Words to know

1. Abdominal

pertaining to the abdomen.

2. Abdominopelvic

pertaining to the anterior body cavity below the diaphragm.

3. Abduction

to move away from the midline.

4. ABHES

Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools

5. Ablation

a surgical procedure using a resectoscope inserted into the uterus through the cervix.

6. Abortion

the termination of pregnancy; spontaneous or induced.

7. Abrasion

an injury caused by rubbing or scraping off the skin.

8. Abstinence

refraining from use; being away from.

9. Abuse

elder abuse is any abuse and neglect of persons age 60 and older by a caregiver or another person in a relationship involving an expectation of trust; physical abuse is the use of physical force that may result in bodily injury, physical pain, or impairments; forms of abuse can include physical abuse, sexual abuse, psychological or emotional abuse, neglect, abandonment, and financial abuse or exploitation.

10. Accelerator

increasing action or function.

11. accept assignment

Provider agrees to accept the insurer’s payment as payment in full for the service provided.

12. Acceptance

agreeing verbally or in writing to the terms of a contract, which is one of the requirements of an enforceable contract.

13. Accommodating

a conflict management style allowing the other party to satisfy their concerns while neglecting your own.

14. Accommodation

the process of the lens changing shape to permit close vision.

15. Account

record of all transactions made on an individual’s financial record that lists debits, credits, and balance.

16. account history

a patient ledger within a practice management system may be called an account history. Generally, account histories follow the same organized plan used for ledger records of patients. The account history automatically shows the balance of the account and the number of days the account has been due.

17. Accountability

generally involving such concepts as responsibility, liability, and other terms associated with the expectation of account-giving; the acknowledgment and assumption of responsibility for one’s actions.

18. Accountant

one who keeps, audits, and inspects the financial records of individuals or businesses; one who analyzes these transactions and prepares reports that not only tell the present status of accounts receivable and payable but compare current reports with other years or periods of time.

19. Accounting

there are distinct differences between bookkeeping and accounting. Bookkeeping usually involves only the recording of economic events. The accounting process includes the bookkeeping function and much more. Accounting involves the entire process of identifying, recording, and communicating economic events.

20. accounting formula

the formula that is considered the basis for all financial accounting, which is assets minus liabilities equals net worth.

21. accounts payable (A/P)

the total amounts owed by the practice to suppliers and other service providers for regular business operating expenses, such as medical office supplies and equipment, office rental space, utilities (gas and electric, water, telephone and/or Internet services), and office staff salaries.

22. accounts receivable (A/R)

all the outstanding accounts (amounts due to the office); a reporting system to see who has not paid on his or her account.

23. accounts receivable (A/R) ratio

the total dollar amount of the outstanding payments or claims due to the office from patients and customers; Current A/R Balance ÷ Average Monthly Gross Production=A/R Ratio.

24. accreditation a process in which an educational institution or program establishes credibility or legitimacy by complying with predetermined standards.

25. Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES) an accrediting body that provides programmatic accreditation for medical assisting and other health care programs.

26. Achilles’ tendon

a tendon attaching the gastrocnemius muscle of the leg to the heel. acne a skin condition that occurs when your hair follicles become plugged with oil and dead skin cells.

27. Acne

vulgaris a skin condition characterized by inflammation of sebaceous glands and producing pimples.

28. acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)

a viral disease that renders the immune system ineffective.

29. acromegaly a chronic condition characterized by enlargement of bones of the extremities and some bones of the head; thickening of facial soft tissues.

30. action potential

the temporary electrical charge within a cell.

31. active listening

participation in the conversation with another by paraphrasing words and phrases or giving approving or disapproving nods. acuity refers to the sharpness or clearness of vision or hearing.

32. Acupuncture

involves the insertion of needles at various points in the body to treat disease or relieve pain.

33. Acute

sharp, severe; having a rapid onset, severe symptoms, and a short course; not chronic.

34. acute glomerulonephritis (ACG)

the rapid onset of inflammation of the glomerulus of the kidney.

35. acute phase

a period of increased symptoms and severity of the disease.

36. acute renal failure

the sudden cessation of kidney function.

37. Additive

a substance deliberately added to a material to fulfill some specific purpose such as enhancing taste or color or prolonging shelf life.

38. additive effect

The combined actions of two or more drugs are the same as the sum of each action individually.

39. Adduction

to draw together toward the midline.

40. Adenitis

inflammation of lymph nodes or a gland. adjective a word added to (modifying) a noun to quantify or limit it.

41. Adjustment

credit entry made on an account to decrease a balance owed to the medical office; may be due to insurance, professional discounts, write-offs, or to correct bookkeeping errors. administer given as in medication.

42. Administrative Simplification Compliance Act (ASCA) identifies limited situations where paper claim forms may be submitted for payment (rather than electronic submission); signed into law on December 27, 2001, as Public Law 107-105.

43. administrative skills

skills that help to manage the business affairs of a medical practice and include two categories— administrative procedures and practice finances.

44. Adrenal

pertaining to the adrenal glands, which sit atop each kidney.

45. Adrenalin

injection used to treat severe allergic reactions (anaphylaxis) to insect stings or bites, foods, drugs, and other allergens.

46. Adrenaline

an internal secretion derived from the adrenal glands; can be commercially prepared from animal glands; acts as a stimulant.

47. adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

a hormone secreted by the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland.

