COMPREHENSION

ENGLISH 3001
- DR. BRANCH
 Lesson Objectives
O To be able to listen for specific information
and gist in a passage.
O To be able to coin the meaning of a word from
the context it is used.
O To build vocabulary.
 Health
O Health is a “… a state of complete physical, mental,
and social well-being and not merely the absence of
disease or infirmity… to reach a level of optimal
physical, mental and social well-being, an individual or
group is able to realise aspirations, to satisfy needs,
and to change or cope with the environment. Health,
therefore, is seen as a resource for living, a positive
concept emphasising social and personal resources, as
well as physical capacities.”
- World Health Organization
 Understanding the General
Meaning
O What is the gist of this reading? The main point?

O Is this academic language easy or difficult for you to

read? Please explain.
 Mix and match
TERM OR PHRASE EXPLANATION
O Optimal well-being O Dreams and goals
O The ability to feel comfortable
O Physical well-being
among other people; social ease and
O Mental well-being skills
O Social resources O Physical fitness; a healthy, active
O To satisfy needs body.
O Emotional stability; free from mental
O Aspirations
or emotional disturbance
O Environment O Physical/ emotional surroundings
O The ability to accomplish what must
be done to survive and grow
O Personal sense of wellness
 Sentence completion
1. Frederica has very poor vision, yet she says her
health is very good. That is her subjective opinion.
Subjective means ____________
2. The test results for Mrs. Ortega have arrived from
the laboratory. When you read them you discover
she does not have diabetes and she is in optimal
health in general. In this case, optimal health is
defined objectively. Objectively means _________
 Sentence completion
3. The medical concept of physical fitness means
__________.
 Holistic Care
O Each individual’s response to illness and health can
be difficult. Today, health professionals
acknowledge this and use holistic health
assessments when working with patients. The
positive outcomes of prescribed treatments are
often very dependent on that patient’s lifestyle,
culture, and access to good health care prior to,
during , and after initial contact.
 Holistic Care
O Holism is a philosophy in which an individual
cannot be separated from all the parts of his or her
life. This includes family, culture, environment,
community and occupational relationships. All
aspects interrelate to affect the quality of life of an
individual. These come together to become part of
an individual’s lived experience.
 Holistic Care
I. Think about it. What is holistic health?
II. Write down the words highlighted in the text and
define them in your own words in your notebook.
 Mix and match
Column 1 Column 2
O Community O A sum of personal beliefs
relationships O All aspects; sum of all parts
O Lived experience O Social connections
O Philosophy O Family doctor
O Outcomes O Necessary or very important
O Isolation O Results
O General practitioner O Alone/ separated from others
O Essential O Reliant upon
O Dependent O First; taking the lead
O Initial O Unique, personal experiences that
O Holistic lead to unique actions, beliefs, and
lifestyles
 Deciphering meaning
1. Health professionals such as doctors and nurses
value the relationships they build with their clients
or patients. What does this mean?

2. The core of the helping relationship is the rapport

the health professional builds with the client. It is
built on trust, respect, warmth, and empathy.
What does rapport mean?
 Deciphering meaning
3. The philosophical underpinning of all health care is
the value we all place on life. What does
underpinning mean?

4. Philosophically and morally health professionals

are concerned with helping people who cannot
fully help themselves. What does morally mean?
 Health-Care Professionals: Members
of the Health-Care Team
O Health professionals do not work alone. They work on
multidisciplinary care teams that are client-focused. As a
whole, the team manages the client’s care. In so doing,
they are able to provide a fully integrated plan that includes
the client in all decision-making. Coordination of care is
valued and all members of the team work together toward
optimal health outcomes for the client. These health-care
teams include doctors, registered nurses, physiotherapists,
dieticians, social workers, occupational therapists, and
various other specialists; many of these professionals are
known by abbreviations, such as RN for registered nurse.
 Health-Care Professionals: Members
of the Health-Care Team
O No one voice on the team is of less value than the
other. Each member has equal input and is
respected for his or her professional expertise.
While doctors may make final clinical decisions for
some aspects of care, they do so in consultation
and collaboration with the team and the client.
They do not work completely independently.
 Understanding the General Meaning

