FOLLOW UP / FOLLOWUP / FOLLOW-UP – HOW TO USE THEM!
follow-up – the hyphenated word “follow-up” is not used any longer. It should be either one word (followup) or two words (follow up) depending on the usage!!
For noun and adjectival form, use followup (one word)
For verb form, use follow up (two words)
Example 1: The patient came in for a followup visit. (adjective form)
Example 2: A followup visit will be scheduled in 2 weeks. (adjective form)
Example 1: The patient did not return for followup. (noun form)
Example 2: The patient will be seen in followup next week. (noun form)
Example 1: The patient is to follow up in 2 weeks. (verb form)
Example 2: The patient will follow up with his primary care physician. (verb form)
A SIMPLE WAY TO REMEMBER:
For those who are not good at identifying nouns/adjectives/verbs – there is an easier way. Do note that this is something I’ve noticed and so it may not work in all situations. It certainly does not follow the usual rules governing the use of the one-word or two-word followup. Basically, these informal rules are as follows:
If you notice that “followup” is preceded by “is to” or “will” – then use the two-word followup (i.e. follow up)
Eg: …..is to follow up.. OR will follow up……
If you notice that “followup” is preceded by “in” OR “a” OR “for” – then use the one-word followup (i.e. followup)
Eg:…..presents in followup OR …..for a followup appointment….
For those perennially confused about the followup versus follow up conundrum – the above explanation should help!!
How to Transcribe Specific Gravity in Urinalysis?
Specific gravity may be dictated as “10-10” or “10-15” for example. The correct way to transcribe specific gravity values are as 1.010 or 1.015 in the above examples. Specific gravity values range from 1.001 to 1.030 in adult humans, so just make sure you place the decimal in the correct place, even though the decimal is most often not dictated by the dictator.
Is it neuroforamina or neural foramina / neuroforamina versus neural foramina – the correct term is?
The correct term is neural foramina. Neuroforamina is a non-word and cannot be verified in reputable reference sources. So, the correct usage would be either,
neural foramen / neural foramina / neural foraminal
Sounds Like: neuroforamen ; Transcribe As: neural foramen
Sounds Like: neuroforamina ; Transcribe As: neural foramina
Sounds Like: neuroforaminal ; Transcribe As: neural foraminal
Reference: Stedman’s Neurology & Neurosurgery Words, Third Edition & Stedman’s Radiology Words, Fourth Edition
The correct way to transcribe this is as penicillin V potassium. Some MTs often transcribe this as “pen VK” which is at best a slang form, as no such drug exists. Then, there are other MTs who often transcribe this as “Pen-Vee K” which has been discontinued. According to Saunders Pharmaceutical Word Book and Ask Dr. Stedman’s – penicillin V potassium is the preferred and correct way of transcribing “pen vee kay”
C. diff or C diff or C. difficile – how should it be transcribed?
“URINE ANALYSIS” OR “URINALYSIS?” – SHOULD YOU EVER TRANSCRIBE “URINE ANALYSIS”
