Vocabulary Words Every Clinic Receptionist Should Know

Patient

Definition: Able to wait without getting angry.

• She is very patient with her students.
• It's important to be patient when learning.
• He waited patiently for his turn.

Patient in a sentence

Doctor

Definition: A person who is trained to treat medical conditions.

• The doctor helps people stay healthy.
• I went to the doctor for a check-up.
• She wants to be a doctor when she grows up.

Doctor in a sentence

Clinic

Definition: A place where people receive medical treatment.

• He visited the clinic for a check-up.
• The clinic offers free vaccinations.
• The clinic is open every Saturday.

Clinic in a sentence

Appointment

Definition: A scheduled meeting or arrangement.

• I have a doctor's appointment this afternoon.
• She made an appointment to see the dentist.
• His appointment was confirmed by email.

Appointment in a sentence

Schedule

Definition: A plan that shows when tasks or events will happen.

• I have a busy schedule this week.
• She made a schedule for her study time.
• They checked the schedule for movie times.

Schedule in a sentence

Wait

Definition: To stay in one place until something happens.

• Please wait for me after school.
• I will wait for my turn.
• He had to wait in line for tickets.

Wait in a sentence

Phone

Definition: A device used for communication, typically by voice.

• I called my friend on my phone.
• She sent a message on her phone.
• Please turn off your phone during class.

Phone in a sentence

Help

Definition: To assist someone with something.

• Can you help me with my homework?
• She helped her mother in the kitchen.
• He always helps his friends.

Help in a sentence

Form

Definition: The shape or structure of something; also can mean to create.

• The teacher asked us to fill out a form.
• He likes to form new ideas during discussions.
• Understanding the different forms of art can enhance appreciation.

Form in a sentence

Visit

Definition: To go to see someone or a place.

• We will visit our grandparents this weekend.
• She wants to visit the museum during the school trip.
• I plan to visit my friend after school.

Visit in a sentence

Health

Definition: The state of being free from illness or injury.

• Eating fruits and vegetables is good for your health.
• Regular exercise helps improve your health.
• We should take care of our mental health as well.

Health in a sentence

Insurance

Definition: A contract that provides protection against financial loss.

• Car insurance helps pay for damages in an accident.
• I have health insurance to cover doctor visits.
• You should get insurance for valuable items.

Insurance in a sentence

Smile

Definition: A facial expression showing happiness, made by curving the lips.

• Her smile brightened the room.
• He loves to smile at everyone he meets.
• A smile can make someone's day better.

Smile in a sentence

Name

Definition: A word by which a person or thing is known.

• What is your name?
• Her name is Sarah.
• He wrote his name on the paper.

Name in a sentence

Time

Definition: A measured period during which events occur; a point in the day.

• What time is it now?
• We need to manage our time wisely.
• Time flies when you're having fun.

Time in a sentence

Address

Definition: The location where someone lives or works.

• What is your address for the invitation?
• Please write your address on the form.
• He moved to a new address last month.

Address in a sentence

Check

Definition: To look at something to verify its accuracy; a written order for payment.

• Please check your answers before submitting.
• He wrote a check to pay for the groceries.
• She will check the schedule for the meeting.

Check in a sentence

Ask

Definition: To request information or help from someone.

• I will ask my teacher a question.
• Can you ask your friend to join us?
• It's polite to ask for permission before taking something.

Ask in a sentence

Talk

Definition: To speak with someone.

• I love to talk with my friends.
• Can we talk about the project later?
• She talks to her parents every day.

Talk in a sentence

Medication

Definition: A substance used to treat an illness or condition.

• He takes medication for his allergies.
• The doctor prescribed medication for her cough.
• She learned about different types of medication.

Medication in a sentence

Reception

Definition: The act of receiving or welcoming someone; also refers to a front desk in an office.

• The reception at the hotel was friendly.
• She works at the reception desk of the office.
• They held a reception to celebrate the achievement.

Reception in a sentence

File

Definition: A collection of documents or data stored together.

• I need to organize my files on the computer.
• He saved the file in a new folder.
• Please check the file for the latest updates.

File in a sentence

Check-in

Definition: The process of registering upon arrival.

• Please check-in at the front desk when you arrive.
• The check-in time for our flight is 3 PM.
• I always feel nervous during check-in at the airport.

Treatment

Definition: The way of dealing with a patient or condition; care given to someone.