1. Doctors have full authority over all aspects of patient care

a. True
b. False
2. Physiotherapists are never invited to participate in
health-care teams
a. True
b. False
3. Patients have no choice in the type of care they receive
a. True
b. False
 Understanding the General Meaning

4. Collaboration within the health-care team does not

include the patient.
a. True
b. False
5. Nurses and dieticians may each have something
valuable to add to the care planning done for
patients.
a. True
b. False
 Sentence completion
1. Ling Wu is new in town and needs a family doctor. She must
look under the heading ______ in the yellow pages of her
phonebook.
2. Rochelyn was in a car accident a few weeks ago. She pulled a
muscle in her upper arm. Now she attends ________ three
times per week to help improve muscle strength in her arms.
3. Winston is having difficulties adjusting to the separation from
his wife and kids since the divorce last month. He is feeling
suicidal. At the medical clinic today, he is referred to the
________ for assessment and care
 Sentence completion
4. Azeim studied the respiratory system, gas exchanges, biology,
physiology, and technology in a 4-year program to become a
________.
5. The Ngoba family really appreciated the kind and competent
care their elderly family member received from the _______
on the medical unit at the hospital. Today their mom is being
discharged . The Ngobas have brought the ______ a small
bouquet of flowers in thanks.
6. GinGin has just completed a 1-year practical nursing program.
Now she must write the national exams to obtain her
_______ to practice.
Listening For Specific
Information
COMPREHENSION
FILLING A PRESCRIPTION
Customer: Hi! I’ve got a prescription here I’d like filled.
Pharmacist: OK, what’s your name, please?
Customer: …….
Pharmacist: How do you spell that?
Customer: …….
Pharmacist: And your home address? Phone number?
Customer: 125 Blueberry Lane, Surrey. 777-7777
Pharmacist: Okay. Are you allergic to any medications?
Customer: Yes, penicillin.
FILLING A PRESCRIPTION
Pharmacist: Thank you. I’ll write that down on your file. Your
prescription will be ready in about 5 minutes.
******
Pharmacist: (Name)? Your prescription is ready.
Customer: Here I am.
Pharmacist: Okay. This is cyclobenzaprine. Have you ever taken
this medication before?
Customer: No.
Pharmacist: Fine. Well, let me tell you a little bit about it. First,
your doctor wants you to take one tablet; that’s 10mg of
cyclobenzaprine when your back pain is really bad, but do not
take more than three pills a day. Try to space them out every 6
hours.
FILLING A PRESCRIPTION
Customer: Okay. I hope they work. My back is killing me. I
was in a car accident last week.

Pharmacist: Well, Jane, cyclobenzaprine is an excellent

muscle relaxant. But because it does such a good job, you
should be aware that you may feel very sleepy on it. Don’t
drive and don’t drink any alcohol when you have taken a
pill. That could make the effects even worse. You may have
some trouble concentrating when you use cyclobenzaprine,
so avoid working with machinery or things that require a lot
of concentration, like your sewing machine or anything that
might cause an accident if you’re not completely alert.
FILLING A PRESCRIPTION
Customer: Thanks, I’ll remember that. But my plans are
just to go home and lie on the couch and watch TV for
a couple of days until my back feels better. So long!
 Knowledge check!
1. Who needs their prescription filled?
a. The pharmacist
b. A doctor
c. The client
d. The chemist
2. Who ordered a prescription medication?
a. The client
b. A doctor
c. The pharmacist
d. The physiotherapist
3. What kind of drug is cyclobenzaprine?
a. A sedative
b. Something for fever
c. A muscle relaxant
d. An antibiotic
 Knowledge Check!

4. Why is the patient taking cyclobenzaprine?

a. She’s very tired
b. She has back pain
c. She likes it
d. She was in a car accident
5. How often should Jane take this medication?
a. Only when she wants to
b. Only at bedtime
c. Every 4 hours
d. Every 6 hours
 Determining meaning from context.

1. Pharmacist (noun)
O In context: The pharmacist is on duty in the drugstore.
O The pharmacist dispenses drugs.

The pharmacist is best described as

a. A job for a man
b. A department in the hospital
c. Not a person, but a place
d. A university-educated specialist in pharmacology
 Determining meaning from context.

