Jargon Begone! List
The following jargon have been provided by the community. If you would like to contribute our jargon list please click on the Add to Jargon Begone! button.
| What jargon term annoys you the most? | Why? |
|---|---|
| Content |
Everything is 'content' now. It's a word which has democratised |
| Dorsal |
It literally means back portion of the body. Why not say that instead of dorsal, especially when talking to patients who have never been to medical school? Nobody ever says 'my dorsal is killing me.' |
| Build the plane why flying it |
stupid analogy to something that in reality can't be done |
| Consumers |
Because we are PEOPLE. Consumer gives the idea that I have had a choice in the services I 'consume'. How about 'person', 'people' or 'families' that access our service, or who have a lived experience. |
| AO's |
Because no-one outside of the government understands that means Administration Officers |
| PRN |
PRN - medication to be taken as required.... not helpful for mental health patients and no one can ever tell you what PRN actually stands for. |
| superficial |
It has a different meaning in plain English than in medical English, but doctors forget that |
| HRT - Humam Resources Team |
It also stands for hormone replacement therapy and is at times very embarrassing. |
| IX |
For instance, if your blinds have severe discolouration that does not go away |
| Dyspnea |
I can't even work out how to say it |
| Game Changer |
Over used. |
| Stand Up Meeting |
Some of us can't stand up |
| "Effectuate". As in: "We need to effectuate a change". |
Used by jargonists who seem to feel that simple, precise terminology is too revealing of their own simplicity. |
| "Normalcy" |
Whatever happened to good old "normality" ? |
| "Unarrive". As in: "Pt has unarrived clinic." |
Believe it or not, this piece of astonishingly inept Americlish has begun to enter usage in GP clinic admin software, no doubt spurred on by the equally American notion of "Unfriending" people on Facebook. Please don't allow it to take hold here! |
| integumentary |
such a freaking long word, a tongue twister meaning skin |
| Acopic (A-Cope-Ick) |
Meaning "Not coping, not tolerating well". Very frustrating because it makes a negative assumption about the patient that they are only presenting due to difficulty coping and not because they are actually unwell or needing assistance. It labels the patient before they can be thoroughly assessed and its stigmatising them to be the "anxious type" or "hyperchondriac". |
| Do some heavy lifting |
Pompous and self-indulgent |
| "Lean in" |
Don't we address / discuss / come together to find solutions - I'm over leaning in!! |
| Where the rubber meets the road |
Consultant speak. Blah |
| What jargon term annoys you the most? | Why? |
Why should I pledge?
6 out of 10 of people in Australia have low health literacy.
Many Australians have trouble understanding and using information provided by organisations. They also have trouble navigating complicated systems like healthcare services.
When we use jargon, technical terms or acronyms, it is hard for people with low health literacy to understand and use information.
Pledge and take part in activities at your workplace. Make it easy for people with low health literacy to get better information and outcomes from services they use.
Pledge to Drop the Jargon
- Use plain language in all communication – with other staff and with clients
- Not use acronyms
- Explain medical and other technical terminology
- Check that information has been understood by your clients
- Work with a professional interpreter when your clients have low English proficiency
- Politely point out when your colleagues use jargon