Hospital Services
Pre-Listening
Have you ever been to a hospital emergency room (either for yourself or a loved one)?
Listen and Read
Listen to the recording, answer the questions, and then read along with the audio recording.
Listening Quiz
Select the best answer for each question, then press Check Answers.
Use arrow keys to choose between options within each question.
1. Last week, the man went to the hospital with __________.
2. The man needed ______, and he needed emergency surgery.
3. International students should __________ in cases of medical emergencies overseas.
Last week, I suddenly became really sick, and I was feeling a great deal of pain in my side, so my father rushed me to the emergency room at the nearest hospital. I started feeling a strong pain in my side, and there wasn’t any sign that I was getting better. We didn’t feel that we needed to call an ambulance because we live so close to the hospital.
When we arrived, my dad helped me into the emergency room, and the doctor on duty realized I had appendicitis. I was quickly admitted to the hospital. A nurse took my vital signs (blood pressure, temperature, and pulse) while my dad filled out all the necessary paperwork. Soon thereafter, I was prepared for emergency surgery.
The surgery didn’t last that long, but I felt sore afterwards. I was released the following day from the hospital, and I was back on my feet in a couple of days. No one likes to visit a hospital, but I’m glad we have them. Having good health insurance is also extremely important because medical costs are so expensive. This is particularly true for international students who are traveling abroad.
Vocabulary and Expressions From the Audio
- rush (verb): to move or take someone somewhere very quickly because of an urgent situation
- His family rushed him to the hospital when his pain became unbearable.
- emergency room (noun): the part of a hospital that treats patients with sudden or serious injuries and illnesses
- She went straight to the emergency room after she fell and broke her arm.
- ambulance (noun): a vehicle equipped to carry sick or injured people to the hospital quickly
- A neighbor called for an ambulance when he saw the man collapse in the street.
- on duty (adjective phrase): actively working and responsible for a task during a scheduled period of time
- The nurse on duty checked on the patient every hour through the night.
- appendicitis (noun): a medical condition in which the appendix becomes swollen and painful, often requiring surgery
- The doctor diagnosed him with appendicitis and scheduled surgery for that same evening.
- admit (verb): to officially accept a patient into a hospital for treatment and an overnight stay
- After the examination, the doctor decided to admit her to the hospital for further tests.
- vital signs (noun): the basic measurements that show how well a person’s body is functioning, including temperature, pulse, and blood pressure
- The nurse checked the patient’s vital signs as soon as he arrived in the emergency room.
- blood pressure (noun): the force of blood pushing against the walls of the arteries as the heart pumps it through the body
- The nurse measured his blood pressure and found it was higher than normal.
- paperwork (noun): forms and documents that must be completed as part of an official process
- She had to fill out some paperwork before the hospital could begin her treatment.
- back on my feet (expression): recovered from an illness or injury and returning to normal daily activities
- After a week of rest, he was finally back on his feet and feeling like himself again.
- insurance (noun): a plan that a person pays into regularly so that medical costs are covered if they become sick or injured
- Without insurance, the cost of a hospital stay can be extremely high.
- extremely (adverb): to a very great degree; much more than usual
- Medical bills can be extremely expensive without good health insurance.
Discussion
Has someone in your family been admitted to the hospital due to a serious illness or other medical problem? If so, please explain the circumstances and the outcome.
Online Investigation
Having good health insurance is critical for anyone, whether you are single or have a family. However, all insurance plans are not the same. Now, check online for at least one excellent health insurance plan that covers oversea travel. How much does it cost and what does it cover exactly? Do you have to pay a doctor or hospital up front to be later reimbursed? How does payment work?
Online Listening Practice (from www.esl-lab.com):
- Medical Advice: What’s the Matter? : Listening Conversation
- Doctor’s Visit : Vocabulary Building