Every line has a ▶ button — tap it to hear that line spoken, one word at a time.
Trevor: Family Medicine, this is Trevor. How can I help you?
how the office answers — the practice, then the name · your turn: say who you are and what you need in one sentence
Mia: Hi. I'm looking for a primary care doctor. Are you accepting new patients?
a primary care doctor — your regular doctor for checkups, colds and referrals · "accepting new patients" = they have room for you
Trevor: We are. Do you have insurance?
Mia: Yes, through my job. It's a PPO plan. Are you in-network?
in-network — in-network = the office has a contract with your plan, you pay the low price · PPO = any doctor, HMO = your PCP refers you
Trevor: We take that, yes. Is this for a physical, or is something going on?
a physical — the yearly checkup when nothing is wrong · covered at no cost on most plans · "something going on" = a problem
Mia: Just a physical, and to have a doctor here.
Trevor: Okay. The first opening for a new-patient physical is Tuesday the fourteenth at nine, with Dr. Lin.
the first opening — = the first free appointment · a new-patient visit is longer, so it can be weeks away · ask for a cancellation list
Mia: Tuesday at nine works.
Trevor: Great. Arrive fifteen minutes early with your insurance card and a photo ID. Don't eat after midnight, in case we do bloodwork. And I'll text you a link to fill out the forms online.
don't eat after midnight — fasting for bloodwork: only water for eight to twelve hours · take your morning pills
Mia: Perfect. Thank you.
Trevor: Family Medicine, this is Trevor.
Mia: Hi, this is Mia Carter, a patient of Dr. Lin. I've had a sore throat and a fever since yesterday. Can I be seen today?
Can I be seen today? — = can I get an appointment today? · say the symptoms in one line: a sore throat and a fever since yesterday
Trevor: Let me look. Dr. Lin is booked, but he can squeeze you in at two forty. Or we can do a video visit at one.
squeeze you in · a video visit — "booked" = full · "squeeze you in" = fit you between other patients · a video visit = the doctor on your phone, same copay
Mia: Two forty in person, please.
in person — = at the office, not on video · "I'd rather come in"
Trevor: Okay, you're set. What's your temperature been?
Mia: A hundred and one this morning.
Trevor: If it goes over a hundred and three, or you have trouble breathing, go to urgent care or the ER. Don't wait.
urgent care · the ER — urgent care = a walk-in clinic for things that can't wait a day · the ER = the hospital emergency room: trouble breathing, chest pain, a bad injury
Mia: Understood.
Trevor: And please wear a mask when you come in. We have some at the desk.
wear a mask — offices ask anyone with a cough or a fever to · they have them at the desk
Mia: I will. Thank you.
Mia: Hi, this is Mia Carter. I have an appointment tomorrow at nine, but something came up at work. Can I reschedule?
something came up · reschedule — something came up = an unexpected problem, no details needed · reschedule = move it · cancel = drop it
Trevor: Sure. We ask for twenty-four hours' notice, so you're fine.
twenty-four hours' notice — = tell them at least a day before · the usual rule at US offices, in the papers you signed
Mia: Good. What if I had called tomorrow morning?
Trevor: Then it would count as a late cancellation, and there's a fifty-dollar fee. Same for a no-show.
a late cancellation · a no-show — a no-show = you don't come and don't call · the fee is usually twenty-five to a hundred dollars, and insurance doesn't pay it
Mia: Got it. What do you have next week?
Trevor: Thursday at eight fifteen, or Friday at three thirty.
Mia: Friday at three thirty, please.
Trevor: Done. You'll get a reminder text two days before. Reply C to confirm.
a reminder text — an automatic message a day or two before · reply C or YES, or the slot may be given to someone else
Mia: Great, thanks.
Mia: Hi, I'm checking in. Mia Carter, two forty with Dr. Lin.
checking in — = I'm here for my appointment · say your name and the time · some offices have a kiosk or a QR code instead
Trevor: Hi, Mia. Can I see your insurance card and a photo ID?
your insurance card and a photo ID — at every first visit, and every time your insurance changes · they scan both
Mia: Here you go.
Trevor: Thanks. Has anything changed? Address, phone number, insurance?
Has anything changed? — address, phone, insurance, pharmacy · asked at every visit · "No, everything's the same."
Mia: No, everything's the same.
Trevor: Great. Did you fill out the forms online?
Mia: I did, this morning.
Trevor: Perfect. Then just sign this one at the bottom. And your copay is thirty dollars today.
the copay — a fixed amount you pay at check-in, before you see the doctor · often twenty to fifty dollars · a physical usually has none
Mia: Can I pay by card?
Trevor: Of course. Okay, you're all set. Have a seat, and someone will call you back in a few minutes.
call you back — = call your name and take you to the exam room · not a phone call · "have a seat" = sit in the waiting room
Mia: Thank you.
