Doctor-Patient

A Professional Gift to the Interpreting Community from Samuel Arcelay

25 Foundational Drills: Clinical Scenarios

1. Chief Complaint: "What is the chief complaint bringing you in today?" / "¿Cuál es el motivo principal de su consulta hoy?"

2. Dull Ache: "Is the pain sharp and stabbing or more of a dull ache?" / "¿Es un dolor agudo y punzante o más bien un dolor sordo?"

3. Radiating Pain: "Does the pain radiate down into your arm or stay in the neck?" / "¿Se le irradia el dolor hacia el brazo o se queda en el cuello?"

4. Numbness: "Have you noticed any numbness or tingling in your hands?" / "¿Ha notado algún entumecimiento u hormigueo en las manos?"

5. Over-the-counter: "Are you taking any herbal supplements or over-the-counter meds?" / "¿Toma suplementos de hierbas o medicamentos de venta libre?"

6. Family History: "Is there a family history of high blood pressure or stroke?" / "¿Hay antecedentes familiares de presión arterial alta o derrames cerebrales?"

7. Shortness of Breath: "Do you experience shortness of breath when climbing stairs?" / "¿Siente falta de aire al subir las escaleras?"

8. Blood Pressure: "We need to check your blood pressure before the doctor sees you." / "Necesitamos revisarle la presión arterial antes de que el médico lo vea."

9. Fasting: "The lab work requires you to be in a fasting state for 8 hours." / "Los análisis de laboratorio requieren que esté en ayunas por 8 horas."

10. Physical Exam: "Please put on this gown so we can perform the physical exam." / "Por favor, póngase esta bata para que podamos realizar la exploración física."

11. Blood Work: "The doctor has ordered blood work to check your glucose levels." / "El médico ordenó análisis de sangre para revisar sus niveles de glucosa."

12. Stool Sample: "We will need a stool sample to rule out any internal parasites." / "Necesitaremos una muestra de heces para descartar parásitos internos."

13. Swelling: "Is the swelling in your ankles worse in the morning or at night?" / "¿La hinchazón en los tobillos es peor por la mañana o por la noche?"

14. Blurred Vision: "Are you experiencing blurred vision or sensitivity to light?" / "¿Está experimentando visión borrosa o sensibilidad a la luz?"

15. Dizziness: "Does the dizziness feel like the room is spinning around you?" / "¿Siente que los mareos son como si la habitación girara a su alrededor?"

16. Heartburn: "Do you experience heartburn after eating acidic or spicy foods?" / "¿Siente acidez estomacal después de comer alimentos ácidos o picantes?"

17. Wheezing: "The doctor needs to listen to your lungs because of the wheezing." / "El médico necesita escuchar sus pulmones debido a las sibilancias."

18. Prescription: "I am writing a prescription for an antibiotic to clear the infection." / "Estoy escribiendo una receta para un antibiótico para eliminar la infección."

19. Follow-up: "Please stop by the front desk to schedule a follow-up visit." / "Por favor, pase por la recepción para programar una cita de seguimiento."

20. Screening: "A mammogram is a standard screening for women in your age group." / "Una mamografía es una prueba de detección estándar para mujeres de su edad."

21. Tenderness: "Let me know if you feel any tenderness when I palpate your abdomen." / "Dígame si siente sensibilidad al tacto cuando le palpe el abdomen."

22. Bowel Movement: "How long has it been since your last bowel movement?" / "¿Cuánto tiempo ha pasado desde su última evacuación?"

23. Wound Dressing: "It is vital to keep the wound dressing clean and dry at all times." / "Es vital mantener el vendaje de la herida limpio y seco en todo momento."

24. Life-threatening: "While this is a serious diagnosis, it is not life-threatening." / "Aunque este es un diagnóstico serio, no pone en peligro la vida."

25. Rule Out: "We are performing a CT scan to rule out any internal bleeding." / "Estamos realizando una tomografía para descartar cualquier hemorragia interna."

The Master Clinical Glossary (Expanded)

High-detail terminology and clinical nuances for professional interpreters.

Acute (Agudo): Symptoms that appear suddenly and are severe but short-lived. Nuance: Contrast with chronic.

Benign (Benigno): A condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous and does not spread.

Chief Complaint (Motivo de Consulta): The primary reason for the patient's visit, stated in their own words.

Contraindication (Contraindicación): A specific situation in which a drug or procedure should not be used because it may be harmful to the patient.

Dull Ache (Dolor Sordo): A steady, low-level pain. Nuance: Important to distinguish from sharp (agudo) or throbbing (pulsátil) pain.

Edema (Edema/Hinchazón): Swelling caused by fluid retention in body tissues, common in extremities.

Fasting (En ayunas): Going without food or certain drinks for a specific period to ensure accuracy in blood tests or surgery.

Inpatient (Paciente Interno): A patient whose condition requires admission and at least one overnight stay in the facility.

Lesion (Lesión): An umbrella term for any abnormal change in an organ or tissue caused by disease or injury.

Metastasis (Metástasis): The spread of cancer cells from the place where they first formed to another part of the body.

Malignant (Maligno): Presence of cancerous cells that have the ability to spread and invade surrounding tissue.

Nausea (Náuseas): The sensation of unease in the stomach that often precedes vomiting (émesis).

Outpatient (Paciente Ambulatorio): Treatment or surgery that does not require an overnight hospital stay.

Palliative (Paliativo): Care intended to relieve symptoms and improve quality of life rather than provide a cure.

Prognosis (Pronóstico): The medically forecasted course and likely outcome of a disease or recovery process.

Radiating Pain (Dolor que se irradia): Pain that starts in one spot but "travels" or spreads along a nerve path (e.g., sciatica).

Rule Out (Descartar): The clinical process of eliminating potential diagnoses through testing.

Triage (Triaje): The system of prioritizing patients based on the urgency of their medical needs.

Vital Signs (Signos Vitales): The four main clinical measurements: body temperature, pulse, respiration rate, and blood pressure.

Wheezing (Sibilancias): A high-pitched whistling sound made during breathing, often associated with asthma or COPD.