Allied Health Ch. 2 Key Terms

AHRQ

established to improve the quality, safety, efficiency, and effectiveness of health care for Americans

Assisted/Independent Living facilities

allow individuals who can care for themselves to rent or purchase an apartment in the facility; provide services such as meals, housekeeping, laundry, transportation, social events, and basic medical care (such as assisting with medications)

CDC

another division of the USDHHS; concerned with the causes, spread, and control of diseases in populations 

Clinics

health care facilities found in many types of health care. Some are composed of a group of medical or dental doctors who share a facility and other personnel

Concierge Medicine

a type of personalized health care. In exchange for an annual or monthly fee, an enhanced level of care is provided by a primary care physician. The physician is able to care for fewer patients while having more availability.

Dental offices

vary in size from offices that are privately owned by one or more dentists to dental clinics that employ a group of dentists

Emergency care services

provide special care for vic- tims of accidents or sudden illness. Facilities providing these services include ambulance services, both private and governmental; rescue squads, frequently operated by fire departments; emergency care clinics and centers; emergency departments operated by hospitals; and heli- copter or airplane emergency services that rapidly trans- port patients to medical facilities for special care. 

Fee-for-service compensation

a health payment plan in which doctors or providers are paid for each ser- vice they render. They are paid a set amount for each office visit, test, and procedure. With this form of compensation, there is little incentive to consider the cost or necessity of services provided. 

FDA

 a federal agency responsible for regulating food and drug products sold to the public; also protects the public by regulating things such as medical devices, cosmetics, and cell phones

Genetic Counseling Centers

counselors work with couples or individuals who are pregnant or considering a pregnancy. They perform prenatal (before birth) screening tests, check for genetic abnormalities and birth defects

Health Departments

provide health services as directed by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (USDHHS); also provide specific services needed by the state or local community; provide immunization for disease control, inspections for environmental health and sanitation, communicable disease control, collection of statistics and records related to health, health education, clinics for health care and prevention

Health insurance plans

health care costs are increasing much faster than other costs of living. To pay for the costs of health care, most people rely on…

HIPAA

These regulations have not solved all of the problems of health care insurance, but they have provided consumers with more access to insurance and greater confidentiality in regard to medical records. In addition, standardization of electronic health care records, reductions in administrative costs, increased tax benefits, and decreased fraud and abuse in health care

HMO

both health care delivery systems and a type of health insur- ance. They provide total health care services that are primarily directed toward preventive health care for a fee that is usually fixed and prepaid. Services include examinations, basic medical services, health education, and hospitalization or rehabilitation services as needed.

Home health care

designed to provide care in a patient's home. Older adults and people with disabilities frequently use the services of these agencies.

Hospice

provide care for people who are terminally ill and who usually have life expectancies of 6 months or less. Care can be provided in a person's home or in a facility.

Hospitals

one of the major types of health care facil- ities. They vary in size and types of services provided. Some are small and serve the basic needs of a community; others are large, complex centers offering a wide range of services including diagnosis, treatment, education, and research.

Industrial health care centers

found in large companies or industries. Such centers provide health care for employees of the industry or business by performing basic examinations, teaching accident prevention and safety, and providing emergency care.

Laboratories

often a part of other facilities but can operate as separate health care services. Some can perform special diagnostic tests such as blood or urine tests. Dental laboratories can prepare dentures (false teeth) and many other devices used to repair or replace teeth.

Long-Term Care facilities

mainly provide assistance and care for elderly patients, usually called residents. However, they also provide care for individuals with disabilities or handicaps and individuals with chronic or long-term illnesses. 

Managed Care

an approach that has developed in response to rising health care costs. Employers, want to ensure that such money is spent efficiently rather than wastefully. The principle behind managed care is that all health care provided to a patient must have a purpose. A second opinion or verification of need is frequently required before care can be provided.

Medicaid

a medical assistance program that is jointly funded by the federal government and state governments but operated by individual states.Medicaid pays for the health care of individuals with low incomes, children who qualify for public assistance, and individuals who are physically disabled or blind.

Medicare

a federal government program that pro- vides health care for almost all individuals over the age of 65, for any person with a disability who has received Social Security benefits for at least 2 years, and for any person with end-stage renal (kidney) disease.

Medical offices

Medical services obtained in these facilities can include diagnosis (determining the nature of an illness), treatment, examination, basic lab- oratory testing, minor surgery, and other similar care.

Medigap policies

a health insurance plan that helps pay medical expenses not covered by Medicare. These policies are offered by private insurance compa- nies and require the enrollee to pay a premium.