Mia: Excuse me. My appointment was at two forty, and it's ten past three.
Trevor: I'm so sorry. Dr. Lin is running about thirty minutes behind. He had an emergency.
running behind — = late on the schedule · normal at a doctor's office · you can ask how long, step out, or reschedule
Mia: Oh. Do you know how much longer?
Trevor: You're next after the patient who's in there now. Fifteen minutes, maybe twenty.
You're next. — = after this patient it's your turn
Mia: Okay. I'll wait.
Trevor: Thank you for your patience. If you need to step out, let me know and we'll hold your spot.
thank you for your patience — what staff say when you've waited · step out = leave for a moment · hold your spot = keep your place in line
Mia: I might grab a coffee next door.
grab a coffee — grab = quickly get · grab a bite, grab a seat, grab an Uber
Trevor: That's fine. Just be back in ten.
Mia: Okay, I will.
Marisol: Mia Carter? Come on back. I'm Marisol, I'll be taking your vitals. Step on the scale for me first.
step on the scale · vitals — step on the scale · your vitals: weight, blood pressure, temperature, pulse · in pounds, feet and inches, Fahrenheit
Mia: Sure.
Marisol: Got it. Now have a seat and put your arm out for me. This will squeeze a little.
put your arm out — the blood pressure cuff · "put your arm out" · it squeezes, then lets go
Mia: Okay.
Marisol: One eighteen over seventy-six. That's perfect. Now let me get your temperature. Under your tongue.
one eighteen over seventy-six — blood pressure: the top number when the heart beats, the bottom between beats · under 120 over 80 is normal · "under your tongue" = the thermometer
Mia: Sure.
Marisol: A hundred point four. So you do have a fever. What brings you in today?
a hundred point four · a fever — a hundred point four = a fever · 100.4 °F = 38 °C · "what brings you in today?" = why are you here?
Mia: A sore throat since yesterday, and I feel achy all over.
achy all over — = my whole body hurts a little, like the flu · an ache = a dull pain · a headache, a stomachache, a backache
Marisol: On a scale of one to ten, how bad is the throat?
on a scale of one to ten — the pain scale: one = almost nothing, ten = the worst pain you can imagine · answer with a number
Mia: About a seven. It hurts to swallow.
it hurts to swallow — it hurts to + verb: swallow, breathe, bend it, put weight on it · the doctor's favorite sentence shape
Marisol: Okay. I'll let the doctor know. He'll be right in.
He'll be right in. — = here very soon · "right in" is often ten minutes · the door stays closed until then
Marisol: Before the doctor comes in, a few questions. Any allergies to medications?
Any allergies to medications? — the first intake question · penicillin, sulfa, latex are the common ones · say what happened: a rash, swelling
Mia: No, none.
Marisol: Are you taking any medications right now, including vitamins?
taking any medications, including vitamins — prescription, over the counter, vitamins, supplements · bring the list or the bottles
Mia: Just an allergy pill, once a day.
Marisol: Do you smoke, or drink alcohol?
Do you smoke, or drink alcohol? — asked of everyone, without judgment · answer honestly: it changes which medicines are safe
Mia: I don't smoke. A glass of wine now and then.
now and then — = sometimes, not often · once in a while · on weekends
Marisol: Any surgeries or serious illnesses in the past?
surgeries — surgery = an operation · your medical history · they also ask about your parents: family history
Mia: No, nothing.
Marisol: Okay. Since this is a physical, change into this gown, opening in the back. There's a hook for your things. The doctor will be right in.
the gown, opening in the back — the gown · "opening in the back" = the ties go behind you · there's a hook for your clothes · the doctor knocks first
Mia: Okay. Thank you.
Dr. Lin: Hi Mia, I'm Dr. Lin. Sore throat and a fever, I hear. How long has this been going on?
How long has this been going on? — = when did it start? · since yesterday · for three days · on and off for a week
Mia: Since yesterday morning. And it's worse today.
Dr. Lin: Any cough or runny nose?
a cough · a runny nose — runny = it drips · stuffy = blocked · the doctor lists symptoms to rule things out
Mia: No, just the throat. And a headache.
Dr. Lin: Open wide and say ah. Yeah, that's pretty red, and your tonsils are swollen.
open wide and say ah · tonsils — the doctor looks at the back of your throat · tonsils = the two soft lumps there · swollen = bigger than normal
Mia: Is it bad?
Dr. Lin: Let me feel your neck. Your glands are swollen too. It could be strep. Let's do a rapid strep test.
your glands · strep — glands = the lymph nodes in your neck, swollen when you're fighting an infection · strep = a bacterial throat infection
Mia: What does that involve?
