Legal Issues/Quality Assurance - Healthcare

Hematoma

Localized swelling filled with blood from a vessel.

Phlebotomist

Professional who draws blood for tests.

Informed Consent

Patient agrees after understanding procedure risks.

Patient Identification

Verifying patient identity before procedures.

Quality Indicators

Metrics to monitor healthcare service quality.

Sentinel Events

Unexpected events causing serious patient harm.

CLIA

Regulations ensuring laboratory testing quality.

CAP

College of American Pathologists, sets lab standards.

Negligence

Failure to provide proper care resulting in harm.

Vicarious Liability

Employer responsible for employee's negligent actions.

Statute of Limitations

Time limit to file a lawsuit after injury.

Delta Checks

Comparing current and previous test results.

Tort

Legal term for a wrongful act.

Incident Reports

Documents detailing adverse events in healthcare.

Quality Control (QC)

Measures to ensure laboratory testing accuracy.

Discovery

Process of obtaining evidence before a trial.

Blood Culture Contamination

Quality indicator for microbiology department's performance.

Procedure Manual

Guidelines for performing laboratory tests.

The Joint Commission

Accredits healthcare organizations for quality standards.

Patient Record

Document containing patient's medical history and tests.

Threshold Values

Limits set to identify significant changes in care.

Safety Data Sheets

Documents providing information on hazardous substances.

Internal Report Forms

Used to document and analyze incidents.

Medical Complications

Adverse effects resulting from medical treatment.

Phlebotomy Procedure

Process of drawing blood for testing.

Neurological Injury

Damage to nerves affecting function or sensation.

Test Catalog

List of laboratory tests and procedures available.

Patient Rights

Entitlements regarding treatment and confidentiality.