Healthcare Phrases That Are Almost Always Misunderstood

How both physicians and patients can better communicate with each other.

Transcript

1. Healthcare
   Phrases
   That Are
   Almost Always
   Misunderstood
   

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2. Phrases That
   Physicians
   Say to Patients
   

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3. Unclear
   Take two pills, twice daily.
   Clear
   Take two pills in the morning
   and two at bedtime.
   

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4. Unclear
   Practice social distancing.
   Clear
   Stay at home. Go grocery
   shopping only once a week.
   Wear a mask.
   

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5. Unclear
   Your ultrasound came back
   positive.
   Clear
   You have bladder stones.
   

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6. Unclear
   Your results were negative.
   Clear
   You don’t have skin cancer.
   

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7. Unclear
   Avoid strenuous activity.
   Clear
   Don’t have sex, go for a run,
   or lift anything heavy.
   

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8. Unclear
   Follow-up with me in two
   weeks.
   Clear
   Make an appointment to
   see me again in two weeks.
   

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9. Unclear
   I’m going to perform
   a laparoscopy.
   Clear
   The surgery will be
   minimally invasive.
   

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10. Phrases That
    Patients
    Say to
    Physicians
    

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11. Unclear
    I think I have arthritis.
    Clear
    My joints hurt.
    

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12. Unclear
    I have pain in my groin area.
    Clear
    I have pain in my testicles.
    

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13. Any other
    phrases?
    

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