What does that involve? — = what exactly do you do? · the polite way to ask before any test or procedure
Dr. Lin: A quick swab at the back of your throat. Uncomfortable for a second. Results in ten minutes.
a quick swab — a swab · a long cotton stick rubbed at the back of the throat · the rapid strep test takes about ten minutes
Mia: Okay, let's do it.
Dr. Lin: Open up one more time. Done. I'll be back with the results.
Dr. Lin: Good morning, Mia. Here for a physical. Any concerns, or just a checkup?
a checkup — a checkup = a routine exam when nothing is wrong · a concern = something you're worried about
Mia: Just a checkup.
Dr. Lin: Perfect. Take a deep breath in. And out. Again. Good, your lungs are clear.
take a deep breath — . And out." · the stethoscope · your lungs are clear = healthy, no noise
Mia: Great.
Dr. Lin: Now lie back for me. I'm going to press on your stomach. Tell me if anything hurts.
lie back · press on your stomach — lie back = lie down on the table · the doctor presses to check for pain · "tell me if anything hurts"
Mia: No, that's fine.
Dr. Lin: Good, everything feels normal. Any family history? Diabetes, heart disease?
family history — illnesses in your parents, brothers and sisters, grandparents · diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, cancer
Mia: My dad has high blood pressure.
Dr. Lin: Okay, we'll keep an eye on yours. I'd like to order routine bloodwork. Did you eat this morning?
keep an eye on · routine bloodwork — keep an eye on = watch over time · routine = standard for everyone · bloodwork = blood tests: cholesterol, sugar, thyroid
Mia: No, nothing since last night.
Dr. Lin: Then you can do it today, down the hall. The results will be in your portal in two or three days.
the patient portal — the office's website or app: results, messages, appointments · results appear the moment the lab is done, often before the doctor has read them
Mia: Sounds good. Thank you, Doctor.
Dr. Lin: So what happened to the knee?
Mia: I twisted it running on Saturday. It's swollen, and it hurts going down stairs.
twisted it · swollen — twisted = turned it the wrong way · sprained = hurt a ligament · swollen = bigger than normal · it hurts going down stairs
Dr. Lin: Let's take a look. Can you straighten it all the way? And bend it?
straighten it · bend it — the doctor moves the joint and watches your face · "all the way" = completely
Mia: Bending hurts. Right there, on the inside.
Dr. Lin: Does this hurt when I press?
Does this hurt? — say where and how much · "right there" · "a little" · "ow, yes"
Mia: Ow. Yes.
Dr. Lin: Okay. I don't think anything is broken, but I want an X-ray to be sure. Any chance you could be pregnant?
an X-ray · any chance you could be pregnant? — asked before every X-ray, to anyone who could be · "to be sure" = to check nothing is broken · often done down the hall, same day
Mia: No.
Dr. Lin: Good. The X-ray room is down the hall. Until then, rest, ice for twenty minutes at a time, and keep it up.
rest, ice — RICE: rest · ice, twenty minutes at a time · compression · elevation, "keep it up"
Mia: Okay. Thank you.
Dr. Lin: Okay, the test came back positive. You have strep throat.
came back positive · strep throat — positive = the test found it · negative = it didn't · strep = a bacterial infection, treated with antibiotics
Mia: Oh no. Is it serious?
Dr. Lin: It's very treatable. I'm going to prescribe an antibiotic, ten days. Which pharmacy do you use?
treatable · which pharmacy? — treatable = medicine fixes it · the doctor sends the prescription to YOUR pharmacy: know its name and street
Mia: The one on Fifth Street.
Dr. Lin: I'll send it in now. Take the whole course, even when you feel better.
send it in · the whole course — send it in = e-prescribe, nothing to carry · the whole course = every tablet, all ten days, even when you feel fine
Mia: When can I go back to work?
Dr. Lin: Once you've been on the antibiotic for twenty-four hours and you're fever-free. Probably the day after tomorrow.
fever-free · twenty-four hours — the return-to-work rule: no fever, and twelve to twenty-four hours on antibiotics · schools and jobs usually say twenty-four
Mia: Could I get a note for work?
a note for work — a doctor's note · the paper that excuses you from work or school · ask before you leave, or in the portal
Dr. Lin: Of course, they'll print one at checkout. Rest, fluids, and warm tea with honey.
rest, fluids — fluids = drinks: water, tea, soup · "push fluids" = drink a lot · warm tea with honey for a sore throat
Mia: Thank you, Dr. Lin.
Dr. Lin: Feel better. And if it's not improving in three days, call us.
not improving — improving = getting better · the doctor always names a deadline and a warning sign
Dr. Lin: Good news and bad news. The strep test is negative, so this is a virus.
negative · a virus — negative = the test didn't find it · a virus = a cold, the flu, most sore throats · "good news and bad news"
Mia: So no antibiotics?
