to that day.

8:00 a.m. – Morning rounds

Mornings are busy for nurses. They’ll check in with each patient and record their status. Nurses
check blood work in the morning, monitor the blood sugar of diabetic patients, and check in to
see if anything requires their immediate attention. This is also a time when nurses will assist
patients in ADL, or “activities of daily living.” During this time of day, it’s common for nurses
to assist patients with eating (if they cannot do it themselves) or basic mobility. This time will
also include what’s known as a “med pass,” when nurses will administer medications to
patients.
READING: Typical day for a nurse

12:00 p.m. – Lunch

If they can, nurses will try to take some time for lunch in the middle of the day. This doesn’t
always happen, though. Sometimes a lunch will be whatever you can grab in between tasks.
Nothing’s a guarantee for a nurse, especially mealtimes.
1:00 p.m. – Afternoon rounds
By the afternoon, many patients who arrived in the morning could conceivably be released, and
several more will have been admitted in the interim. Nurses can often find themselves managing
new patients, administering any medications that need to be given during that time, and
catching up on charting.
This is also when nurses will likely have to make use of their people skills. New patients often
have to be educated about their diagnoses and treatment plans; nurses will have to answer
patient questions, and also ensure both patients and their family members have adequately
internalized what they need to know.
6:00 p.m. – Prepare for the night shift
Before going home, a day shift nurse will have to make sure that everything has been properly
documented and made ready for counterparts working the night shift. Nurses will check and
double-check patient charts and information that the night shift will need. When the night
nurses arrive, the day shift will brief them, leave things in their capable hands, and then go
home for some hard-earned rest.
After that, a nurse has 12 hours to sleep, eat, and refresh. The next day, come 5:00 a.m., the
cycle begins all over again.
.