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🏥 Hospital English Series

Medical Professionals:
Who Does What at the Hospital?

Kenali profesi medis dalam bahasa Inggris — dari dokter spesialis hingga analis laboratorium — dan mulailah berbicara dengan percaya diri.

B1–B2 Level English + Indonesia Medical Vocabulary Real Conversations

Whether you're visiting a hospital abroad, working in a healthcare setting, or just want to expand your English vocabulary, knowing the names and roles of medical professionals is essential.

Apakah kamu berencana ke rumah sakit di luar negeri, bekerja di bidang kesehatan, atau sekadar ingin memperkaya kosakata bahasa Inggrismu — mengenal nama dan peran tenaga medis dalam bahasa Inggris adalah kemampuan yang sangat penting dan praktis.

In this article, you'll learn the English names, roles, key vocabulary, and sample conversations for each major medical professional.

Section 1 — Medical Doctors

Doctors — The Physicians

🩺

General Practitioner (GP)

Dokter Umum

First Contact

A GP is usually the first doctor you see. They diagnose common illnesses, prescribe basic medication, and refer you to a specialist when needed. In the UK, they are called a GP; in the US, a Primary Care Physician (PCP).

Dokter umum adalah dokter pertama yang kamu temui saat sakit. Mereka mendiagnosis penyakit umum, meresepkan obat dasar, dan merujuk ke dokter spesialis jika diperlukan.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

general check-up medical referral prescription symptoms diagnosis outpatient

💬 Sample Conversation

Patient Good morning, doctor. I've had a fever and sore throat for three days.Selamat pagi, dokter. Saya sudah demam dan sakit tenggorokan selama tiga hari.

GP I see. Let me check your temperature and throat. Open your mouth, please.Baiklah. Izinkan saya memeriksa suhu dan tenggorokan Anda. Buka mulutnya, ya.

GP It looks like a throat infection. I'll write you a prescription for antibiotics.Tampaknya ini infeksi tenggorokan. Saya akan menuliskan resep antibiotik untuk Anda.

🔬

Specialist Physician

Dokter Spesialis

Referred Cases

Specialists focus on one area of the body or disease. A cardiologist treats heart conditions, a dermatologist treats skin, an orthopedist treats bones and joints, and a pediatrician treats children.

Dokter spesialis berfokus pada satu area tubuh atau jenis penyakit tertentu. Contohnya: kardiolog (jantung), dermatolog (kulit), ortoped (tulang), dan dokter anak/pediatri.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

cardiologist neurologist dermatologist gynecologist pediatrician ophthalmologist orthopedic surgeon psychiatrist

💬 Sample Conversation

Patient I was referred to you by my GP. I've been having chest pain.Saya dirujuk oleh dokter umum saya. Saya mengalami nyeri dada.

Cardiologist I'm a cardiologist, so I specialize in heart conditions. We'll do an ECG and possibly an echocardiogram.Saya adalah kardiolog, spesialis jantung. Kita akan lakukan EKG dan mungkin ekokardiogram.

🏥

Surgeon

Dokter Bedah / Ahli Bedah

Operative Care

Surgeons perform operations and surgical procedures. Types include general surgeon, neurosurgeon (brain/spine), plastic surgeon, and cardiovascular surgeon.

Ahli bedah melakukan operasi dan prosedur pembedahan. Jenisnya: bedah umum, bedah saraf (otak/tulang belakang), bedah plastik, dan bedah jantung.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

surgery / operation anesthesia incision post-operative consent form operating theatre (UK) / OR (US)

💬 Sample Conversation

Surgeon You will need a minor surgery to remove the cyst. It's a routine procedure under local anesthesia.Anda memerlukan operasi kecil untuk mengangkat kista. Ini prosedur rutin dengan anestesi lokal.

Patient How long is the recovery time after the operation?Berapa lama waktu pemulihan setelah operasi?

Section 2 — Nursing Professionals

Nurses & Midwives

👩‍⚕️

Registered Nurse (RN)

Perawat Profesional (Ners)

Daily Care

Nurses provide holistic care — monitoring vital signs, administering medication, educating patients, and carrying out doctor's orders. They are the backbone of daily hospital care.

Perawat memberikan perawatan menyeluruh — memantau tanda vital, memberikan obat, mendidik pasien, dan melaksanakan instruksi dokter. Mereka adalah tulang punggung perawatan harian di rumah sakit.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

vital signs blood pressure IV drip / infusion wound dressing patient chart nurse's station

💬 Sample Conversation

Nurse Good morning! I'm going to check your blood pressure and temperature now.Selamat pagi! Saya akan memeriksa tekanan darah dan suhu tubuh Anda sekarang.

