From Textbook (Vocabulary: The Body in Disease) - Unit 2: The Body in Health and Disease

acute

Symptoms and signs that occur suddenly and are severe in nature

allied health professionals

Healthcare professionals who support the work of physicians and perform specific services ordered by the physician. Allied health professionals include nurses, technologists, technicians, therapists, and others.

ambulatory surgery center (ASC)

Facility where minor surgical procedures are performed. The patient is an outpatient who arrives in time for the surgery and does not stay overnight.

ancillary department

Department that provides services to support the medical and surgical care given in a hospital. Examples: Radiology department, physical therapy department, dietary department, emergency department, clinical laboratory, and pharmacy.

asymptomatic

Showing no symptoms or signs of disease

attending physician

Physician on the medical staff of a hospital who admits patients, directs their care, and discharges them

auscultation

Using a stethoscope to listen to the heart, lungs, or intestines

chronic

Symptoms or signs that continue for 3 months or longer

clinic

An ambulatory facility that provides healthcare services, often for just one type of patient or one type of disease. Example: Well-baby clinic for newborns.

congenital

Disease caused by an abnormality in fetal development or an abnormal process that occurs during gestation or birth. Examples: Cleft lip, cerebral palsy

degenerative

Disease caused by progressive destruction of cells due to disease or the aging process. Examples: Multiple sclerosis, hearing loss, arthritis

diagnosis

A determination based on knowledge about the cause of the patient's symptoms and signs

disability

Permanent inability to perform certain activities or function in a given way

discharge

Release from the hospital of a patient who no longer needs hospital-level care. The patient can be discharged to home or transferred to another healthcare facility.

disease

Any change in the normal structure or function of the body

environmental

Disease caused by exposure to substances in the environment. Examples: Smoke, pollen, sun rays, etc.

etiology

The cause or origin of a disease

exacerbation

Sudden worsening in the severity of symptoms or signs

genetic

Disease caused by a spontaneous mutation in a person's own gene or chromosome during fetal development. Example: Down syndrome

hereditary

An inherited recessive defective gene, passed to the child from a parent who carries the defective gene but does not have the disease. Examples: Cystic fibrosis, sickle cell disease

home health agency

Agency that provides nursing and non-nursing services to patients in their homes. These patients are known as clients.

hospice

Facility for patients who have a terminal illness and require palliative supportive care, counseling, and emotional support for themselves and their families.

hospital

Healthcare facility that provides care for acutely ill medical and surgical patients for longer than 24 hours. The patient being treated is an inpatient.

iatrogenic

Disease caused by medicine or treatment given to the patient. Examples: Wrong drug given to a patient; surgery on the wrong part.

idiopathic

Disease having no identifiable or confirmed cause. Example: Sudden infant death syndrome.

infectious

Disease caused by a pathogen. A communicable disease is an infectious disease that is transmitted by direct or indirect contact with an infected person, animal, or insect.

inpatient

A patient in a hospital who occupies a bed and stays overnight.

inspection

Using the eyes or an instrument to examine the body

long-term care facility

Residential facility for persons who are unable to care for themselves. Also known as a nursing home, it provides 24-hour nursing care and rehabilitation services.

neoplastic

Disease caused by the growth of a benign (not cancerous) or a malignant (cancerous) tumor or mass

nosocomial

Disease caused by exposure to a disease-causing agent while the patient is in the hospital. Example: Surgical wound infection.

nurse

Allied health professional who examines patients, makes nursing diagnoses, and gives medicines and treatment ordered by a physician

nutritional disease

Disease caused by lack of nutritious food, too little food, or an inability to utilize the food that is eaten. Example: Malnutrition.

palliative care

Supportive medical and nursing care that keeps the patient comfortable but does not cure the disease

palpation

Using the fingers to press on a body part to detect a mass, an enlarged organ, tenderness, or pain

pathogen

Disease-causing microorganism, such as a bacterium, virus, fungus, etc.

percussion

Tapping one finger on another finger of a hand that is spread across the chest or abdomen to listen for differences in sound in a body cavity

physician

Healthcare professional who directs the activities of the healthcare team. The physician orders tests, diagnoses, and treats patients.

physician extender

Healthcare professionals who perform some of the duties of physicians and work under their supervision. They examine, diagnose, and treat patients. Includes physician's assistants, nurse practitioners, certified nurse midwives, and certified registered nurse anesthetists.

physician's office

Facility where a physician (or a group of physicians in a group practice) maintains an office. The ambulatory patients here are outpatients.

preventive medicine

Medicine that keeps a person in a state of health and prevents the occurrence of disease

prognosis

Predicted course and outcome of a disease

recuperation

Process of return to a normal state of health

refractory

Pertaining to a disease that does not respond well to treatment

remission

Temporary improvement in the symptoms and signs of a disease without the underlying disease being cured

sequela

Abnormal condition or complication that is caused by the original disease and remains after the original disease has resolved

skilled nursing facility (SNF)

Long-term care facility with a special nursing unit that admits patients from the hospital and provides a higher level of medical and nursing care.

symptom

A deviation from health that is only experienced and felt by the patient

symptomatology

The clinical picture of all the patient's symptoms and signs

syndrome

Set of symptoms and signs associated with a specific disease

subacute

Symptoms and signs that are less severe in intensity than acute symptoms

surgeon

Physician or doctor who performs surgery

surgery

A treatment that involves invading the patient's body, often by cutting

technician

Allied health professional who has technical skill in a particular field of medicine and performs technical tests

technologist

Allied health professional who specializes in a technical area of a field of medicine

terminal illness

A disease from which there is no hope of recovery and one that will eventually result in the patient's death

therapeutic

Pertaining to an action (from therapy or medicines) that results in improvement in the symptoms or signs of a disease

therapist

Allied health professional who performs therapy on patients to treat a specific disease or condition