subject: An Educated Shopper of Healthcare [print this page] An Educated Shopper of Healthcare An Educated Shopper of Healthcare
Understanding medical terminology is helpful to most that become ill. The quick pace in healthcare, when visiting a doctors office or being admitted to a hospital is in itself at times stressful. What did they say ? Should not be one amongst the questions left in your mind. Your doctor and employees use a language of their own, they browse,write and speak it. It becomes half of who they are. They often forget to translate into the words patients understand. This is often a transient introduction for you ,to the foremost commonly used terminology. NPO---If you're told to be NPO or are NPO while hospitalized, suggests that that you are to possess nothing by mouth. You are not to eat or drink until you are advised to try to to so. This could be in preparation for a surgical treatment, fasting for lab work or a diagnostic test. If you are in the hospital,you will receive fliuds I.V. PRN---When you are told you'll be able to have somehing PRN it suggests that a s you would like it. HOWEVER for any medications prescribed it must not be more frquently then ordered. Thus, if it says each four hours as required . That means you'll be able to have it every four hours IF you need it. But no more frequently, unless you check along with your doctor. P.O.--- Suggests that by mouth, a pill is taken P.O. , food is taken p.o., in fact , a rectal suppository is NOT. I.V.---Means that into the vein, intraveinous. I.V. is how you are given fluids when you are NPO. I.M.---Means into the muscle. An injection of a flu vaccine is most typically given I.M. S.C.---Suggests that subcutaneous, some medications like insulin are given s.c. Bed Rest--Suggests that simply that, typically it might be for 24 hours after a procedure. It suggests that you are to stay off your feet. Typically you have got toilet privilages. acute---Acute means during the foremost essential time of an illness, when a patient has symtoms of a heart attack, or if having severe abdominal pain, respiratory distress,or hypersensitive reactions, ,most this is often thought-about acute. They require an emergency room visit immediately. Chronic --- Means an illness that one has over a lifetime. It's flare ups from time to time. An individual with chronic asthma, wants to know how to care for himself well. A chronically ill person although unwell can most typically be managed as a outpatient. Call with any issues---This can be of course not medical terminology, but desires clarification at times. It's said to patients as they're discharged from a hospital or when a doctors visit. So as to best navigate the system , it is important to know how it works best. An emergency area visit is more applicable when you are having severe distress, pain, problem breathing, drug or allergic reactions. A phone decision is for fewer severe problems. They should be created as early in the day as possible.