Patient Sure. Can I ask — when will the doctor do the rounds?Tentu. Boleh saya tanya — kapan dokter akan melakukan visite?

Nurse The doctor usually does rounds at 9 AM. I'll let you know when they arrive.Dokter biasanya visite pukul 9 pagi. Saya akan memberitahu Anda saat mereka datang.

🤱

Midwife

Bidan

Maternal Care

Midwives specialize in pregnancy, childbirth, and postnatal care. They support mothers before, during, and after delivery. In many countries, they can independently manage normal births.

Bidan mengkhususkan diri dalam kehamilan, persalinan, dan perawatan pasca melahirkan. Mereka mendampingi ibu sebelum, selama, dan setelah persalinan. Di banyak negara, mereka bisa mengelola persalinan normal secara mandiri.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

prenatal care labour / delivery contractions postnatal breastfeeding support antenatal check-up

💬 Sample Conversation

Midwife Hello! I'm your midwife for today. How are you feeling? Are the contractions regular yet?Halo! Saya bidan Anda hari ini. Bagaimana perasaan Anda? Apakah kontraksinya sudah teratur?

Patient They're about five minutes apart. It's getting more intense.Kontraksinya sekitar lima menit sekali. Semakin terasa kuat.

Section 3 — Allied Health Professionals

Paramedical & Support Professionals

💡

Norman's Tip

The term "allied health professionals" refers to all non-physician, non-nurse clinical staff. In Indonesian, they are called "tenaga kesehatan lainnya". Knowing who to ask makes your hospital experience much smoother!

💊

Pharmacist

Apoteker / Ahli Farmasi

Medication Expert

Pharmacists dispense medication and advise on proper drug use, side effects, and interactions. They review prescriptions and ensure patient safety.

Apoteker menyiapkan dan menyerahkan obat serta memberi saran tentang cara penggunaan obat, efek samping, dan interaksi antar obat. Mereka memeriksa resep dan memastikan keselamatan pasien.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

prescription dosage side effects drug interaction over-the-counter (OTC) dispense

💬 Sample Conversation

Patient Hi, I have a prescription here. Can you explain how to take this medication?Halo, saya punya resep ini. Bisakah Anda menjelaskan cara minum obat ini?

Pharmacist Of course. Take one tablet twice a day after meals. Avoid alcohol while on this medication.Tentu. Minum satu tablet dua kali sehari setelah makan. Hindari alkohol selama minum obat ini.

🧪

Medical Laboratory Technician / Analyst

Analis Kesehatan / Ahli Teknologi Laboratorium Medis (ATLM)

Diagnostics

Lab analysts collect and test samples (blood, urine, tissue) to help doctors make accurate diagnoses. They operate equipment in the clinical laboratory.

Analis laboratorium mengambil dan menguji sampel (darah, urin, jaringan) untuk membantu dokter membuat diagnosis yang akurat. Mereka mengoperasikan peralatan di laboratorium klinik.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

blood sample / blood draw urine test CBC (Complete Blood Count) lab results specimen culture test

💬 Sample Conversation

Lab Tech I need to draw some blood for your lab work. Please make a fist and hold still.Saya perlu mengambil darah untuk pemeriksaan lab Anda. Silakan kepalkan tangan dan jangan bergerak.

Patient Will the results be ready today?Apakah hasilnya akan selesai hari ini?

Lab Tech Yes, most results will be ready within 2 hours.Ya, sebagian besar hasil akan selesai dalam 2 jam.

🩻

Radiographer / Radiologic Technologist

Radiografer / Ahli Radiologi

Imaging

Radiographers operate imaging equipment such as X-ray machines, CT scanners, and MRI machines to create diagnostic images. A radiologist (physician) then interprets the images.

Radiografer mengoperasikan peralatan pencitraan seperti mesin X-ray, CT scan, dan MRI untuk menghasilkan gambar diagnostik. Seorang radiolog (dokter) kemudian menginterpretasikan gambar tersebut.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

X-ray CT scan MRI ultrasound imaging results contrast dye

💬 Sample Conversation

Radiographer Please remove any metal objects and lie down on the table. The MRI will take about 30 minutes.Tolong lepas semua benda logam dan berbaring di meja. MRI akan berlangsung sekitar 30 menit.

Patient Is it noisy inside the machine?Apakah bising di dalam mesinnya?

Radiographer Yes, it can be quite loud. We'll give you earplugs to wear.Ya, bisa cukup keras. Kami akan memberikan penyumbat telinga untuk Anda.

🦾

Physiotherapist (PT)

Fisioterapis

Rehabilitation

Physiotherapists help patients recover movement and function after injury, surgery, or illness through targeted exercises and physical therapy techniques.

