Medical English for businesses

For over 35 years, Worldwide School has been providing language training for businesses and specialist organisations.
We design language programmes for environments where communication
in English impacts the quality of work, process safety and international
cooperation.

We provide Medical English training for:

We don’t teach ‘school English’. We teach the language used in everyday professional life — in specialist communication, documentation, international meetings and when working with industry literature.

Typical linguistic situations in medical practice

Medical English isn’t just a fancy addition to your CV — it’s a tool for your day-to-day work. Here are the situations in which you’re most likely to get stuck:

Interview with a non-native English-speaking patient

Questions about symptoms, allergies, medications and family medical history.

Communicating the diagnosis and treatment plan

Clearly, without medical jargon that the patient won’t understand, and without a tone that’s too ‘harsh’, which might come across as aggressive.

Medical records in English

Medical history, discharge summary, imaging report, procedure report.

Case presentation

At a scientific conference, at grand rounds, at an international team meeting.

Reading specialist literature

Articles in the New England Journal of Medicine, The Lancet, and Nature Medicine, as well as meta-analyses and Cochrane reviews.

Communication with a pharmaceutical company or CRO

In clinical trials, drug monitoring, and meetings with Medical Science Liaisons.

Discussions with foreign consultants

Second opinions, international telemedicine, consultations with specialist centres.

Training programme
Medical English

The programme is modular — the full cycle consists of eight modules, and following an audit, we recommend a combination tailored to the team’s needs.

Module 1 — Basics of patient communication

Patient interview: presenting complaint, history of present illness, past medical history, medications, allergies, family history. The SOAP model (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan).

Module 2 — Breaking bad news

Communicating a serious diagnosis. The SPIKES model (Setting, Perception, Invitation, Knowledge, Emotions, Strategy) in English. Phrases to soften the blow, registers, translation pitfalls.

Module 3 — Medical documentation

Admission notes, progress notes, discharge summaries, operation reports, referral letters. Structure, standard phrases, medical abbreviations (TID, QD, PRN, q6h) and their correct use in medical records.

Module 4 — Diagnostic imaging & lab reports

Descriptions of X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans and MRIs in English. Interpretation of blood test results — haematological terminology, biochemistry, markers. Standard radiological phrases (“no acute findings”, “unremarkable”, “compatible with”).

Module 5 — Medical literature & evidence-based medicine

Reading research articles from the NEJM, The Lancet and JAMA. Statistical terminology: RCT, meta-analysis, odds ratio, confidence interval, p-value, number needed to treat. Critical evaluation of an article in English.

Module 6 — Case presentation & grand rounds

The structure of a case presentation in English. The language of academic medicine. How to deliver a 10-minute case presentation, how to answer questions from the audience, and how to defend a differential diagnosis.

Module 7 — Specialty English

Specialist variants tailored to the team’s areas of expertise: cardiology, oncology, paediatrics, surgery, anaesthesiology, GP/family medicine, psychiatry, radiology. Each variant has its own terminology and conventions.

Module 8 — Telemedicine & international second opinion

Conducting remote consultations in English. Second opinion reports with leading medical centres (Mayo Clinic, Cleveland Clinic, Charité). The specific nature of written communication in international telemedicine.

Examples of areas of business communication and terminology used during training sessions

During the training sessions, participants work on terminology and communication scenarios relevant to their day-to-day professional work. The linguistic scope depends on their specialism, the type of organisation, and whether the team operates primarily in a British (UK), American (US) or international environment.

Participants also learn about the differences between British and American Medical English, which arise in documentation, clinical communication and international work.

Communication area	Terminology	Example of use
Medical history	history taking	“I’d like to ask a few questions about your medical history.”
Medical history	presenting complaint (UK) / chief complaint (US)	“The patient’s chief complaint was chest pain.”
Patient communication	allergies	“Do you have any allergies to medication?”
Family history	family history	“Is there any family history of heart disease?”
Post-treatment follow-up	follow-up appointment	“We’d like to see you again for a follow-up appointment in two weeks.”
Patient parameters	vital signs (US/international) / observations (UK)	“Her vital signs are stable.” / “Obs are stable.”
Medical records	discharge summary	“The discharge summary will be ready later today.”
Medical records	admission note (US) / admission clerking (UK)	“The admission clerking has already been completed.”
Medical records	referral letter	“I’ll send a referral letter to cardiology.”
Medical procedures	informed consent	“We need to obtain informed consent before the procedure.”
Treatment safety	medication reconciliation	“Medication reconciliation should be completed on admission.”
Clinical documentation	progress notes	“Please update the progress notes after the ward round.”
Academic communication	case presentation	“She presented an oncology case during the departmental meeting.”
Evidence-based medicine	evidence-based medicine	“The treatment plan is based on current clinical guidelines.”
Clinical trials and pharma	adverse event	“All adverse events must be reported within 24 hours.”

The terminology is always tailored to the participants’ field of specialisation, the type of organisation and the actual communication situations they encounter in their work.

Native speakers with experience in medicine

Medical English courses are delivered by trainers with experience of working with adult learners and teams operating in business and specialist environments. They have delivered training for medical organisations, pharmaceutical companies, laboratories and international teams where English is an essential tool in their day-to-day work.

Medical companies that have completed our programme

Preparing for doctoral examinations and academic research

Individual and small-group training sessions for those preparing for the language exams required for doctoral programmes and academic work in an international environment. The programme covered academic and scientific language, working with specialist publications, presentations and conference communication. The result was the successful passing of language exams and greater confidence in working with academic materials in English.

A company in the pharmaceutical and healthcare sector

Language training for staff working in the international pharmaceutical and healthcare sectors. The programme covered business communication, international collaboration, online meetings, presentations, and working with industry documentation and materials. As a result, participants felt more confident in their day-to-day professional communication in English.

Training for those working in elderly care

A language training course for people preparing to work with older people in an international setting. The programme focused on everyday communication, care-related situations, and building confidence when interacting with service users and their families. As a result, participants gained greater linguistic independence in their day-to-day work.

FAQ — Medical English for Businesses

Do you run training courses for doctors and medical staff?

Yes. We provide training for doctors, medical staff, pharmaceutical companies and
organisations involved in healthcare and medical research.

Can the programme be tailored to a specific specialism?

Yes. We tailor the programme to the specialisation, the nature of the work and the communication situations
encountered within the organisation.

Can training sessions be held online?

Yes. We run training courses online or in person—including for teams working
shift patterns.

Do you use AI to learn a language?

Yes. We support the learning process with technological solutions, including AI.

Do you work with actual medical records?

During our training sessions, we use teaching materials, sample documentation and communication scenarios designed for educational purposes. Where materials are drawn from real-world professional practice, we ensure that data is fully anonymised and that we comply with confidentiality and data protection principles.

Let’s talk about Medical English courses for your organisation

30 minutes with a training specialist — we analyse the team’s language needs, the nature of their work and the communication situations that have the greatest impact on the day-to-day running of the organisation. The discussion concludes with a recommendation for a training programme tailored to the company’s specific requirements.