Physician/Surgeon/Podiatrist Key Terms

Primary Care Providers (PCP)

Primary Care Providers (PCP)

Physician

Advanced Practice Registered Nurse (APRN)

Practicing in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine & geriatrics

Physician Assistant (PA)

Practicing in family medicine, pediatrics, internal medicine & geriatrics

Medical Home

Provides ongoing preventative care such as health screening and immunizations

Medical Doctor (MD)

Allopathic Physicians

Doctor of Osteopathy (DO)

Osteopathic Physicians

Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM)

Approach to treat discomfort, pain or limited Range of Motion from injury or disease

Hospice & Palliative Medicine(HPM)

Physicians that are trained to counsel patients near the end of life

Palliative Care

Treating patients with severe, chronic illness

American Board of Medical Specialties

Panel that certifies physicians since 2008

American Osteopathic Association

Board that certifies physicians since 2008

Group practice

Physician that works in part with a team that cares for a number of patients

Solo practitioner

Physician that practices individually

Liaison Committee on Medical Education(LCME)

Accrediting body for MD education programs in the US and Canada

Medical College Admission Test(MCAT)

Test that considers an applicants application process to becoming an MD

U.S. Medical Licensing Exam (USMLE)

MD’s take this test

Comprehensive Osteopathic Medical Licensing Examination (COMLEX-USA)

DO’s take this test

American Podiatric Medical Licensing Exam(AMPLE)

Must pay a fee to take a state-specific exam

American Board of Foot and Ankle Surgery

Certifying agency in podiatric surgery

American Board of Podiatric Medicine

Certifying agency in orthopedics and podiatry

Hospitalist

Specializes in internal medicine and family practice

Emergency surgery

Surgery done at once to save life or function

Pre-op

before surgery

Urgent surgery

Facilities that are designed and equipped for certain surgical and diagnostic procedures, patient usually goes home that day

Nosocomial infections

Newly acquired infections that are contracted within a health-care facility, also called health-care acquired associated infections

Post - op

After the operation

NPO

Non per os, nothing by mouth

Prosthetic

Artificial body part or device

Depilatory

Hair-removal

Orifices

Body openings

 Surgical center

Surgery needed for the person’s health but may be delayed a few days

dressings

Gauze, film, or other synthetic substances that cover a wound, ulcer, or injury

sterile

Absence of all microorganisms

 Post anesthesia care unit

The area where a patient recovers from anesthesia in the immediate post-operative area, also called the “recovery room”

Hypoxia

Lack of oxygen

Elective surgery

Surgery done by choice to improve life or well-being, not life-saving, surgery scheduled in advance

analgesic

Medication given to relax muscles, induce forgetfulness and prevent pain

Montgomery Straps

Long strips of adhesive attached to the skin on either side of the wound to hold dressings in place

Cross-matching

When the patient’s blood is tested for blood type and compatible blood

 General anesthesia

This type of medication induce the patient to become unconsciousness

Embolus

A traveling blood clot

Anti-embolism hose

Use of a device to prevent blood clots by massaging the legs mechanically in a milking, wavelike motion

Ambulate

To walk

Bowel prep

Cleansing of the bowel of feces

 Local Anesthetic

This type of medication induce loss of feeling in a specific area

pulmonary embolism

A blood clot in the lungs

Coughing and deep breathing

These clear the air passages and help prevent respiratory complications such as pneumonia and atelectasis

thrombophlebitis

Inflammation of the veins which can lead to blood clots

Sequential compression 

therapy

Graduated compression elasticized stockings, that are applied during the postoperative periods to support the veins of the legs

surgical consent

A legal and ethical requirement when the surgeon communicates to the patient about the proposed procedure and the patient grants permission for the procedure in writing

spinal anesthesia

This type of medication blocks transmission of the pain sensation at the level of the spinal cord

Deep vein thrombosis

A blood clot in a vessel, usually a lower extremity

Sedation

A state of quiet, calmness, or sleep produced by a drug

Anesthesiologist

A physician who specializes in giving sedation and anesthetics

Electrocardiogram

A recording of the electrical activity of the heart, usually ordered as a pre-operative test

 local anesthesia

A medication that produces diminished sensation to pain without loss of consciousness, used to relieve pain

 Stool Softeners

An emollient laxative that loosens stools and increases bowel movements

Indwelling Catheter

A catheter left in the bladder, so urine drains constantly into a drainage bag; also called a Foley catheter

 biopsy

Removal of a small piece of tissue for diagnostic purposes

atelectasis

The collapse of a portion or all of a lung

Chest X-ray

A common pre-operative x-ray which looks for medical problems, such as an enlarged heart, or fluid around the lungs

Inpatient Procedure

A procedure that requires the patient to stay at the hospital at least one night

 Urinalysis

A common preoperative physical and chemical test of the urine