Slang and Jargon Have No Geographic Boundaries!

Deciphering the Jargon: Why Clinical Clarity is a Matter of Care

MEDICAL JARGON INCLUDES:

As a geriatric care manager and former contributor to medical terminology textbooks, I often help patients make sense of their doctor visits and test results. I’ve seen firsthand how the "language of medicine" can act as a barrier rather than a bridge. A study from the University of Minnesota underscores this critical gap, revealing that the professional jargon clinicians consider standard is often unintelligible or even frightening to patients. 

Research from the University of Minnesota highlights a really critical gap in healthcare communication. It’s a sobering reminder that what sounds like "standard professional language" to a clinician can be completely unintelligible. Or worse. Misleading to a patient. The study points out that while doctors think they are being clear, a significant percentage of patients walk away from consultations without a true understanding of their diagnosis or treatment plan.

The High Cost of Misunderstanding: Insights from the University of Minnesota 

• The "Illusion of Clarity": Doctors often overestimate how well they are communicating. They use jargon not to be elitist, but because it is their primary professional "native tongue."

• High Misinterpretation Rates: The brief mentions specific percentages of confusion (like the 20% mark for Nephrologists), showing that even in specialized fields, the disconnect is measurable.

• Impact on Outcomes: When patients don't understand the jargon, they are less likely to adhere to medication schedules or follow-up appointments, which directly impacts their health recovery.

The five categories: Disease names, Imaging, Pathology, Procedures, and Metaphors cover the exact areas where these communication breakdowns happen most frequently. For example:

• "Ground-glass" or "Honeycombing" might sound poetic to a pathologist, but to a patient, they sound like a DIY project gone wrong rather than a lung condition.

• "Sunburst" sounds positive in common English, but in imaging, it’s a high-alert sign for a bone tumor.

ANOTHER ENGLISH LESSON

The Linguistic Gap in Medicine

For many patients, the word "positive" is inherently good, yet in a lab report, it often signals the presence of disease or an abnormality. Conversely, being told a scan is "unremarkable" can feel dismissive to someone in pain, even though, to a radiologist, it is the best possible outcome. This disconnect is further complicated by "defensive" or technical terms like "denies" or "complains of." While a doctor uses these to objectively report a patient's history, a patient may read them and feel they are being accused of lying or being difficult. When these misinterpreted terms appear in an "impression"—which patients often see as a vague "hunch" rather than a definitive clinical summary—it can erode the trust necessary for effective treatment.

Consider:

positive - negative
unremarkable - remarkable
grossly
occult
denies
complains (chief complaint)
impression
acute, subacute, chronic
ground-glass nodule or opacity on a CT

See the book, Clinician's Guide to Medical Slang and Jargon for more information, specifically  "jargon oblivion" in the dictionary part.

A Note for Medical Students

"Quick Fix"  ... For example:

The "Instead of..." Rule

• Instead of "Negative," say: "The tests show no signs of [Condition]."

• Instead of "Unremarkable," say: "The scan looks exactly like a healthy [Organ] should."

• Instead of "Denies," say: "You mentioned that you haven't experienced any..."

This reinforces that their goal isn't just to be "correct" in their notes, but to be "understood" in their conversations.

from the unofficial dictionary: jargon oblivion* patient confusion between what healthcare practitioner says and how the term is interpreted; most misunderstood: put you to sleep, occult, impressive, positive or negative; gross (and microscopic); seven types of jargon oblivion: technical terminology, alphabet soup (acronyms and abbreviations) – see example I created of mom dxs, medical vernacular, medicalized English, unnecessary synonyms, euphemisms, and judgmental jargon, e.g., blood cultures are negative, bugs in your urine, NPO after midnight, unremarkable/remarkable, nodes are positive, erythema (just say red), findings are impressive, neuro exam grossly intact, occult infection, put you to sleep, chief complaint, PCP, otorhinolaryngologist, tumor is progressing, diet and exercise [see also JAMA 2022 conclusion “Medical jargon remains a common source of confusion for patients, and care should be taken to avoid using it with patients to prevent misunderstanding.”] [also see false friends, jargon, teach-back method] *Gotlieb R, Praska C, Hendrickson MA, Marmet J, Charpentier V, Hause E, Allen KA, Lunos S, Pitt MB. Accuracy in Patient Understanding of Common Medical Phrases. JAMA Netw Open. 2022 Nov 1;5(11):e2242972. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2022.42972. PMID: 36449293; PMCID: PMC9713608.

Here's another example of "misunderstanding" and the power of names.

The "x" Factor in Medical Shorthand

Welcome to the world of clinical documentation, where efficiency is often balanced with tradition. As you begin navigating patient charts and physician notes, you will quickly encounter a unique linguistic pattern: the ubiquitous use of the letter "x" as a placeholder for the suffix of a word. This shorthand likely stems from the historical use of "Rx" (recipe, meaning "take") and has evolved into a standard system for rapid communication. Whether you are documenting a patient’s hx (history) and sx (symptoms) or noting the dx (diagnosis) and subsequent tx (treatment), these two-letter abbreviations serve as the "building blocks" of medical literacy. Mastering these, alongside others like fx (fracture) and px (prognosis), will not only save you time during rounds but will also help you decipher the fast-paced narrative of patient care. You will find several more in Clinician's Guide to Medical Slang and Jargon.

Note for Students: While these abbreviations are common in informal notes and personal shorthand, always be mindful of your specific hospital's "Do Not Use" list. In formal electronic health records (EHR), many institutions prefer the full word to ensure clarity and patient safety. The following button takes you to Joint Commission's "Do Not Use List," however, as mentioned, your hospital may have its own "Do Not Use" list of abbreviations.

How Will You Bridge the Gap in Communication?

Forbes Magazine Highlights the Communicative Failures of Jargon

Sachin Jain’s Forbes article argues that healthcare communication is often undermined by insider language that confuses, alienates, or misleads patients. He highlights how common phrases intended to sound efficient or professional can instead obscure meaning, mask uncertainty, or create emotional distance. Jain calls for clinicians and health systems to replace vague or euphemistic jargon with clear, concrete, patient‑centered language that supports understanding and trust. His central message: jargon isn’t just sloppy—it can be ethically consequential.