Fisioterapis membantu pasien memulihkan gerakan dan fungsi tubuh setelah cedera, operasi, atau sakit melalui latihan terarah dan teknik fisioterapi.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

rehabilitation range of motion exercise therapy mobility musculoskeletal pain management

💬 Sample Conversation

Physio Today we'll work on strengthening your knee after the surgery. Does it hurt when you bend it?Hari ini kita akan memperkuat lutut Anda setelah operasi. Apakah sakit ketika ditekuk?

Patient A little, but it's getting better each day.Sedikit, tapi setiap hari semakin membaik.

🧠

Clinical Psychologist

Psikolog Klinis

Mental Health

Clinical psychologists assess and treat mental health conditions through therapy and counseling. Note: they are not the same as psychiatrists, who are medical doctors and can prescribe medication.

Psikolog klinis menilai dan menangani kondisi kesehatan mental melalui terapi dan konseling. Catatan: mereka berbeda dari psikiater, yang merupakan dokter medis dan dapat meresepkan obat.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

therapy session mental health counseling anxiety / depression assessment coping strategies

💬 Sample Conversation

Psychologist This is a safe space. Can you tell me how you've been feeling lately?Ini adalah ruang yang aman. Bisakah Anda ceritakan bagaimana perasaan Anda belakangan ini?

Patient I've been feeling very anxious and I can't sleep well.Saya merasa sangat cemas dan tidak bisa tidur dengan baik.

🥗

Nutritionist / Dietitian

Ahli Gizi / Dietisien

Dietary Care

Nutritionists and dietitians provide expert dietary advice to patients with conditions such as diabetes, kidney disease, or malnutrition, creating personalized meal plans.

Ahli gizi memberikan saran diet ahli kepada pasien dengan kondisi seperti diabetes, penyakit ginjal, atau malnutrisi, dengan membuat rencana makan yang dipersonalisasi.

🔑 Key Vocabulary

meal plan caloric intake dietary restriction nutrient deficiency balanced diet nutritional assessment

💬 Sample Conversation

Dietitian Since you have diabetes, we need to reduce your sugar and refined carbohydrate intake.Karena Anda memiliki diabetes, kita perlu mengurangi asupan gula dan karbohidrat olahan.

Patient Can I still eat rice?Apakah saya masih boleh makan nasi?

Dietitian Yes, but in smaller portions. Brown rice is a better option.Ya, tapi dalam porsi yang lebih kecil. Nasi merah adalah pilihan yang lebih baik.

Quick Reference

Who Can Do What?

Siapa yang berwenang melakukan apa? — Panduan cepat wewenang profesi medis

Professional	Diagnose	Prescribe Meds	Perform Surgery	Give Therapy	Test Samples
General Practitioner (GP)	✔	✔	–	–	–
Specialist Physician	✔	✔	–*	–	–
Surgeon	✔	✔	✔	–	–
Registered Nurse	–	–	–	–	–
Midwife	–	–*	–	–	–
Pharmacist	–	–	–	–	–
Lab Analyst	–	–	–	–	✔
Physiotherapist	–	–	–	✔	–
Clinical Psychologist	–	–	–	✔	–

* Varies by country and specialization.

🗣️ Essential Hospital Phrases

Frasa penting untuk percakapan di rumah sakit — hafalkan ini!

I'd like to see a doctor, please.

Saya ingin bertemu dokter, tolong.

I have an appointment with Dr. Smith.

Saya ada janji dengan Dr. Smith.

I've been referred to a specialist.

Saya dirujuk ke dokter spesialis.

Where is the pharmacy / lab / X-ray room?

Di mana apotek / lab / ruang X-ray?

Can I speak to the nurse on duty?

Bisakah saya bicara dengan perawat yang bertugas?

How do I take this medication?

Bagaimana cara minum obat ini?

What are the side effects?

Apa saja efek sampingnya?

When will my test results be ready?

Kapan hasil tes saya akan keluar?

I need a physiotherapy session.

Saya memerlukan sesi fisioterapi.

I'd like to speak to a counselor.

Saya ingin berbicara dengan konselor.

Is there an interpreter available?

Apakah ada penerjemah yang tersedia?

Please explain it in simple terms.

Tolong jelaskan dengan kata-kata sederhana.

🌟

Norman's Final Note

Remember: in English-speaking hospitals, it's perfectly acceptable — and encouraged — to ask questions. Don't be shy. You can always say: "Could you please repeat that more slowly?" or "I didn't understand. Can you explain that again?"

Ingat: di rumah sakit berbahasa Inggris, sangat wajar — bahkan dianjurkan — untuk bertanya. Jangan malu. Kamu selalu bisa berkata: "Bisakah kamu ulangi lebih pelan?" atau "Saya tidak mengerti. Bisakah dijelaskan lagi?"

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