• He received treatment for his illness.
• The treatment helped her recover quickly.
• They discussed treatment options with the doctor.

Treatment in a sentence

Medicine

Definition: A substance used to treat illness or injury.

• I took medicine to help with my cold.
• The doctor prescribed some medicine for her.
• It's important to take medicine as directed.

Medicine in a sentence

Emergency

Definition: A serious situation requiring immediate action.

• Call 911 in case of an emergency.
• They practiced emergency drills at school.
• He handled the emergency with calmness.

Emergency in a sentence

Record

Definition: To capture or store information; a written account of something.

• I will record the lecture for later.
• They set a new record in the race.
• She likes to record her thoughts in a journal.

Record in a sentence

Staff

Definition: a group of people employed to work for an organization

• The staff at the school are very helpful.
• She joined the staff as a teacher this year.
• The staff meeting is scheduled for Friday.

Staff in a sentence

Waiting Room

Definition: a room where people wait

• The waiting room was filled with patients.
• He read a magazine in the waiting room.
• The waiting room was quiet and peaceful.

Waiting Room in a sentence

Referral

Definition: the act of directing someone to a different person or place

• She received a referral to a specialist for her condition.
• The doctor made a referral for further testing.
• He appreciated the referral to the best dentist in town.

Referral in a sentence

Consultation

Definition: A meeting to discuss or seek advice on a topic.

• She had a consultation with a doctor.
• The consultation helped clarify their options.
• They scheduled a consultation for the project.

Consultation in a sentence

Procedure

Definition: a series of steps to accomplish a task

• Follow the procedure to complete the assignment.
• The procedure for the experiment was explained.
• He learned the procedure for making cookies.

Procedure in a sentence

Records

Definition: Documents or pieces of information that are kept for reference or evidence.

• The school keeps records of all student grades.
• She checked the records for attendance.
• Understanding records is important for organization.

Billing

Definition: the process of sending bills for payments

• They handle the billing for the company.
• She checked her billing statement for errors.
• Billing can be done online for convenience.

Billing in a sentence

Service

Definition: The action of helping or doing work for someone.

• The restaurant provides excellent service to its customers.
• We offer a service to help students with their studies.
• Volunteering is a way to give back to the community through service.

Service in a sentence

Consent

Definition: Permission for something to happen or agreement to do something.

• You need to get parental consent for the field trip.
• He gave his consent to share the information.
• Understanding consent is important in many situations.

Consent in a sentence

Diagnosis

Definition: The identification of a disease or problem based on symptoms.

• The doctor made a diagnosis after the exam.
• She received a diagnosis of a mild illness.
• He explained the diagnosis to the patient.

Diagnosis in a sentence

Receptionist

Definition: A person who greets visitors and handles inquiries at a front desk.

• The receptionist answered the phone politely.
• She works as a receptionist at a busy office.
• The receptionist helped me find the right room.

Receptionist in a sentence

Follow-up

Definition: an action that comes after an initial action; checking on something

• She scheduled a follow-up appointment with the doctor.
• The teacher did a follow-up on the students’ progress.
• A follow-up email can help clarify any questions.

Confidentiality

Definition: The state of keeping information secret or private.

• The company values the confidentiality of its clients.
• She signed an agreement to ensure confidentiality.
• Maintaining confidentiality is important in counseling.

Confidentiality in a sentence

Symptoms

Definition: physical or mental signs of an illness

• Common symptoms of the flu include fever and cough.
• He noted the symptoms and reported them to the doctor.
• She learned to recognize the symptoms of allergies.

Healthcare

Definition: The organized provision of medical care to individuals or communities.

• Access to quality healthcare is important for everyone.
• She works in healthcare to help patients.
• Healthcare systems vary from country to country.

Healthcare in a sentence

Triage

Definition: The process of determining the priority of patients' treatments based on the severity of their condition.

• In an emergency, triage helps doctors manage patients.
• She learned about triage during her medical training.
• Effective triage can save lives in critical situations.

Triage in a sentence

Documentation

Definition: The act of providing written evidence or records; materials that provide information.

• Proper documentation is important for legal processes.
• She prepared the documentation for the project.
• The documentation helped clarify the procedures.

Documentation in a sentence

Inquiry

Definition: the act of asking questions to gain information

• The teacher encouraged inquiry during the lesson.
• Her inquiry into science led to many discoveries.
• Understanding inquiry promotes critical thinking.

