CCMA Key Terms

All the key terms from the lesson slides up until this point! [Currently through: Endocrine]

scope of practice

delegated clinical & administrative duties consistent with education, training, and experience

standard of care

the degree of care or competence expected in a particular circumstance or role

Ambulatory

Able to walk

Managed care

A term for medical plans that provide health care in return for preset scheduled payments coordinated through a network of providers and hospitals.

Osteopathic

A type of medical care based on how the musculoskeletal system affects other body parts and using various manipulative methods along with conventional medical, pharmacological and other therapeutic procedures.

Professionalism

The skills, behavior and appropriate judgment that represent the best qualities of a person in a specific profession.

Work ethic

A set of values based on the moral virtues of hard work and diligence.

Amputation

Surgical removal of all or part of a limb or extremity.

Biopsy

The removal and examination of tissue to diagnose a disease.

Coronary artery bypass graft

Surgery that eliminates a blockage in an artery going to the heart.

Coronary artery disease

A disorder that involves partial or complete blockage of blood vessels that supply the heart.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

A persistent disorder that impairs breathing

Dilation and curettage

Surgery involving the use of an instrument to open the cervix and then cutting away tissue inside the uterus for therapeutic purposes.

Electrocardiogram

A record of the heart’s electrical impulses.

Genitourinary

Referring to the urinary and reproductive organs.

Gynecology

The type of medical practice that deals with the female reproductive system.

Hematocrit

The percentage of blood sample that is red blood cells.

Hemoglobin

The red oxygen carrying pigment of red blood cells.

Incision

A surgical wound that results from cutting into tissue.

Myocardial infarction

An interruption of blood flow to the heart causing heart muscle damage, AKA heart attack.

Nasogastric

from the nose to the stomach.

Obstetrics

The type of medical practice that deals with women giving birth.

Pelvic inflammatory disease

A bacterial infection of the female reproductive organs.

Rheumatoid arthritis

An autoimmune disease that causes pain swelling and deformity especially in the hands and feet due to inflammation in the joints.

Tonsillectomy

Surgical removal of the tonsils.

Adenoidectomy

The removal of small masses of lymphatic tissue near the opening into the pharynx.

Tuberculosis

A highly contagious infectious disease of the lungs that causes necrosis, death of lung tissue.

Transient ischemic attack

A temporary interruption of blood flow to the brain.

Urinalysis

A diagnostic examination of urine.

Biohazard

A biological or chemical substance that is dangerous to human beings and the environment.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

Agency of the government that oversees and regulates worker safety.

Centers for Disease Control

Provides safety guidelines for medical offices and facilities

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)

A virus that invades and inactivates helper T-cells.

Hepatitis B (HPV)

Liver infection caused by hepatitis B virus that is transmitted by blood, semen, or other body fluids.

Medical asepsis

Clean technique; the practice designated to reduce the number of pathogens, used in breaking the chain of infection

Surgical asepsis

The complete removal of of all microorganisms, including viruses and spores from an object.

Sharps container

A puncture-proof container designated to safely dispose of needles, scalpels, and other sharp medical instruments.

System

Multiple organs working together to perform complex functions

Organ

Body tissues that work together to perform specific functions

Anatomical position

Standing erect, arms at the sides of the body, with eyes and palms facing forward, legs parallel with toes pointing forward.

Midline

Divides body into equal parts

Homeostasis

A balanced, stable state within the body.

Mitochondria

Makes energy (ATP) for the cell (powerhouse)

Active listening

Using techniques that allow the receiver to fully understand the message being communicated.

Open-ended questions

Questions that lead to further explanation vs. a yes or no answer.

Restatement

Repeating or rephrasing information.

Reflection

When the patient focuses on the main topic, but incorporates feelings or opinions.

Clarification

Summarizing the information relayed to clear up confusion.

Nonverbal communication

Gestures and actions that leave interpretation up to the receiver.

Chief complaint

Reason for the office visit.

Closed-ended questions

Questions that have a limited number of possible responses; yes or no answers.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

A law implemented in 1996 to improve the portability and continuity of health insurance coverage, contain costs, fraud, and abuse in the healthcare industry; set a higher standard for electronic health information communications, and promote the privacy of health information.

Reverse chronological order

Arranged so that the most recent item is on top and older items are filed further back.

Noncompliant patient

Patient who does not follow the medical advice he or she receives.

Social history

Diet, exercise, smoking, alcohol use, drug use.

Source-Oriented Medical Records (SOMR)

Creating and preparing medical records where information is grouped by type of record.

SOAP

Documentation in the progress note grouped by subjective, objective, assessment, and plan for treatment.

Emancipated minor

A patient under the age of 18, married, living on their own, or in the armed forces.

Febrile

Fever greater than 100.5 F

Hyperpyrexia

Extremely high temperature

Afebrile

Normal temperature (98.6-99.10F)

Pyrexia

Fever

Palpation

The act of touching

Auscultation

Listening with a stethoscope

Rales

Clicking or crackling sounds

Rhonchi

Rattling sounds

Sphygmomanometer

Blood pressure cuff

Systolic pressure

The first sound heard during a blood pressure reading

Diastolic pressure

The last sound heard during a blood pressure reading

Korotkoff sounds

The five phases of sound that are heard during a blood pressure reading

Dyspnea

Difficult or painful breathing

Tachypnea

Rapid breathing

Bradypnea

Slow breathing

Apnea

Period of breathing cessation

Integumentary system

The body’s outer covering, composed of skin, hair follicles, nails, glands and blood vessels.

Epidermis

Outermost most layer of the skin

Dermis

Thick layer of skin beneath the epidermis.

Subcutaneous layer

Third layer of skin, composed of adipose tissue.

Neoplasm

New growth

Rule of nines

Used to estimate percentage of the body surface area affected by a burn.

Autoimmune

A condition related to the immune response of an organism against substances naturally present in the body.

Hematopoiesis

The process of making blood cells in red bone marrow

Epiphysis

End part of a long bone

Diaphysis

The shaft or central part of a long bone

Medullary cavity

Hollow part of bone that contains bone marrow

Scoliosis

An abnormal S-shaped curvature of the spine

Epicardium

Innermost layer of the heart, lines the atria and ventricles.

Myocardium

Muscular layer of the heart.

Pericardium

Outermost area of the heart, a membrane that surrounds the heart and secretes pericardial fluid.

Tricuspid

Valve located between right atrium and right ventricle.

Bicuspid (Mitral)

Value located between the left atrium and the left ventricle.

Systole

The period during which the heart chamber is contracting, and blood is being ejected.

Diastole

The period of relaxation of the heart during which the chamber is filling.

Myocardial infarction

Heart attack

Ischemia

Restriction of the flow of oxygen-rich blood to the heart.

Diaphoresis

Profuse sweating.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells

Erythropoietin

Hormone that stimulates cells of the bone marrow to increase the production of red blood cells

Leukocytes

White blood cells

Leukocytosis

High white blood cell count