VI. Reading Activities.

a) Pre - reading Stage.

• You know nowadays more complex devices and types of equipment appear every day. Skim through the text “Medical Equipment in Today’s Competitive Market” and find the sentences expressing the main idea of it.

b) While reading Stage.

• Scan through the text and describe the process of appearing medical equipment and the role of it. Underline words you still do not know. Use a dictionary.

Medical equipment in today's competitive market

Medical equipment plays a vital role in helping identifying particular diseases, monitoring conditions of patients, treatment, prevention and rehabilitation. Innovations in medical technology - starting from the ancients and till date - have produced numerous products and instruments that have been essential in identifying medical conditions in certain patients. Unfortunately, medical equipment such as diagnostic equipment which includes medical imaging machines, used to aid in diagnosis, ultrasound and MRI machines, x-ray machines have been of high price and expensive for long time usage of patients. The very first and the most significant factor that could influence the decision of buying durable medical equipment is cost. There are some major considerations that are needed to be taken account of before purchasing medical equipment.

A new generation of medical equipment has recently become available and includes items such as ultrasound equipment and medical oxygen equipment. Advances in medical equipment design and new discoveries have made a new style of home medical equipment possible. You can now get sonograms, endoscopy, ultrasound equipment, x-ray film processing equipment and so on easily with the help of a reliable financing company. Many of these products can be found at your local clinic or even set-up and used in your home. Medical equipment like oxygen machines, wheel chairs, electric beds, patient lifts, etc. are essential for some patients.

Testing laboratories rely on well defined technical procedures, complex precise instruments, and a variety of automated and electronic equipment to do diagnostic testing. Tests are performed by medical technologists, technicians, and laboratory assistants. The technical staff works under the direction of a pathologist, who interprets the results of the laboratory tests. Laboratories, laboratory equipment, and testing personnel are evaluated and accredited by national scientific organizations and government agencies on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO). This accreditation process helps to standardize lab procedures, establish quality control standards, and ensure that labs provide physicians with accurate and timely test results.

c) Post-reading Stage.

• Say whether the sentences “True” or “False”

1. Testing laboratory rely only on well defined technical procedures

2. Tests are performed by medical technologists, technicians and laboratory assistants.

3. Medical equipment is not significant in making diagnosis.

4. A new generation of medical equipment has recently become available, including ultrasound equipment and oxygen equipment.

5. New medical equipment is available for everyone, as it is free of charge.

• Make up an outline of the text.

HOMETASK: - get ready to speak about “the role of laboratory and medical equipment nowadays” .