Compilation of 6 English conversations between doctor and patient

English vocabulary about medical examination

Meaning

Example

Diagnosis

/daɪəɡˈnoʊsɪs/

a judgment about what a particular illness or problem is, made after examining it

The doctor made a quick diagnosis based on the patient's symptoms. 

Treatment

/ˈtriːtmənt/

the use of drugs, exercises, etc. to cure a person of an illness or injury

Anna underwent a series of treatments to manage her condition. 

Symptom

/ˈsɪmptəm/

any feeling of illness or physical or mental change that is caused by a particular disease

Fever and cough are common symptoms of the flu.

Prescription

/prɪˈskrɪpʃən/

a piece of paper on which a doctor writes the details of the medicine or drugs that someone needs

The doctor wrote a prescription for antibiotics to treat the infection.

Medication

/ˌmɛdɪˈkeɪʃən/

a medicine, or a set of medicines or drugs, used to improve a particular condition or illness

Jack takes his medication regularly to control his blood pressure. 

Specialist

/ˈspɛʃəlɪst/

a doctor who has special training in and knowledge of a particular area of medicine

Marry was referred to a specialist for further evaluation of her condition. 

Examination

/ɪɡˌzæmɪˈneɪʃən/

the act of looking at or considering something carefully in order to discover something

The doctor performed a thorough examination of the patient's abdomen.

Surgery

/ˈsɜrdʒəri/

the treatment of injuries or diseases in people or animals by cutting open the body and removing or repairing the damaged part

John will undergo surgery to remove the tumor. 

Recovery

/rɪˈkʌvəri/

the process of becoming well again after an illness or injury

After the surgery, Xavia made a quick recovery and was soon back to her normal activities.

Rehabilitation

/ˌriːəˌbɪlɪˈteɪʃən/

to return someone to a good, healthy, or normal life or condition after they have been in prison, been very ill, etc.

The patient will need extensive rehabilitation to regain strength after the accident. 

Anesthesia

/ˌænɪsˈθiʒə/

the condition of not feeling pain, esp. by use of special drugs

The anesthesiologist administered anesthesia before the surgery. 

Infection

/ɪnˈfɛkʃən/

a condition in which bacteria or viruses that cause disease have entered the body

The wound became red and swollen, indicating an infection. 

Consultation

/ˌkɑːnsəlˈteɪʃən/

a meeting to discuss something or to get advice

Richard scheduled a consultation with the doctor to discuss his treatment options. 

Therapy

/ˈθɛrəpi/

a treatment that helps someone feel better, grow stronger, etc., especially after an illness

Physical therapy helped him regain mobility after the injury. 

Emergency

/ɪˈmɜrdʒənsi/

something dangerous or serious, such as an accident, that happens suddenly or unexpectedly and needs fast action in order to avoid harmful results

They rushed Peter to the emergency room after he had a severe allergic reaction. 

Communication phrases for medical examinations in English

Welcome to you! How can I help you?

Do you have an appointment?

The doctor’s ready to see you now.

What are your symptoms?

How long have you been feeling like this?

Breathe deeply, please.

You need to have a blood test.

I’m going to take your temperature.

Do you have any allergies?

You should cut down on your drinking.

You’re going to need a few stitches.

You need to try and lose some weight.

I’m going to prescribe you some antibiotics.

Take this prescription to the chemist.

Take two of these pills three times a day.

English conversations between doctor and patient

• Patient: Hello, I'd like to schedule an appointment.

• Receptionist: Hello, sure, what's your name?

• Patient: My name is John Smith.

• Receptionist: Thank you, Mr. Smith. And when were you born?

• Patient: I was born on May 10th, 1985.

• Receptionist: Great. When would you like to come in?

• Patient: I prefer next Monday if possible.

• Receptionist: We have an opening at 10 a.m. on Monday. Would that work for you?

• Patient: Yes, that's perfect.

• Receptionist: Alright, I've scheduled you for a Monday at 10 a.m. with Dr. Johnson. Do you have any specific concerns?

• Patient: No, thanks.

• Receptionist: Alright, Mr. Smith. We'll see you next Monday at 10 a.m. Thank you.