Dr. Lin: No. Antibiotics don't work on viruses. This will run its course in about a week.
run its course — run its course = get better by itself, in its own time · the most common sentence at a US sick visit
Mia: What can I do for it?
Dr. Lin: Rest, fluids, and something over the counter for the fever. Acetaminophen or ibuprofen.
over the counter · acetaminophen, ibuprofen — over the counter = no prescription · Americans say the brand names · both bring down a fever
Mia: Is it contagious?
contagious — = other people can catch it · "Is it contagious?" · "How long am I contagious?"
Dr. Lin: Yes, for a few days. Stay home until the fever has been gone for twenty-four hours.
stay home until… — the return-to-work rule for a virus · gone without medicine · wash your hands
Mia: My work will need a note.
Dr. Lin: I'll write one for two days. Come back if you get a very high fever, trouble swallowing, or it's not better in ten days.
the warning signs — a very high fever · trouble swallowing · not better in ten days · the doctor always names the warning signs · trouble + -ing: trouble breathing
Mia: Okay. Thank you.
Dr. Lin: Take care.
Dr. Lin: Good news. The X-ray shows no fracture. It's a sprain.
no fracture · a sprain — fracture = a broken bone · sprain = a stretched or torn ligament · strain = a pulled muscle
Mia: That's a relief. How long will it take to heal?
That's a relief. — = I was worried, and now I'm not · heal = get better, for an injury
Dr. Lin: A few weeks. I'm going to refer you to physical therapy, and to an orthopedist if it's not better in a month.
refer you to · physical therapy · an orthopedist — refer = send you to a specialist · physical therapy = guided exercises to recover · orthopedist = a bone and joint doctor
Mia: Do I need anything from my insurance for that?
Dr. Lin: Some plans require a referral from your primary care doctor, and we'll send it. Just check that the therapist is in-network.
a referral — your primary care doctor's note that lets a specialist see you · HMO plans require it, PPO plans usually don't · check the specialist is in-network
Mia: Okay. Should I wear something on it?
Dr. Lin: A knee brace from the pharmacy will help. Keep icing it, and no running until the therapist clears you. Let's do a follow-up in four weeks.
a knee brace — from the pharmacy, no prescription · "until the therapist clears you" = says you're ready
Mia: Sounds good. Thank you.
Trevor: All set? Dr. Lin wants to see you back in four weeks. Let's get that on the calendar.
see you back · on the calendar — see you back = a follow-up visit · on the calendar = scheduled · book it before you leave
Mia: Okay. Mornings are better for me.
Trevor: Thursday the ninth at eight thirty?
Mia: That works.
Trevor: And here's your visit summary and the doctor's note.
the visit summary — a printout: what the doctor found, your medications, what to do next · also in the portal
Mia: Thank you. Do I owe anything else today?
Do I owe anything? — owe = have to pay · usually just the copay · the rest comes by mail
Trevor: Just the copay you paid. The X-ray is billed separately, and it may go toward your deductible.
billed separately · the deductible — the X-ray, the lab and the hospital send their own bills, weeks later · the deductible = what you pay each year before the plan pays
Mia: Okay. And the referral?
Trevor: We'll send it today. They'll call you to schedule. If you don't hear from them in a week, call us.
hear from them — the specialist's office calls you · hear from = get a call or a message · if you don't, call the sender
Mia: Great. Thanks, Trevor.
Mia: Hi. I got a bill in the mail for a hundred and eighty dollars. I paid my copay at my visit.
a bill in the mail — weeks after the visit, from the lab or the office · not the same as the EOB · check it against the EOB before paying
Trevor: Let me pull it up. Ah, that's the bloodwork from your physical. The lab bills separately.
pull it up · the lab bills separately — pull it up = find it on the screen · the lab is a different company with its own bill
Mia: I thought a physical was free.
Trevor: The physical itself is covered at a hundred percent. The lab work is a separate charge, and it went to your deductible.
covered at a hundred percent — the preventive visit is free by law · anything extra at it, a test or a new problem, is billed like a normal visit and can hit your deductible
Mia: Is there any way to check that?
Trevor: Your insurance sent you an explanation of benefits, an EOB. It shows what they paid and what you owe. If it doesn't match our bill, call them.
an explanation of benefits (EOB) — the statement from your insurance, not a bill: what the doctor charged, what they paid, what you owe · compare it with the bill
Mia: Okay. And if I can't pay it all at once?
all at once — = the whole amount now · in installments = in parts
Trevor: We can set up a payment plan, no interest. Say, sixty dollars a month. I'll set it up right now.
a payment plan — pay in monthly parts, usually no interest · ask before the bill goes to collections · "say" = for example
Mia: That would help. Thank you.