BASICS OF CARE (ch 1,2,22)

providers

People or organizations that provide health care, including doctors, nurses, clinics, and agencies.

facilities

Places where health care is delivered or administered, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and treatment centers.

payers

People or organizations paying for healthcare services.

long-term care (LTC)

Care given in long-term care facilities for people who need 24-hour skilled care.

skilled care

Medically necessary care given by a skilled nurse or therapist.

length of stay

The number of days a person stays in a healthcare facility.

terminal illness

A disease or condition that will eventually cause death.

chronic illness

A disease or condition that is long-term or long-lasting and requires management of symptoms.

home health care

Health care that is provided in a person’s home.

diagnoses

Medical conditions determined by a doctor.

assisted living

Residences for people who do not need 24-hour skilled care, but do require some help with daily care.

dementia

A general term that refers to a serious, progressive loss of mental abilities such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.

adult day services

Care for people who need some assistance or supervision during certain hours, but who do not live in the facility where care is given.

acute care

24-hour skilled care given in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers for people who require short-term, immediate care for illnesses and injuries.

subacute care

Care given in hospitals or in long-term care facilities for people who need less care than for an acute illness, but more care than for a chronic illness.

outpatient care

Care given to people who have had treatments, procedures, or surgeries and need short-term skilled care.

rehabilitation

Care given by specialists to help restore or improve function after an illness or injury.

hospice care

Holistic, compassionate care given to people who have approximately six months or less to live.

managed care

A system or strategy of managing health care in a way that controls costs.

health maintenance organizations (HMOs)

A form of health insurance in which the cost of care is covered only when a person uses a particular doctor or group of doctors except in case of emergency.

preferred provider organizations (PPOs)

A form of health insurance in which patients are encouraged to receive care from a network of approved providers but can see other providers at an additional cost.

activities of daily living (ADLs)

Daily personal care tasks, such as bathing; skin, nail, and hair care; mouth care; and walking, eating, drinking, dressing, transferring, and elimination.

catheter

A thin tube inserted into the body to drain fluids or inject fluids.

policy

A course of action that should be taken every time a certain situation occurs.

procedure

A method or way of doing something.

cite

In a long-term care facility, to find a problem through a survey.

Joint Commission

An independent, not-for-profit organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)

A federal agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that is responsible for Medicare and Medicaid.

Medicare

A federal health insurance program for people who are 65 or older, have certain disabilities or permanent kidney failure, or are ill and cannot work.

Medicaid

A medical assistance program for people who have a low income, as well as for people with disabilities.

culture change

The process of transforming services for elders so that they are based on the values and practices of the person receiving care.

person-centered care

A type of care that places the emphasis on the person needing care and his or her individuality and capabilities.

trauma-informed care

An approach to patient care that considers individuals' trauma experiences and preferences.

assistive devices

Special equipment that helps a person who is ill or disabled to perform activities of daily living.

charting

Documenting information and observations about residents.

professional

Having to do with work or a job.

personal

Relating to life outside one’s job, such as family, friends, and home life.

professionalism

The act of behaving properly when working.

compassionate

Being caring, concerned, considerate, empathetic, and understanding.

empathy

Identifying with the feelings of others.

sympathy

Sharing in the feelings and difficulties of others.

tactful

Showing sensitivity and having a sense of what is appropriate when dealing with others.

conscientious

Guided by a sense of right and wrong; principled.

chain of command

The line of authority within a facility or agency.

liability

A legal term that means someone can be held responsible for harming someone else.

scope of practice

Defines the tasks that health-care providers are legally allowed to do as permitted by state or federal law.

delegation

Transferring responsibility to a person for a specific task.

anesthesia

The use of medication to block pain during surgery and other medical procedures.

preoperative

Before surgery.

postoperative

After surgery.

pulse oximeter

A noninvasive device that uses a light to determine the amount of oxygen in the blood.

telemetry

A cardiac monitoring device that sends information about the heart’s rhythm and rate to a monitoring station.

artificial airway

Any tube inserted into the respiratory tract to maintain or promote breathing.

intubation

The passage of a plastic tube through the mouth, nose, or opening in the neck and into the trachea.

tracheostomy

A surgically created opening through the neck into the trachea.

mechanical ventilation

The use of a machine to inflate and deflate the lungs when a person is unable to breathe on his own.

sedative

An agent or drug that helps calm and soothe a person and may cause sleep.

chest tubes

Hollow drainage tubes that are inserted into the chest to drain air, blood or other fluid, or pus that has collected inside the pleural cavity or space.