CCMA 3.0 Focused Review: Medical Terminology

Introduction

• Medical terminology is like a new language.
• Learning involves understanding prefixes, roots, and suffixes.
• Experience in listening, speaking, and coursework aids mastery.
• Dissecting terms helps in faster comprehension.

Common Abbreviations, Acronyms, and Symbols

• Abbreviations are widely used but can lead to errors.
• Certain abbreviations are on 'Do Not Use' lists by TJC and ISMP.

Examples of Abbreviations to Avoid

• MS, MSO4: Use 'Morphine'
• MgSO4: Use 'Magnesium sulfate'
• IU: Use 'Units'
• Apothecary units should be replaced with Metric units.

Facility-Specific Abbreviations

• Abbreviations like 'CS' or 'OR' may vary by hospital.
• 'ER' is commonly used despite hospitals having emergency departments (ED).

Common Clinical Abbreviations

• Examples include:
  • Abd: Abdomen
  • ACLS: Advance cardiac life support
  • CBC: Complete blood count
  • CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

Medical Word Building

Word Roots

• Core components of medical terms.
• Examples include:
  • Hem: Blood
  • Arthr: Joint
  • Gastr: Stomach

Combining Form Examples

• Combining form includes a root and a vowel (usually 'o').
• Examples:
  • Col/o combined with '-stomy' forms 'colostomy'.
  • Cephal/o combined with '-algia' forms 'cephalalgia'.

Prefixes

• Placed at the beginning of words to modify meaning.
• Examples include:
  • A-, an-: Without
  • Hyper-: Above, excessive
  • Brady-: Slow

Suffixes

• Placed at the end of words to modify meaning.
• Examples include:
  • -algia: Pain
  • -ectomy: Removal
  • -itis: Inflammation

Common Medical Terms

• Lay terms are often used for patient communication.
• Examples:
  • Hypertension: High blood pressure
  • Tachycardia: Fast heart rate
  • Syncope: Fainting

Positional and Directional Terminology

• Essential for communication in healthcare settings.
• Terms include:
  • Supine: Lying face up
  • Anterior: Toward the front
  • Superior: Above; toward the head

These notes provide an overview of medical terminology crucial for practical use and understanding in a healthcare environment.