1. ©2010 Coventry Health Care. All rights reserved. Proprietary – Do not copy, distribute or disclose without permission of Coventry Health Care. Provided by Coventry Health Care ® California Medical Bill Reviewer Re-Certification Unit 1: Workers Compensation Benefit Program Module 9: Medical Terminology

2. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Overview Overview of Medical Terminology Prefixes Suffixes Root Words Prefixes: Position, Description, & Color Suffixes: Condition, Surgery, & Procedure Root Words: Body Area Abbreviations Medical terminology can be very confusing and can seem like a language all its own! But, medical terminology can be broken down to make it easier to understand. In this module, you will learn about medical terminology, and how prefixes, suffixes, and root words can be identified to determine the meaning of a word. Then, you will learn about medical abbreviations. Lets start by discussing how medical terms consist of prefixes, suffixes, and root words... Overview of Medical Terminology Prefixes Suffixes Root Words

3. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Medical Terminology Do you know what inflammation of the external auditory meatus means? What about excess irrigation solution was removed from the glenohumeral joint and the arm repositioned into direct longitudinal traction? Swimmers Ear The shoulder was drained and the arm was hung in a sling. If you were unsure about the meaning of these terms, you are not alone! But, medical terminology is not as complex as you might think… Lets take a look…

4. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Medical Terminology is Everywhere You are probably familiar with a lot of different medical terminology just from the media. Magazine and newspaper articles are filled with information about new drugs, treatments, diets, and new medical procedures. Television commercials for prescription drugs and even different illnesses have made us even more aware of medical terminology. Even medical dramas on television have made us more familiar with medical terms, procedures, and treatments.

5. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 So, Where Do the Terms Come From? Many procedures, diseases, or instruments are named after their discoverers or inventors. However, most medical terms have a Latin or Greek origin. Examples include: Blalock-Taussig Shunt Deaver Retractor Parkinsons Disease Lets take a look…

6. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Its All in the Pieces… Many medical terms are made up of three separate components that determine meaning. Prefix: an attachment to the beginning of a word root that determines or changes the meaning of a word. Suffix: an attachment to the end of a word root that forms a new word, or changes its meaning. Word Root: the basic form of a word that determines its primary definition.

7. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 How Do the Components Fit Together? The most typical sequence of the three pieces that make up a word is: PREFIXWORD ROOTSUFFIX myo = Musclecard = Heart itis = Inflammation Myocarditis = inflammation of the heart muscle

8. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 card = Heart itis = Inflammation card = Heart itis = Inflammation Changes to the Prefix Changes to the prefix or suffix change the detailed meaning of the word. PREFIXWORD ROOTSUFFIX myo = Musclecard = Heart itis = Inflammation peri = Outer endo = Inner Pericarditis: outer layer of the heart inflamed Endocarditis: inner layer of the heart inflamed

9. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 card = Heart Changes to the Suffix WORD ROOTSUFFIX -ologist card = Heart-myopathy Cardiomyopathy: damage to the heart muscle layer. Cardiologist: a physician who specializes in the heart. -megalycard = Heart Cardiomegaly: enlargement of the heart. Sometimes, only a suffix is used to change the meaning of a root word.

10. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Prefixes Prefixes of medical terms indicate position, description, or color. Position DescriptionColor Lets take a look…

11. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Prefixes PositionPrefixExample Before In front Pre- Pro- Ante- Pre-operative Procephalic Antepartum After Behind Post- Retro- Postnasal Retroperitoneal UponEpi-Epidural SideLatero-Laterotorsion BelowSub-Subclavian ThroughTrans-Transurethral Position

12. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Prefixes DescriptionPrefixExample NarrowSteno-Stenosis FastTachy-Tachycardia SlowBrady-Bradycardia BlueCyano-Cyanosis SmallMicro-Microscope Large Macro- Mega- Macrostomia Megacolon ManyPoly-Polysaccharide Different Allo- Hetero- Allograft Heterocellular Same Auto- Home(o)- Autograft Homeostasis Description & Color

13. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Suffixes As you know, suffixes are the word endings. In medical terms, suffixes provide information about: Lets take a look… Disease or ConditionSurgery or Procedure

14. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Suffixes ConditionSuffixExample Pain-algiaFibromyalgia Hernia-celeRectocele Inflammation-itisAppendicitis Abnormal condition -osisScoliosis In the blood-emiaSepticemia Tumor-omaLymphoma Disease or Condition

15. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Suffixes Procedures/ Surgery SuffixExample Removal-ectomyAppendectomy Suturing-orrhaphyHerniorrhaphy Tap, puncture-centesisThoracentesis Forming an opening-ostomyColostomy To cut into-otomyLaparotomy Plastic repair-plastyRhinoplasty Imaging -gram -graph(y) Radiograph Surgery or Procedure

16. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Root Words Now lets get to the heart of the medical terminology -- the root words. Root words indicate which area of the body we are dealing with. Up to now, we have added prefixes and suffixes to change meanings, but the body area is the key to the medical procedure, condition, or specialist. What makes a proctologist different from a cardiologist? Its not the –ologist; its the body part!

17. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Root Words Recall the medical terms have both Greek and Latin origin. You are probably familiar with words such as pneumonia or pulmonary function, which both refer to the lungs. Therefore, some body areas have two different root words. For example, lungs may be referenced by two roots: Pneumo- Pulmo-

18. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Root Words Here is a list of common root words: Body AreaRootExample Mouthstomato-Stomatitis Teethdento-Dentist Tongue linguo- glosso- Glossitis Lingual Nerve Gumsgingivo-Gingivitis Brain encephalo- cranio- Encephalitis Craniotomy Stomachgastro-Gastritis Intestinesentero-Gastroenteritis

19. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Root Words Body AreaRootExample Large Intestinecolo-Colectomy Rectum/Anusprocto-Proctoscope Liverhepato-Hepatitis Kidneys nephro- rene- Nephroscope Renal failure Skindermo-Dermatitis Breast masto- mammo- Mastitis Mammogram Bone osteo- ortho- Osteoporosis Orthopedist

20. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Root Words Now, we will discuss some common modifications of root words. Body AreaRootExample Heartcardio-Cardiologist Bladdercysto-Cystitis Noserhino-Rhinoplasty Veins phlebo- veno- Phebotomy Venogram Lungs pneumo- pulmo- Pneumonia Pulmonary function Blood hemo- leuko- Hematoma Leukemia Lets take a look…

21. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Understanding the Pieces... Now you try! Using your knowledge of root words, prefixes, and suffixes, what do you think these two terms refer to? Electrocardiogram Hepatoblastoma A graphical record of the hearts electrical impulses. Liver Tumor

22. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Abbreviations Next to the military, medicine probably has the second most enthusiastic users of abbreviations. To make things complicated, the same abbreviation can mean something entirely different depending on the part of medicine that is being referred to. For example, the abbreviation STD can stand for: sexually transmitted disease selective T-cell defect skin-to-tumor distance skin test dose sodium tetradecyl sulfate ST segment depression As you can see, its all in the context in which the abbreviation is used!

23. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Abbreviations The context in which an abbreviation is used may give the reader a hint to meaning. These can be used when the documentation gives you no hint and the meaning of the abbreviation is important to reviewing the bill. For example: In neurology, PT means pain threshold. In dermatology, PT means pine tar. In pathology, PT means protime. In medicine, PT means physical therapist. If you need help, there are excellent references such as The Dictionary of Medical Acronyms & Abbreviations.

24. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Common Abbreviations Certain abbreviations are so common the average person may be aware of their meaning already. AbbreviationMeaning CBCComplete blood count DMEDurable medical equipment EMGElectromyelogram EEGElectroencephalogram E/MEvaluation and Management OROperating Room ORIFOpen reduction, internal fixation PTPhysical therapy UAUrinalysis

25. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Abbreviations There are many other abbreviations, but you will become used to the ones you see all the time in your work. Use a reference, a colleague, or the context in which you see the abbreviation to ascertain its meaning.

26. CA Regulations Training – Medical TerminologyMarch 2010 Summary How medical terminology is broken down. How prefixes define meaning. Position Description Color How suffixes define meaning. Condition Procedure How root words define body area. Where to find meanings of medical terms and abbreviations. How abbreviations can have multiple meanings. PT: Physical Therapist PT: Protime