English for health professionals

Receiving a patient

There are many departments in a hospital or clinic. No matter where the patient is going, your initial contact with a patient sets the foundation for the client/health professional relationship. Your initial greeting and opening questions should put the patient at ease.

Objectives:

  • Identify various hospital departments
  • Greet the patient
  • Introduce yourself
  • Make the patient feel relaxed
  • Ask opening questions
  • Set the agenda

Preparation activity

What do you know about this topic in English?

  Match the following hospital departments to their definitions.

  1. Where women give birth and babies are looked after. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  2. Where patients arrive when they have a sudden injury or illness. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  3. Where cancer patients receive treatment. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  4. Where therapists help patients with movement and mobility recovery. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  5. A clinic where patients come to the hospital for appointments and day procedures. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  6. Where seriously ill patients receive a higher level of care. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  7. Where patients with bone problems are treated. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry
  8. Where patients with mental illnesses go. Emergency Intensive care Maternity Oncology Orthopedic Outpatient Physiotherapy Psychiatry

Listen and repeat

Listen to the following examples and practice repeating the phrases.

Expressions and Examples 1: Greeting the patient and putting the patient at ease

Good morning Mrs. Jones, please come in and sit down. I am Dr. Smith, one of the physicians on the floor today. I wonder if we could speak about …

Good afternoon. Mrs. Jones, isn’t it? I am a student nurse. I would like to have a little chat about …

Hello Mrs. Jones, my name is Martha. Your GP has asked me to come and see you.  Can I ask you a few questions about …?

Thank you for your patience Mrs. Jones. We are running a little behind today. My name is Mary and Dr. Smith has referred you to me.  Can we chat about …?

Mrs. Jones? Sorry for the wait today, we are running a little late. My name is Mrs. Khan. I am a nurse practitioner. Can I talk to you about …?

Expressions and Examples 2: Asking opening questions

Patients may present themselves for many reasons: surgery, follow-up visit, check-up, and referral.

What would you like to discuss today?

What brings you here today?

How are you feeling today?

Your GP has sent me your file but can you explain in your own words what has been happening?

Have you come for a routine check-up?

Has there been any improvement since our last visit?

How long have you been feeling …?

What have you come to see me about today?

Is there anything else bothering you?

Would you like to discuss any other concerns today?

Expressions and Examples 3: Setting the agenda

You have several problems, shall we start with.…?

If it is okay with you, I will take your blood pressure.

I have come to chat with you about your operation tomorrow.

I’m just going to ask you a few questions and then you can sleep.

Let’s Listen: Podcast

The following podcast uses these skills: greeting the patient, putting the patient at ease, asking opening questions, and setting the agenda. A patient presents herself with an ingrown toenail.

Transcript Download