• Patient: Thank you. Goodbye.

• Receptionist: Goodbye.

English conversations between doctor and patient

• Doctor: Good morning, how can I help you today?

• Patient: Good morning, doctor. I've been experiencing some symptoms lately.

• Doctor: I see. Can you please tell me what symptoms you've been having?

• Patient: Well, I've had a persistent cough and I feel tired all the time

• Doctor: How long have you had these symptoms?

• Patient: I've had the cough for about two weeks now, and I've been feeling tired for about a month.

• Doctor: Have you had any fever or difficulty breathing?

• Patient: No, I haven't had a fever, but sometimes I do feel a bit short of breath.

• Doctor: Alright, thank you for letting me know. Have you noticed anything else unusual?

• Patient: Sometimes I have chest pain when I cough, and I've been losing weight unintentionally.

• Doctor: Okay, I understand. We'll need to run some tests to determine the cause of your symptoms. I'd like to schedule you for a chest X-ray and some blood work.

• Patient: Okay, sounds good.

English conversations between doctor and patient

• Doctor: Hello again. Thank you for waiting. Based on your symptoms and the test results, I have some information for you.

• Patient: Okay, doctor. What did you find?

• Doctor: It appears that you have a respiratory infection. The chest X-ray showed some inflammation in your lungs, which is likely causing the cough and shortness of breath.

• Patient: I see. Is it serious?

• Doctor: It's not uncommon, especially given the time of year. However, we need to treat it promptly to prevent it from getting worse.

• Patient: What kind of treatment do I need?

• Doctor: I'm going to prescribe you a course of antibiotics to help clear the infection. Additionally, I recommend plenty of rest and fluids to help your body recover.

• Patient: Alright, I'll follow your advice.

• Doctor: You're welcome. If you have any questions or concerns before then, don't hesitate to call our office.

English conversations between doctor and patient

• Doctor: Hello. I understand you've been having trouble sleeping?

• Patient: Yes, doctor. I've been having trouble falling asleep and staying asleep.

• Doctor: I see. How long has this been going on?

• Patient: It's been about a month now.

• Doctor: Alright. There are a few things we can try to help improve your sleep. First, try to establish a regular sleep schedule. Go to bed and wake up at the same time every day, even on weekends.

• Patient: Okay, I'll try that.

• Doctor: Also, avoid caffeine and alcohol close to bedtime, as they can interfere with sleep. And make sure your bedroom is dark, quiet, and at a comfortable temperature.

• Patient: Got it.

• Doctor: If you find yourself unable to sleep after about 20 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing until you feel tired.

• Patient: That makes sense.

• Doctor: Finally, consider trying relaxation techniques like deep breathing or meditation before bed to help calm your mind.

• Patient: Okay, I'll give it a try.

English conversations between doctor and patient

• Doctor: Hello, it's good to see you again. How have you been feeling since our last appointment?

• Patient: I've been feeling much better, thank you.

• Doctor: That's great to hear. Since you're doing better, I'd like to schedule a follow-up appointment for you, just to make sure everything is still on track.

• Patient: Sure, sounds good.

• Doctor: How does next Friday at 10 a.m. work for you?

• Patient: Next Friday at 10 a.m. should be fine.

• Doctor: Perfect. See you next time.

English conversations between doctor and patient

• Customer: Hello, I'm looking for something to relieve my headache.

• Pharmacist: Of course, I can help you with that. How long have you been experiencing headaches?

• Customer: It's been bothering me for a couple of days now.

• Pharmacist: I see. Do you know if you have any allergies to medications?

• Customer: No, I don't have any known allergies.

• Pharmacist: Okay. For mild headaches, over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can be effective. Customer: Yes, please. Which one do you suggest?

• Pharmacist: Ibuprofen is usually a good choice for headaches because it also helps reduce inflammation.

• Customer: Sounds good.

• Pharmacist: For ibuprofen, you can take 200 to 400 milligrams every 4 to 6 hours as needed, but no more than 1200 milligrams in 24 hours unless directed by a doctor.

• Customer: Got it. Thank you for the information.