Lesson 07 Changes in medical practice, English, MEDICAL ENGLISH
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Medical English Lesson 7
Two doctors are talking about changes in medical practices.
A. Read the dialogue below. What changes do they talk about?
Dialogue
Dr Patel: Good morning Dr Jones, this is your last day at work, isn't it? Are you looking forward to your retirement?
Dr Jones: I don't know what I'll do to fill my time; I'm used to being busy.
Dr Patel: Don't worry; I'm sure you'll get used to a life of leisure. You've been a hospital doctor for 40 years; you must have seen some changes.
Dr Jones: The worst change is that we used to be respected by patients, now they think they can shout at us and treat us like servants.
Dr Patel: Patients have a right to know what is going on; in the past they would be kept in the dark about everything.
Dr Jones: We would tell them what they needed to know, half the time you explain things to patients and they're too stupid to understand what you're talking about.
Dr Patel: You have to get used to speaking in non-medical language, not everyone has had our training.
Dr Jones: Well, it's not like now they didn't use to teach bedside manner in my day.
Dr Patel: I think it's better when patients have all the information, it allows them to take responsibility for some of the decisions.
Dr Jones: Yes, all too often they base their decision on leading articles they've found on the internet, rather than sound medical knowledge and experience. In the past, they would listen to the doctors. It's always possible to get a second opinion!
Dr Patel: Sure, the internet can sometimes be misleading, but people didn't use to have any other sources, so it's got to be a good thing.
What other changes have you noticed?
Dr Jones: Everything's about budgets. In the past we would treat patients without worrying about 'care quotas' or 'bed turnover'.
Dr Patel: That's life; treatment has become more expensive. We have to keep tabs on the spending somehow.
Dr Jones: It's shouldn't be doctors who have to make these decisions, they employ enough managers in this hospital.
Dr Patel: I agree, there seem to be more managers than beds here, but hospital management didn't use to be so complicated.
Dr Jones: I'm sure it did, they would just get on with it in the past, now they have to have meeting before they make even the smallest decision.
Dr Patel: I don't think they make any decisions in meetings; they just spend their time thinking up more time wasting schemes. But soon it will all be a distant memory for you.
Dr Jones: I have to admit I'm looking forward to escaping hospital management, but I will miss my colleagues.
Dr Patel: You'll need to find a new network.
Dr Jones: What? A retired doctors club? Can you imagine anything worse!?
Glossary:
look forward to - cieszyć się na coś
retirement - emerytura
leisure - czas wolny, wypoczynek
servant - służący
keep in the dark - utrzymywać w nieświadomości
training – (wy)szkolenie
leading - wiodący
sound knowledge - solidna wiedza
misleading – mylący, wprowadzający w błąd
treat/treatment - leczyć/leczenie
quota – (l.mn.) kwota, przydziały
turnover - obrót
keep tabs on sth - kontrolować coś
get on with – radzić sobie z czymś
scheme - system, projekt
badge - plakietka
state of mind - stan umysłu
distant memory - odległe wspomnienie
escape - uciec
network - sieć
B. There are uses of the verb used to. Underline all the uses and sort them into 2 columns:
1. be/get used to + noun/-ing - to talk about something that is no longer strange
2. used to - to talk about habits and routines in the past
There is another way of talking about habits in the past using would. Underline all sentences with would. How is it different from used to?
- which can be used for states in the past?
- which can be used for repeated actions in the past?
C. Practise:
Put a suitable expression with get/be used to/didn't use to/would with the verb in brackets, in each of the gaps.
1. He's just out of medical school, he's _________________ (work) with patients.
2. When I started practising medicine, I had to ____________ (take) responsibility for my decisions.
3. When she was in medical school they __________ (teach) patient/doctor communication.
4. When I was studying we __________ (go) to the pub every night.
5. When I started practising, nurses _________ (have) a lot more respect for doctors.
6. I _________ (work) in two hospitals, but now I have a permanent position here.
7. I just _____________ (not/work) so many hours, I'm always tired.
8. I can't believe you _________ (use) those instruments, they look so old-fashioned now.
9. Well Dr Jones, you'll just have to __________ (cooperate) with the new management.
10. When I was younger, we _________ (conduct) a full examination in cases like these.
Key
A.
- lack of respect from patients
- patients getting information from the internet
- now bedside manner is taught in medical school
- budgets
- more expensive treatment
- ineffective/complicated management
- management schemes
B.
1. be/get used to + noun/-ing - to talk about something that is no longer strange
I'm used to being busy.
You'll get used to a life of leisure.
You have to get used to speaking in non-medical language.
Not having that network will take some getting used to.
2. used to - to talk about habits and routines in the past
We used to be respected by patients.
They didn't use to teach bedside manner.
People didn't use to have any other sources.
Hospital management didn't use to be so complicated.
We didn't used to have to wear these stupid care badges.
examples of would
In the past they would be kept in the dark about everything.
We would tell them what they needed to know.
They would listen to the doctors.
They would just get on with it.
We would treat patients without worrying about 'care quotas'.
Which can be used for states in the past? used to
Which can be used for repeated actions in the past? used to and would
He's just out of medical school _________________ (work) with patients.
C.
1. not used to working /getting used to working
2. get used to taking
3. didn't use to teach
4. would go/used to go
5. used to have
6. used to work
7. can't get used to working
8. used to use/would use
9. get used to cooperating
10. didn't use to conduct
Joke
Doctor, Doctor I keep painting myself gold!
Don't worry it's just a gilt complex!
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