HOSA Biomedical Debate Terms

Medical Errors Should Be Considered Criminal Offenses

medical error

the failure of a planned action to be completed as intended or the use of a wrong plan to achieve an aim

obesity

having an excess amount of body fat

diabetes

a condition in which the body is unable to produce enough insulin

heart disease

any disease of the heart muscle or other working parts of the heart

hypertension

high blood pressure

cancer

any malignant growth or tumor caused by abnormal and uncontrolled cell division

antisepsis

removal of pathogens from living tissue

anesthesia

loss of feeling or sensation

vaccine

substance prepared from killed or weakened pathogens and introduced into a body to produce immunity

antibiotics

compounds that block the growth and reproduction of bacteria

chemotherapy

the use of drugs to treat a disease

dialysis

a procedure to remove waste products from the blood of patients whose kidneys no longer function

antipsychotics

a class of psychotropic medications used for the treatment of schizophrenia and other disorders that involve psychosis

blood transfusions

the introduction of blood

birth control

the practice of preventing unwanted pregnancies

CT scanner

a device that uses a special x-ray machine and a computer to produce images of the brain that appear as slices taken parallel to the top of the skull

cardiac catheterization

a diagnostic procedure in which a catheter is passed into a vein or artery and then guided into the heart

ICU

Intensive Care Unit

statins

drugs used to lower cholesterol in the bloodstream

antihypertensives

drugs used to lower blood pressure

central lines

large-bore catheters inserted into the major veins of the body—jugular

EMR

the electronic medical record

sepsis

toxic inflammatory condition arising from the spread of microbes

pulled groin

strain in the adductor muscle of the thigh

testicular torsion

twisting of the spermatic cord causing decreased blood flow to the testis

E. Coli infection

dangerous strain of Escherichia coli that produces toxins that can severely damage the intestinal lining

bone marrow biopsy

microscopic examination of a core of bone marrow removed with a needle

acute myeloid leukemia

type of cancer of the blood and bone marrow with excess immature white blood cells

differential diagnosis

a list of conditions the patient may have based on the symptoms exhibited and the results of the exam

multiple myeloma

malignant tumor of bone marrow cells

hematocrit

percentage of blood volume occupied by red blood cells

CBC

Complete Blood Count

induction chemotherapy

causes shrinkage or the disappearance of tumors

vacutainer

a trade name for an evacuated blood collection tube system

catheter

tube for injecting or removing fluids

MRSA

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus; an infectious disease caused by a pathogen that is resistant to many antibiotics

Dx

abbreviation for diagnosis

tachycardia

rapid heart rate

dyspnea

shortness of breath

sinusitis

inflammation of the cavities around the nasal passages

bronchitis

infection of the main airways of the lungs

influenza

an infection of the nose

pneumonia

infection that inflames air sacs in one or both lungs

congestive heart failure (CHF)

a chronic condition in which the heart doesn't pump blood as well as it should

ACE inhibitors

a class of blood pressure medications

tuberculosis

a potentially serious infectious bacterial disease that mainly affects the lungs

lung cancer

a cancer that begins in the lungs and most often occurs in people who smoke

emphysema

a condition in which the air sacs of the lungs are damaged and enlarged

pertussis

a highly contagious respiratory tract infection that is easily preventable by vaccine

sarcoidosis

the growth of tiny collections of inflammatory cells in different parts of the body

interstitial lung disease

a group of disorders that cause progressive scarring of lung tissue

vascular malformations

a type of birthmark or a growth

amyloidosis

the buildup of amyloid proteins in the heart

relapsing polychondritis

a rare degenerative disease characterized by recurrent inflammation of the cartilage in the body

granulomatosis with polyangiitis

a condition that causes inflammation of the blood vessels

psychogenic cough

a cough that occurs as often as several times per minute with regularity

syngamosis

infestation with or disease caused by roundworms of the genus Syngamus

pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis

a diffuse lung disease that usually affects young adult smokers

tracheobronchopathia osteochondroplastica

an uncommon benign disease of unknown etiology characterized by multiple cartilaginous or bony submucosal nodules

URI

Upper Respiratory Infection

Parvovirus B19

commonly causes fifth disease

Epstein-Barr virus

can cause infectious mononucleosis

eczema

an itchy inflammation of the skin

diagnostic timeout

a pause in patient care to reevaluate the patient's diagnosis and medical response to treatment

adrenal insufficiency

a disorder in which the adrenal glands don't produce enough hormones

primary adrenal insufficiency

also known as Addison's disease; occurs when the adrenal glands are damaged

secondary adrenal insufficiency

starts when the pituitary gland doesn't make enough of the hormone ACTH (adrenocorticotropin)

acute adrenal insufficiency

a life-threatening state caused by insufficient levels of cortisol

chronic adrenal insufficiency

a chronic disorder of the adrenal cortex resulting in the inadequate production of glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid hormones

sedatives

drugs that have a soothing or tranquilizing effect

disorientation

a state of mental confusion as to time

hypoxic

pertaining to a low level of oxygen

ARDS (acute respiratory distress syndrome)

an acute inflammation of the air sacs of the lungs that can be precipitated by a host of conditions including severe pneumonia

atelectasis

a small

BiPAP

a special breathing mask that uses pressure to forcefully push oxygen into the lungs

fluid overload

a condition in which the body cannot eliminate the fluid consumed

elective intubation

the decision to insert a breathing tube before a patient reaches an emergency situation

oxygen saturation

a clinical measurement of the percentage of hemoglobin that is bound with oxygen in the blood

rapid response team

an emergency team to intervene before a code (cardiac or pulmonary arrest) occurs

agonal-breathing

irregular

epinephrine

neurotransmitter secreted by the adrenal medulla in response to stress

atropine

muscarinic antagonist

PEA (pulseless electrical activity)

a perilous state in which the heart is firing electrical signals that aren't translating into meaningful cardiac contractions that could ultimately be detected as a pulse

TOD

Time of Death

EM(H)R

Electronic Medical (or Health) Records

chief complaint

The main reason for a patient's visit

HPI

History of Present Illness

senior resident

a person who had several years of training and can take charge

viral gastroenteritis

stomach flu

Enalapril

a blood pressure medicine

DNR

do not resuscitate

tympanostomy tubes

tiny ventilating tubes placed through the eardrum to provide ongoing drainage for fluids and to relieve pressure that can build up after childhood ear infections

burn severity

determined by considering the source

superficial burn

burn limited to the epidermis

partial thickness burn

a burn involving the epidermis and dermis that usually involves blisters

full thickness burn

a burn in which all the layers of the skin are damaged; there are usually areas that are charred black or areas that are dry and white; third-degree burn

extent of burns

percentage of the body burned

rule of nines

a system that assigns percentages to sections of the body

lactated Ringer's solution

a mixture of sodium chloride

dextrose saline

normal saline with glucose (IV sugar solution)