2. Prescription (noun)
O In context: The doctor wrote a prescription for Tylenol #3 with
codeine.
O Only a pharmacist can fill a prescription

A prescription can best be described as

a. All types of medications
b. An order for a medication that only a doctor or qualified
medical, dental or nursing professional can order
c. As a kind of nutrient
d. The person who dispenses medication
 Determining meaning from context.

3. Allergic (adjective)
O In context: Joe is allergic to bee stings. One sting could kill him
within 3 minutes!
O I can take tetracycline for an antibiotic, but I am allergic to
penicillin. Don’t give it to me!

The word ‘allergic’ can best be described as

a. Not preferable
b. Difficult to take
c. An abnormal reaction to a substance
d. A state of fear
 Word expansions
O Pharmacist (noun)
a. Pharmacology is the study of properties of medicines.
(noun)
b. The pharmacological properties of D5W are dextrose
and 5 parts water. (adj)
c. The hospital pharmacy is open 24 hours a day. (noun)
d. Large pharmaceutical companies do research. (adj)
 Word expansions
O Prescription (noun)
a. Doctors and some nurse practitioners have prescriptive powers.
They can write prescriptions. (adjective, noun)
b. The doctor prescribed a sedative for his patient. (verb, past
tense)

O Allergic (noun)
a. Melodie has an allergy to lobster. It makes her throat swell and
she has difficulty breathing. (noun)
b. Elisa had an allergic reaction to strawberries. She broke out in
hives: little red, itchy bumps on her skin. (adj)
c. The springtime brings many airborne allergens. (noun)
 Mix and match
Word of similar meaning or symptom
Word O Client
O Drugstore O Sofa or chesterfield
O Prescription O Pharmacy
O Customer O Giving me a lot of trouble or pain
O Cyclobenzaprine O Pharmacist
O Druggist O Focus
O Tablet O Take at intervals of time
O Space them out O Doctor’s order
O Couch O Muscle relaxant
O “killing me” O Drowsy
O Sleepy O pill
O Concentrate
 CALLING THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
*The phone rings at the doctor’s office. The medical
office assistant (MOA) answers.
MOA: Dr. Smith’s office
Patient: Yeah, hello. Can I talk to the doctor, please? I
think I’ve got an infected foot.
MOA: Well, Dr. Smith is tied up with a patient right
now. Maybe I can help you. What seems to be the
problem?
Patient: Well… I stepped on a nail. And now the spot is
all green and oozing pus or something
 CALLING THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
MOA: When did you do this?
Patient: Oh, about 3 days ago. I cleaned it right away but..
gee… it’s looking pretty bad now. And, it’s sore. Sometimes it
even throbs.
MOA: Yes, I see. Maybe you should come in to see the
doctor. Let me check for an opening today.
Patient: Thanks.
MOA: Okay. Dr. Smith can see you at 2:30 this afternoon.
Will that work for you?
Patient: 2:30… Let me think a minute. I’ll need to get a ride…
Yes… Okay, I’ll be there at 2:30. I can make it.
 CALLING THE DOCTOR’S OFFICE
MOA: Alright! May I have your name please?
Patient: Yes. It’s Melinda Jugaru. M-e-l-i-n-d-a J-u-g-a-r-
u.
MOA: Thank you. We’ll see you then at 2:30 this
afternoon, Melinda. Do you know our address?
Patient: You’re on the corner of 108th Avenue and 152nd
Street, aren’t you?
MOA: Yes, that’s right. You can’t miss us.
Patient: Thank you. Bye.
MOA: Good-bye.
 UNDERSTANDING SPECIFICS
1) Melinda has an injury. What is it?
2) What is the patient’s problem today?
3) Who is the patient calling?
4) What does the patient want?
5) What does the patient get?
6) When will Melinda see the doctor?
7) What does the patient think is wrong with her?
8) How long has the patient had this injury?
9) Based on your professional knowledge, what
treatment will Melinda likely receive from the doctor?
 UNDERSTANDING SPECIFICS
10) Where is the location of the injury?
11) Did you notice the MOA did not say “Hello” or
“Good morning”? Do you think this is proper
etiquette or proper behaviour for a health
professional?
 REFERENCES
Hull, M. Medical English Clear & Simple. 1st ed. Philadelphia: F.A Davis
Company, 2010.