Discussion
Many medical terms have similar spellings and pronunciations. In addition, abbreviations for medical terms are not standardized, so different abbreviations may be used in different facilities. These issues can create confusion for health professionals. Why is it important for a health professional to ensure that medical terms are spelled correctly and that the accepted abbreviations are used? What effects might spelling and abbreviation errors have on you, the provider, and the patient? How can you avoid making mistakes when spelling or abbreviating a term?