Medical terminology is the jargon of the health care industry. People in all areas of the health care field, from intake specialists to physicians, should be familiar with medical terminology, because appropriate terminology results in quality patient care and fewer errors.

Purpose

Medical terminology allows health care professionals to describe patients’ conditions accurately. Simply using descriptors, such as “pain” or “cut” is cumbersome and leaves room for interpretation. By using precise medical language, health care professionals can share accurate information quickly.

Uses

Medical terminology serves a number of purposes. It is a way for one health care provider to share information with another without repeating tests and questions for patients. Medical language also facilitates accurate billing to insurance companies. With accurate medical terminology and coding, claims go through with few problems.

Benefits

Medical terminology is the universal language of medicine. Patients can move from one doctor or hospital to another without a lapse in care, if medical information is appropriately coded.