Text Chapter 1 Vocabulary

allopathic

a system of medical practice that treats disease by the use of remedies, such as medications and surgery, to produce effects different from those caused by the disease under treatment; medical doctors MDs and osteopaths DOs practice allopathic medicine; also called conventional medicine

complementary and alternative medicine CAM

a group of diverse medical and healthcare systems, practices, and products that are not generally considered part of conventional medicine

complementary medicine is used in combination with conventional medicine (allopathic or osteopathic); alternative medicine is used instead of conventional medicine

conscientious

meticulous, careful

contamination

the process by which something becomes harmful or unusable through contact with something unclean

critical thinking

the constant practice of considering all aspects of a situation when deciding what to believe or what to do

demeanor

behavior toward others; outward manner

detrimental

harmful

holistic

a form of healing that considers the whole person (body, mind, spirit, and emotions) in individual treatment plans

hospice

a concept of care that involves health professionals and volunteers who provide medical, psychological, and spiritual support to terminally ill patients and their loved ones

indicator

an important point or group of statistical values that, when evaluated, indicates the quality of care provided in a healthcare facility

initiative

the ability to determine what needs to be done and to take action on your own

integrity

adhering to ethical standards or right conduct standards

learning style

the way an individual perceives and processes information to learn new material

mnemonic

a learning device that a person uses to help him or her remember information

morale

emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness or confidence

negligence

failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances; such conduct falls below the standards of behavior established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm

overlearn

to learn or memorize beyond the point of proficiency or immediate recall

patient navigator

a person who identifies patients’ needs and barriers, then assists by coordinating care and identifying community and healthcare resources to meet the needs. May also be called a care coordinator

perceiving

how an individual looks at information and sees it as real

processing

how an individual internalizes new information and makes it his or her own

reflection

the process of thinking about new information to create new ways of learning

reliable

dependable; able to be trusted

triage

the process of sorting patients to determine medical needs and the priority of care