[Grammar] Follow-up vs follow up

Status
Not open for further replies.

negie1979

New member
Joined
Mar 15, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Malayalam
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
Hi experts, which of the following is correct: 1) The patient was lost to follow-up (noun). 2) The patient was lost to follow up (verb). I am from medical transcription industry, and this is a sentence we hear dictated by many doctors. We are not permitted to change the structure of the sentence to any other more grammatically perfect form. Basically my question is: Does the "lost to" take a noun/noun phrase or a verb?
 

riquecohen

VIP Member
Joined
Aug 24, 2010
Member Type
English Teacher
Native Language
American English
Home Country
United States
Current Location
Brazil
Hi experts, which of the following is correct: 1) The patient was lost to follow-up (noun). 2) The patient was lost to follow up (verb). I am from medical transcription industry, and this is a sentence we hear dictated by many doctors. We are not permitted to change the structure of the sentence to any other more grammatically perfect form. Basically my question is: Does the "lost to" take a noun/noun phrase or a verb?

"Lost to follow-up" means that there is no further chance of renewing contact with the patient, client, student, etc. The term is used mainly in healthcare and educational settings. As "follow-up" in this context means "further action", as in "There is no opportunity for further action or contact," it functions here as a noun.
 
Last edited:

negie1979

New member
Joined
Mar 15, 2012
Member Type
Other
Native Language
Malayalam
Home Country
India
Current Location
India
"Lost to follow-up" means that there is no further chance of renewing contact with the patient, client, student, etc. The term is used mainly in healthcare and educational settings. As "follow-up" in this context means "further action", as in "There is no opportunity for further action or contact," it functions here as a noun.

Oh, great explanation! Thank you.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top