MLT-1100 Unit 2 Study Guide

Accredit

Ensures that requirements are met.

Means tested

when patients meet certain income and asset levels to qualify for health care coverage.

Ambulatory Health Care

Also known as outpatient care; patient care provided in less than 24 hours.

Computerized Tomography

Special x-ray equipment to create detailed pictures of inside the body.

Hospice

Specialized health care designed to serve patients who are dying.

Renal Failure

A medical condition in which the kidneys do not function properly.

Pharmacist

A health care professional who dispenses drugs/medications.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

The comprehensive health care reform law enacted in March 2010 (sometimes known as ACA, "Obamacare")

The law has 3 primary goals:

1. Make affordable health insurance available to more people. The law provides consumers with subsidies ("premium tax credits") that lower costs for households with incomes between 100% and 400% of the federal poverty level.

2. Expand the Medicaid program to cover all adults with income below 138% of the federal poverty level. (Not all states have expanded their Medicaid programs.)

3. Support innovative medical care delivery methods designed to lower the costs of health care generally."

Pharmaceutical

Pertaining to drugs used in treatment.

Secondary care

Treatment by specialists to whom a patient has been referred by a primary care provider.

Mammogram

An x-ray of the breast to look for cancer.

Chemotherapy

A treatment for cancer.

Over-the-Counter

Health-related products that do not require a physician's prescription.

Appendicitis

An appendix that is inflamed.

Reimbursment

Payment for services.

Cancer

An uncontrolled growth of abnormal cells.

Skilled nursing facilities

Skilled nursing care and rehabilitation services provided on a continuous, daily basis in a skilled nursing facility. Examples of skilled nursing facility care include physical therapy or intravenous injections that can only be given by a registered nurse or doctor.

Referral

A written order from the primary care doctor for to see a specialist or get certain medical services. In many HMOs, a referral is needed to obtain medical care from anyone except the primary care doctor. If a referral is not first obtained, the plan may not pay for the services.

Coronary Artery Disease

When the arteries that supply blood to heart muscle become hardened and narrowed, causing less blood to flow to the heart.

Prescription

A doctor's order (e.g. ordering medication, treatment.)

Asthma

A respiratory disorder characterized by wheezing, coughing, and production of secretions.

Tertiary care

Health care delivered by specialists who work for a facility that performs specialty health care research, development, and treatment.

Diagnostic

This term pertains to diagnosis.

Interdisciplinary Team

Combining different health disciplines (such as nursing, medical laboratory, and pharmacy professionals.)

Utilization Review

Analysis and review of health care components to identify and solve deficiencies in quality as well as overuse or underuse of certain medical treatments.

Telemedicine

Diagnosis and treatment provided remotely via telecommunications.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

The use of radio waves and a magnetic field to see the inside of the body.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

Controls costs with the use of gatekeepers, preventive care, and utilization review.

Dialysis

A treatment for removing wastes from the body.

Primary care

The patient's entry point for health care services.

Premium

A payment that a policyholder must pay for insurance coverage.

Diabetes

A disease characterized by faulty carbohydrate metabolism due to deficient amount of insulin.

Dementia

A mental disorder that includes deterioration of intellect, memory loss, and loss of judgment.

Community Hospital

Non-governmental, general hospitals that are available to the public for inpatient acute care treatment.

Outpatient

Patient care provided in less than 24 hours.

Managed Care consortium Hospital

A private acute care hospital that provides the same basic services as those provided by community hospitals.

Reconstructive Surgery

Surgery and follow-up treatment needed to correct or improve a part of the body because of birth defects, accidents, injuries or medical conditions.

Clinician

A doctor who treats patients.

Pre-existing condition

A condition occurring before insurance goes into effect.

Chronic Condition

A condition that persists over time.

Dental Care

The treatment and prevention of conditions associated with teeth.

Hypertension

High blood pressure.

Mortality

The death rate.

Out-of-Pocket Expense

Expenses that are not covered or are only partially covered by insurance.

Rehabilitation Services

Health care services that help patients keep, get back, or improve skills and functioning for daily living that have been lost or impaired because of being sick, hurt, or disabled. These services may include physical and occupational therapy, speech-language pathology, and psychiatric rehabilitation services in a variety of inpatient and/or outpatient settings.

Dispenses

The transfer of the prescription drug to the patient.

For-profit Organization

Organization that distributes surplus funds to shareholders or owners.

Prognostic

Pertains to prognosis: a prediction of outcome of a clinical condition such as disease or injury.

Neurosurgery

Concerned with prevention, diagnosis, and surgical treatment of disorders of the nervous system.

Urgent Care

Care for an illness, injury or condition serious enough that a reasonable person would seek care right away, but not severe enough to require emergency room care or hospitalization.

Legislation

Making or enacting laws.

Palliative Care

Managing side effects of treatment, pain, and loss of abilities.

Deductible

The portion of a claim under an insurance policy that the insurance company starts payments for covered medical services.

COPD

A progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe.

Academic Medical Hospital

A college medical school that is usually part of an academic medical center.

Free-for Service

When health care provides are paid for each service provided.

Pre-Certification

An analysis and authorization of the use of medical resources at a medical facility for purposes of cost control.

Alzheimer

A disease that effects the brain causing dementia.

Cardiology

A division of medicine that is interested in the study of the heart.

Senility

Also known as dementia; a mental disorder that includes deterioration of intellect, memory loss, and loss of judgment.

Non-Profit Organization

An organization that usually exists for charitable or education reasons. Any profit made is used to further invest in the goals of the organization.

Congestive Heart Failure

A condition in which the heart can't pump enough blood to meet the body's needs.

Ancillary Service Provider

Services used for diagnosis and treatment.

Acute Condition

A condition that arose abruptly.

Dermatology

A division focused on the skin.

Capitation

The annual fee paid to a physician or group of physicians for each participant in a health plan.

Organ Transplant

Moving an organ from one body to another.

Inpatient

Patient care requiring 24 hours or longer.

Gatekeeper

Health providers that control access to health care.