48. advance beneficiary notice (ABN) document used to notify a Medicare beneficiary that it is either unlikely that Medicare will pay or certain that Medicare will not pay for the service they are going to be provided. Beneficiaries are required to sign this document if they wish to have the service with the understanding that they will be responsible for payment.

49. advance directives

a living will; a document, written in advance, that states the patient’s wishes regarding end-of-life care.

50. Adverb

a word added to (modifying) a verb, an adjective, or another adverb.

51. Adverse

opposed to; unfavorable.

52. Advocacy

defending or supporting the rights or interests of another. In health care, specifically referring to those rights or interests of a patient or other vulnerable party.

53. Advocate

one who assists the patient or acts on the patient’s behalf.

54. A-E-I-O-U Model

a model (way) to communicate concerns and offer alternatives. The steps outlined in the model are (A)—Assume the other members mean well; (E)—Express your feelings; (I)—Identify what you want to happen; (O)—Outcomes you expect are made clear; and (U)—Understanding on a mutual basis is achieved.

55. Aerobe

a microorganism that can live and grow only in the presence of oxygen.

56. Afebrile

without fever.

57. Affordable Care Act (ACA) passed by Congress in 2010, signed into law by President Obama, the most sweeping piece of health care legislation in decades. Originally titled the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA; later shortened to ACA) and commonly known as Obamacare.

58. Agar

a dried mucilaginous substance, or gelatin, extracted from algae, used as a culture medium.

59. Agent

one that acts or has the power or authority to act for another.

60. aging of accounts

dividing accounts into categories according to the amount of time since the first billing date; way to identify accounts according to the length of time the accounts have been delinquent.

61. Agonist

a drug that binds to a receptor in order to produce or trigger a response.

62. Airborne

transported or carried through the air.

63. Airway

the path that air follows to get into and out of the lungs.

64. Albino

a person who lacks pigment in the skin, hair, and eyes, either partial or total; a person with albinism.

65. Aldosterone

a mineralocorticoid hormone secreted by the adrenal cortex.

66. Alignment

being in proper position.

67. alimentary canal

the intestinal tract, from the esophagus to the rectum, and accessory organs.

68. Allergen

any substance that causes an allergic reaction.

69. allergic rhinitis

inflammation of the nose caused by an allergy.

70. Allergy

an altered or acquired state of sensitivity; abnormal reaction of the body to substances normally harmless.

71. allosteric protein

a protein found in erythrocytes that transports oxygen in the blood; hemoglobin.

72. allowed amount

the maximum amount an insurer will pay for any given service.

73. Alopecia

the loss of hair; baldness.

74. alpha-fetoprotein screening (AFP)

a blood test during pregnancy to detect birth defects.

75. alpha search

look by alphabetical order.

76. alveoli

microscopic air sacs in the lung.

77. Amblyopia

lazy eye; a condition characterized by the inward turning of the affected eye.

78. Ambulate

to walk, not be confined to bed.

79. Ambulatory

refers to walking, being mobile.

80. Amenorrhea

absence of menses; without menstruation.

81. American Academy of Professional Coders (AAPC)

an organization that promotes professionalism and encourages and supports education, networking, and certification in the medical billing and coding areas.

82. American Association of Medical Assistants (AAMA)

a professional organization for medical assistants that certifies medical assistants and provides continuing education opportunities.

83. American Medical Technologists (AMT)

a professional organization that provides credentialing opportunities for medical assistants and continuing education opportunities.

84. Americans with Disabilities Act Amendments Act (ADAAA)

a 2008 amendment of the original Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) The ADAAA emphasizes that the definition of dis ability should be construed in favor of broad coverage of individuals to the maximum extent permitted by the terms of the ADA and generally not require extensive analysis. The ADAAA made important changes to the definition of the term “disability” by rejecting the holdings in several Supreme Court decisions and portions of EEOC’s ADA regulations.

85. Ammonia

strong-smelling inhalants used to revive a person who has fainted; also known as ammonia inhalants or spirits of ammonia.

86. Amniocentesis

the use of a needle to withdraw amniotic fluid from the amniotic sac.

87. Amniotic

pertaining to the amniotic fluid within the amniotic membrane surrounding the fetus.

88. Amplifier

a device on an electrocardiograph that enlarges the ECG impulses.

89. Ampule

a small glass container that can be sealed and its contents sterilized. amputate to cut off, remove a part.

90. Anaerobes

microorganisms having the ability to live without oxygen. anal pertaining to the anus or outer rectal opening.

91. Analytical

characterized by a method of analysis, a statement of point-by-point examination.

92. Anaphylactic

a severe and rapid multisystem allergic reaction.

93. Anaphylaxis

a hypersensitive reaction of the body to a foreign protein or a drug; the term implies symptoms severe enough to produce serious shock, even death.

94. Anatomic

pertaining to the anatomy or structure of an organism.

95. Anatomical

the position with the human body upright, facing forward, with the palms facing toward the front of the body.

96. Anatomy

the study of the physical structure of the body and its organs.

97. Anchor

the attachment of a skeletal muscle.

98. Anemia

a deficiency of red blood cells, hemoglobin, or both.

99. Aneroid

operating without a fluid; when used in reference to a sphygmomanometer, measuring by a dial instead of a mercury column.

100. Anesthesia

without sensation, with or without loss of consciousness.