- Medical terminology is the language of medicine, and therefore, provides an individual with the skills needed to define and interpret medical terms related to pharmacology. Since the study of pharmacology is the study of drugs, it is necessary to understand the medical terms and drugs associated with the treatment of common illnesses and medical disorders. Individuals working in the pharmaceutical industry as sales representatives must also develop a general knowledge of medical terminology in order to enhance customer relationships with physicians, pharmacists and other clinical personnel. This requires a basic understanding of standard medical terms, definitions, and universal symbols and abbreviations. Medical workers, who understand medical terminology can communicate better with other health care professionals, provide accurate documentation and carry out physician orders and instructions correctly.
- Medical terminology plays a significant role in correctly spelling the names of the drugs physicians often prescribe for patients. Professionals working in an allied health field should be able to name and define drug classifications, and know each drug's abbreviation. While drugs are classified either by their use for treating particular medical conditions or by their active ingredients, most drugs can be classified into more than one drug class. Health care professionals must be able to distinguish between the different drug names along with being able to explain the effects of specific drugs. In addition, clinical pharmacology involves familiarity with the main routes of drug administration and delivery. For example, nurses must be able to identify the various methods by which drugs can be administered, as well as be familiar with frequently used drug references.
- Medical terminology allows health care workers to save time when recording patient data. Knowledge of medical terminology as related to pharmacology involves a basic understanding of a drug's name, strength and route of administration. Physicians giving medication orders often use abbreviations to describe dosage amount, time and frequency of administration and directions for giving a medication either orally by mouth or as an injection. Prescription abbreviations have become the method for giving patients written instructions on how much medication to take, when to take it and for how long. However, to ensure patient safety when prescribing medication, only commonly used abbreviations, symbols and dose designations should be used. Physicians are increasingly being encouraged to write out instructions in clear language rather than use traditional Latin terms for prescriptions, which can be misunderstood and lead to potentially dangerous medication errors.