Inquiry in a sentence

Prescription

Definition: A written order for medication or treatment from a doctor.

• She received a prescription for her allergy medication.
• He took the prescription to the pharmacy.
• The doctor gave her a prescription after the exam.

Prescription in a sentence

Discharge

Definition: To release someone or something from a duty or obligation.

• The doctor decided to discharge him from the hospital.
• She received a discharge from her responsibilities.
• The discharge of water from the pipe was monitored.

Discharge in a sentence

Compliance

Definition: Following rules or standards.

• The company is in compliance with safety regulations.
• They ensured compliance with the new laws.
• She checked for compliance with the guidelines.

Compliance in a sentence

Eligibility

Definition: The quality of being qualified or suitable for something.

• Her eligibility for the scholarship was confirmed.
• They checked the eligibility criteria for the competition.
• Understanding eligibility helps in applying for programs.

Eligibility in a sentence

Verification

Definition: The process of confirming that something is true or accurate.

• The verification of the report took several days.
• He needed verification of his identity to access the account.
• They conducted a verification of the data collected.

Verification in a sentence

Scheduling

Definition: The process of planning and organizing events, tasks, or activities.

• Scheduling classes helps students manage their time.
• He uses a planner for effective scheduling.
• Understanding scheduling improves organization skills.

Scheduling in a sentence

Urgency

Definition: The need for immediate action or attention; a pressing situation.

• There was a sense of urgency in the emergency room.
• She felt urgency to complete her assignment on time.
• Understanding urgency helps prioritize tasks.

Urgency in a sentence

Communication

Definition: The process of sharing information between people.

• Good communication is key to teamwork.
• We use different methods of communication, like texting.
• Effective communication helps prevent misunderstandings.

Communication in a sentence

Professionalism

Definition: The conduct, behavior, and attitude expected in a professional setting.

• Showing professionalism is important in any job.
• He demonstrated professionalism during the meeting.
• Her professionalism impressed the hiring manager.

Professionalism in a sentence

Empathy

Definition: The ability to understand and share the feelings of another.

• She showed empathy toward her friend's situation.
• Empathy is important for building strong relationships.
• He learned about empathy in his social studies class.

Empathy in a sentence

Accessibility

Definition: The quality of being easy to reach or use.

• The website improved its accessibility for all users.
• Accessibility is crucial for people with disabilities.
• They focused on accessibility in their new building design.

Accessibility in a sentence

Coordination

Definition: The organization of different elements to work together effectively.

• Good coordination is necessary for a successful event.
• They practiced for weeks to ensure coordination during the performance.
• Coordination among team members improves results.

Coordination in a sentence

Feedback

Definition: Information or comments about someone's performance or work.

• The teacher gave feedback on my essay.
• He appreciated the feedback from his peers.
• Constructive feedback helps improve skills.

Feedback in a sentence

Resolution

Definition: A firm decision to do or not do something; also refers to solving a problem.

• She made a resolution to exercise more this year.
• The resolution of the conflict took time.
• He found a resolution to his problem after thinking.

Resolution in a sentence

Advocacy

Definition: The act of supporting a cause or proposal.

• She is known for her advocacy for children's rights.
• Advocacy can lead to important changes in society.
• His advocacy work focused on environmental issues.

Advocacy in a sentence

Efficiency

Definition: The ability to do something with minimum waste of time and resources.

• They improved the efficiency of their study habits.
• Efficiency is key in completing tasks quickly.
• She values efficiency in her daily routine.

Efficiency in a sentence

Protocol

Definition: A set of rules or procedures to be followed in certain situations.

• The protocol for the experiment was carefully followed.
• They established a protocol for handling emergencies.
• Understanding the protocol is important for safety.

Protocol in a sentence

Workflow

Definition: The sequence of processes through which a piece of work passes from initiation to completion.

• Understanding workflow helps improve productivity.
• She designed a new workflow for the project team.
• Effective workflow management can streamline operations.

Workflow in a sentence

Engagement

Definition: An agreement to get married; involvement in an activity.

• Their engagement was announced last week.
• She has a strong engagement in her studies.
• The engagement party was a lot of fun.

Engagement in a sentence

Interaction

Definition: The act of communicating or working together with others.

• Their interaction during the project was productive.
• She enjoys the interaction with her classmates.
• Positive interaction fosters a good learning environment.

Interaction in a sentence

Satisfaction

Definition: A feeling of pleasure or contentment from achieving something.

