CNA - Unit 1 Vocabualry

accreditation

a voluntary process in which a professional organization recognizes a facility for demonstrating its ability to meet certain quality standards and criteria

certification

an inspection process for facilities that accept state or federal funds as payment for health care

acute illness

illness that comes on suddenly; requires intensive, immediate treatment

chronic illness

incurable illness or disease, but treatable; requires ongoing care

citation

written notice that informs a facility of violations of OSHA rules

client

person receiving care in the home; some hospitals also use the designation

community

people who live in a common area and share common health needs

cross-trained

educated in several different skills across (health care) disciplines

diagnosis related groups (DRGs)

method used by Medicare to determine the number of hospital days required to treat specific illnesses

facility

an agency that provides health care

health care consumer

person requiring health care services

health maintenance organization (HMO)

a group of health care providers and hospitals paid by an insurance company. HMO members must see only certain doctors and go only to designated hospitals, except in emergencies

hospice

special facility or arrangement to provide care of terminally ill persons

hospital

facility for acute care of the sick or injured

license

a state permit allowing a facility to operate

long-term acute care hospital (LTACH)

hospital in which a lengthy stay is anticipated; the patients accepted have medically complex problems but have a good chance of improvement

long-term care facility

a facility that cares for persons whose conditions are stable but who need monitoring, nursing care, and treatments

Magnet Program for Excellence in Nursing Services

a voluntary program that recognizes hospitals for nursing excellence

managed care

methods used by insurance companies to reduce health care costs

Medicaid

federal-and state-funded program that pays medical expenses for those whose income is below a certain level

Medicare

federal program that assists persons over 65 years of age with hospital and medical costs

multiskilled worker

worker who is cross-trained to perform additional skills, enabling him or her to do more than one kind of work

obstetric

pertaining to pregnancy, labor, and delivery

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

federal agency that makes and enforces regulations to protect workers

occupational therapy

therapeutic use of work and activities to help patients regain self-care skills

orthopedic

concerning the prevention or correction of deformities

pathology

study of disease

patient

person who needs care; see also client; resident

patient-focused care

attention given to mental, physical, and emotional aspects of a person's being

pediatric

patient from birth to 18 years of age

physical therapy

structured exercise that assists patients to regain mobility skills

postanesthesia (PAR)

area where patients are taken after surgery to recover from anesthesia

postpartum

after parturition; after birth

prenatal

before birth

psychiatric

relating to mental illness

quality assurance

an internal review done by facility staff to identify problems and find solutions for improvement

rehabilitation

process of assisting ill or injured person to attain optimal level of well-being and function

resident

person being cared for in a long-term care facility; see also client; patient

respiratory therapy

the department that provides care for patients with disorders of the cardiopulmonary system, respirations, and sleep disorders

speech therapy

treatment to assist a patient to regain communication skills

survey

a review and evaluation to ensure that the facility maintains acceptable standards of practice and quality of care

surveyor

a representative of a private or governmental agency who reviews facility policies, procedures, and practices for quality of care

transition

the movement of a patient between various locations in which care is given as the patient's needs change

transitional care

subacute care given after acute care; care that prepares the patient to live in a new setting