Medical Literacy

            In the field of medicine, there are many different roads you can go down. There is Sports Medicine, Surgery, Dermatology, and many more. Before you can know which field you want to become an expert in, you have to go through the general studies of college classes. You have to first learn how to read, write, and research for your discipline. As you go through your studies, you learn what must be done to achieve your goals. That may seem like a lot, but it will be worth it if it is what you really want to do. .
             If you are thinking of becoming a doctor, there is a lot to learn in the reading and writing department. You have to know what the prefix, suffix, and roots of words mean. Take, for example, the word nephrology. The word nephrology comes from the Greek word nephros which means kidney and the suffix –logy which means the study of. Also take the wrist bone Lunate. It comes from the Latin word luna which means moon. It is called that because the bone is shaped like a moon. If you want to be in the profession, a strong understanding of Latin and classical Greek would be helpful. You also have to know what all of the jargon is and what it means in order to be credible in the workplace. Some examples of this jargon are ECG, DDX, and COPD, which mean electrocardiogram, differential diagnosis, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. One must know all of the abbreviations in order to control a situation. If a doctor does not know what a nurse is telling them in a crisis, they could very well kill a patient. As Dr. Lemmen also said, "You pick up the jargon more and more as you gain experience." .
             As you go farther into the medical field, you also have to begin to have an understanding of what doctors write. Yes there are doctors who write about the research that they perform, but there are also informational journals written. At the current moment, there is a lot being written about Ebola.