How Does Standard Nomenclature Help Health Professionals Communicate?
The purpose of this essay is to outline the importance of standard nomenclature in assisting health professionals communicate. Nomenclature means delegating a name in a systematic manner for the purpose of creating a unified standard terminology that is widely accepted and practiced, and has the ability to be easily translated into other languages (Drury, Powell-Smith, & McKeever, 2002; Ehrlich, 2005; Heideri, 2004; Higgs Sefton, Street, et al., 2005; Seinko, & Supan, 1990). Generally developed by the International Organization of Standardization (ISO) (2004), nomenclature assists in communication between health professionals by using common or ‘universal’ terminology, reducing the need for costly re-diagnosis, and facilitates a greater understanding by interim and internationally trained staff. Nomenclature allows increased efficiency in record keeping allowing health professionals to compare their diagnosis and treatment of a patient with others in the field through a uniform language that is understood by all (International Pharmaceutical Federation, 1999; Trace, Naeymi, Haines, Robert, & Evans, 1993; Rigby, Roberts, Williams, Clark, & Mooney, 1998). This greatly reduces the chances of preventable mistakes regarding provision of medication doses and consistency in treatment (International Pharmaceutical Federation, 1999; Trace, et al., 1993; Rigby, et al., 1998).
Standard nomenclature is essential for increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of communication between professionals in all health fields as it increases consistency and understanding regarding diagnoses and provision of aids, while reducing costly mistakes and the need for re-diagnosis (Cuschieri, 2003; Drury, Powell-Smith, & McKeever., 2002; Ehrlich, 2005; Flores, Laws, Mayo, et al., 2003; Heideri, 2004; Higgs Sefton, Street, et al., 2005; Schurch, & Pritham, 2004; Seinko, & Supan, 1990). This standard language allows a record system that can be utilised by multiple professionals in a certain...
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