Chapter 1 – U.S. Health Care Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms and concepts from Chapter 1 of Stanfield’s Introduction to Health Professions, Eighth Edition.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

2010 U.S. health-reform law designed to control rising costs, expand insurance coverage, and improve quality of care.

Volume-based Reimbursement System

Payment model that rewards providers for the quantity of services delivered rather than the quality or outcomes.

Preventive Services

Healthcare interventions—such as screenings and immunizations—aimed at preventing disease before it occurs.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

Social and economic conditions—like income, education, and environment—that strongly influence health outcomes.

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes among population groups, often resulting from unmet social needs or discrimination.

Equality vs. Equity (Health Context)

Equality offers identical resources to all; equity allocates resources based on need to achieve fair health outcomes.

Aging Population

Growing proportion of older adults that increases demand for healthcare services and chronic disease management.

Chronic Disease

Long-lasting health condition (e.g., diabetes, heart disease) that drives healthcare utilization and costs.

Administrative Costs (Healthcare)

Expenses related to billing, insurance processing, and management that significantly add to U.S. health spending.

Epidemic

An outbreak of an infectious disease affecting a large number of people within a community or region.

Sanitation and Hygiene

Public health measures—such as clean water and handwashing—that dramatically reduce infectious disease spread.

Vaccines

Biologic preparations that provide immunity against specific infectious diseases, crucial for epidemic control.

World Health Organization (WHO)

UN agency directing international public health efforts, including promotion of universal vaccination.

Population Health

Health outcomes of a group of individuals, including how those outcomes are distributed within the group.

Mortality Rate

Measure of the frequency of deaths in a population during a specified time period.

Life Expectancy

Average number of years an individual is expected to live based on current mortality patterns.

Opioid Use Disorder

Addiction to prescription or illicit opioids, a growing cause of morbidity and mortality in the U.S.

Infant Mortality

Deaths of infants under one year old; a key indicator of a nation’s overall health.

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Unexplained death of an apparently healthy infant, one of the leading causes of infant mortality.

Clinical Preventive Services

Routine services—immunizations, screenings, counseling—provided to avert illness and detect disease early.

Globalization (Health Context)

Worldwide interconnectedness that facilitates faster spread of infectious and foodborne diseases.

Zoonotic Disease

Infection transmitted from animals to humans, such as COVID-19.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Items like masks, gloves, and gowns used to protect individuals from exposure to health hazards.

Telehealth

Delivery of healthcare services via telecommunications technology; widely adopted during COVID-19.

National Institutes of Health (NIH)

U.S. federal agency that conducts and supports biomedical and public health research.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

U.S. agency responsible for monitoring, preventing, and controlling disease and injury.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Health

Computer algorithms that analyze medical data to support clinical decision-making and efficiency.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Digital version of a patient’s chart that can be shared across different healthcare settings.

Human Genome Project

International research effort that mapped the human genetic code, enabling advances in personalized medicine.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

Developmental conditions characterized by challenges in social interaction, communication, and behavior.

Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA)

Therapy using behavioral principles to improve socially significant behaviors, often used to treat ASD.

Alzheimer’s Disease

Progressive neurodegenerative disorder leading to memory loss and cognitive decline.

Social & Economic Factors (Health)

Elements such as education, employment, and income that exert the greatest influence on health outcomes.

CMS Innovation Center

Division of the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services that tests new payment and service delivery models.

Government Role in Health Care

Federal and state actions—regulation, funding, public insurance—that shape the U.S. healthcare system.

Health Information Technology (Health IT)

Use of computer systems to store, share, and analyze health information for improved patient care.

Foodborne Illness

Disease caused by consuming contaminated food, risk heightened by global supply chains.

Longevity

Length or duration of life; often increased through medical advances and public health measures.

Preventive Medicine

Medical practice focused on disease prevention and health promotion rather than treatment of illness.