For intermediate learners: booking appointments, hospital departments, insurance basics, and the practical language of visiting a doctor or clinic.
Free Medical English & Doctor Visits vocabulary flashcards at the B1 level — all 35 words with definitions and examples. Study them with spaced repetition and recognize and use these words confidently in real conversations.
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receptionist
a person who welcomes patients and manages appointments at a clinic or hospital
waiting room
the room where patients sit until it is their turn to see a doctor
clinic
a place where people go to see a doctor or get medical treatment
specialist
a doctor who focuses on treating one particular type of illness or body part
referral
a note from one doctor that sends a patient to see another for specific care
insurance
a plan that pays some or all of your medical costs in exchange for a regular fee
claim
a formal request asking an insurance company to pay for a cost you had
coverage
the range of medical costs and treatments that an insurance plan will pay for
family doctor
a doctor who treats patients of all ages for common, everyday health problems
outpatient
a patient who receives treatment at a hospital without needing to stay overnight
ward
a section of a hospital where patients with similar needs stay together
ambulance
a vehicle that carries sick or injured people quickly to a hospital
emergency room
the part of a hospital that treats people who need urgent medical help
urgent care
medical treatment for problems that need quick attention but are not life-threatening
x-ray
a medical picture that shows the bones and inside of the body
stitches
small threads used by a doctor to close and hold together a deep cut
injection
a way of putting medicine into the body using a needle
vaccine
a substance given to protect the body against a particular disease
side effect
an unwanted physical reaction caused by a medicine or treatment
follow-up
a later appointment to check how a patient's treatment is going
form
an official document with spaces for you to write your personal information
consent
permission that a patient gives before a doctor can carry out treatment
admit
to officially accept a patient into a hospital for treatment
discharge
to officially allow a patient to leave a hospital after treatment
sign
to write your name on a document to show you agree with it
request
to formally ask for something, such as an appointment or a document
cancel
to say that a planned appointment will not happen
reschedule
to arrange a new time for an appointment that was already booked
confirm
to make sure an appointment or booking is definitely going ahead
book
to arrange a time in advance to see a doctor or specialist
cover
to pay for a medical cost as part of an insurance plan
urgent
needing to be dealt with immediately
available
free to be used, seen, or booked at a particular time
registered
officially recorded as a patient at a particular clinic or with a doctor
eligible
allowed to receive something because you meet the necessary conditions