Step 1: Read the Discussion Background:

You’re working as a scheduler for a busy multi-physician practice. Today a patient called to schedule an appointment to have the doctor check on her eczema because she noticed it was spreading up her arm and the area is red and swollen. You set an appointment for the patient to see the family practice physician in the office.

Two days later the office manager contacts you and explains that the patient’s condition of eczema is a skin disease. She also tells you that you need to call the patient and reschedule the appointment with the dermatologist that practices in the office.

Step 2: Create a new thread and answer all three parts of the initial prompt below:

Explain how knowledge of medical terminology would have helped with scheduling the appointment the first time.
Describe another example, other than scheduling patient appointments, when a healthcare professional would need to understand medical terminology.
Describe one potential negative effect for patients when healthcare professionals don’t understand and correctly apply knowledge of medical terminology.