• Her satisfaction came from completing the project.
• He felt satisfaction after helping his friend.
• The team celebrated their satisfaction with a victory.

Satisfaction in a sentence

Administration

Definition: The process of managing or running an organization; also refers to the group of people responsible.

• The school administration announced a new policy.
• She works in the hospital administration department.
• Effective administration is key to a successful project.

Administration in a sentence

Technology

Definition: The use of scientific knowledge for practical purposes; tools and machines.

• Technology changes quickly in our world.
• She studies technology in school.
• They use technology to solve problems.

Technology in a sentence

Resources

Definition: Materials or supplies that can be used.

• The library has many resources for students.
• We need to manage our resources wisely.
• Natural resources are important for our survival.

Orientation

Definition: The process of familiarizing someone with a new environment or situation.

• The orientation for new students will be next week.
• She attended an orientation for her summer internship.
• Understanding orientation helps ease transitions.

Orientation in a sentence

Navigation

Definition: The act of determining one's position and planning a route.

• The navigation system helped us find our way.
• Good navigation skills are important for sailors.
• She used a map for navigation during the hike.

Navigation in a sentence

Support

Definition: To help or provide assistance to someone or something.

• Friends should support each other.
• The community came together to support the event.
• We need to support local businesses.

Support in a sentence

Outreach

Definition: The act of reaching out to help others.

• Our outreach program helps the community.
• They organize outreach events every month.
• She volunteers for an outreach organization.

Outreach in a sentence

Assessment

Definition: An evaluation or test to measure knowledge or skills.

• The teacher gave an assessment to check our progress.
• We will have a math assessment next week.
• Assessments help identify areas to improve.

Assessment in a sentence

Collaboration

Definition: working together to achieve a goal

• The collaboration between students was great.
• They focused on collaboration for the project.
• Her collaboration with the artist produced amazing results.

Collaboration in a sentence

Troubleshooting

Definition: The process of identifying and solving problems in a system or device.

• He is good at troubleshooting computer issues.
• They used troubleshooting steps to fix the printer.
• Troubleshooting can save time and effort in repairs.

Troubleshooting in a sentence

Prioritization

Definition: the action of arranging items in order of importance

• Prioritization is key to effective time management.
• He learned about prioritization in his workshop.
• Her prioritization of tasks improved productivity.

Prioritization in a sentence

Guidelines

Definition: A set of rules or instructions to follow.

• The teacher provided guidelines for the project.
• He followed the guidelines to complete his assignment.
• The guidelines help ensure safety in the lab.

Guidelines in a sentence

Standards

Definition: Accepted levels of quality or attainment.

• Schools must meet certain standards for education.
• The company has high standards for its products.
• She follows high standards in her work.

Etiquette

Definition: The accepted behavior in social situations.

• Good etiquette is important at the dinner table.
• She learned about etiquette before the formal event.
• Knowing etiquette can help in many situations.

Etiquette in a sentence

Intake

Definition: The amount of food or drink consumed.

• The doctor advised her to monitor her calorie intake.
• He adjusted his water intake during hot weather.
• A balanced intake of nutrients is important for health.

Intake in a sentence

Authorization

Definition: Official permission to do something.

• You need authorization to access the building.
• She received authorization to conduct the research.
• The school required authorization for the trip.

Authorization in a sentence

Prognosis

Definition: A forecast of the likely outcome of a situation.

• The doctor gave a positive prognosis for recovery.
• Her prognosis after the treatment was encouraging.
• He remained hopeful despite the difficult prognosis.

Prognosis in a sentence

Telemedicine

Definition: providing medical care through technology, often remotely

• Telemedicine allows patients to consult doctors online.
• She used telemedicine for her check-up during lockdown.
• Telemedicine has made healthcare more accessible.

Record-keeping

Definition: The process of maintaining accurate and organized information.

• Good record-keeping helps businesses track their finances.
• She learned record-keeping skills in her accounting class.
• Effective record-keeping is important for legal compliance.

Patient-centered

Definition: An approach that focuses on the patient's needs, preferences, and values in healthcare.

• Patient-centered care improves communication between doctors and patients.
• She learned about patient-centered practices in her training.
• The hospital promotes a patient-centered philosophy.

Electronic Health Record

Definition: A digital version of a patient's medical history and information.

• The doctor accessed her electronic health record during the visit.
• Electronic health records improve patient care and efficiency.
• Understanding electronic health records is important for healthcare.