Chapter 3: Communication and Diversity Vocabulary

Vocabulary flashcards covering key communication terms, diversity concepts, objective/subjective observations, documentation methods, and medical abbreviations from Chapter 3.

Communication

The process of exchanging information with others by sending and receiving messages using signs, symbols (words, drawings, pictures), and behavior.

Closed-Loop Communication

A healthcare communication tool where the receiver repeats the message back to confirm understanding, and the sender confirms to close the loop.

Verbal Communication

Communication that uses spoken or written words.

Nonverbal Communication

Communicating without words, including tone of voice and body language.

Diversity

The variety among people.

Bias

Responding to diversity with judgment (positive or negative) or assumptions based on personal beliefs.

Race

Physical traits shared through common ancestry.

Ethnicity

A combination of race, culture, nationality, language, and other shared background factors.

Culture

Learned beliefs and behaviors of a group that may relate to race, ethnicity, nationality, location, or shared beliefs.

Weight-Inclusive Care

An approach to care that avoids treating larger bodies as automatically unhealthy, accommodates all sizes, and addresses eating and exercise as wellness issues rather than size issues.

Gender Identity

A person's deeply felt sense of their own gender, which may or may not match their sex assigned at birth.

Sexual Orientation

Physical, emotional, and/or romantic attraction to others.

Implicit Bias

Bias held without intending to be biased; unconscious bias.

Therapeutic Communication

Techniques that build trust between patient and healthcare worker, are clear and professional, and promote health and well-being.

Passive Communication

A communication style that emphasizes others' needs over one's own and can cause resentment.

Aggressive Communication

A communication style that emphasizes one's own needs over others', leaving people feeling dismissed or bullied.

Assertive Communication

A communication style that considers everyone's needs and expresses thoughts clearly while showing concern for others.

Fact

Something definitely true that is backed by evidence.

Opinion

Something believed to be true but not proven.

Objective Information

Information (also called signs) based on what a person sees, hears, touches, or smells.

Subjective Information

Information (also called symptoms) based on what the patient reports that cannot be independently observed.

Incontinence

The inability to control the bladder or bowels.

Affixes

Prefixes (placed before a root) and suffixes (placed after a root) used to modify medical terms.

SBAR

A healthcare communication tool standing for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation.

I PASS the BATON

A handoff tool developed by AHRQ and the U.S. Dept. of Defense for handoffs between healthcare professionals, standing for Introduction, Patient, Assessment, Situation, Safety, Background, Actions, Timing, Ownership, and Next.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

Digital records that can be used by multiple people in a facility at once, but are limited to a single healthcare facility.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

Digital records that can be accessed across multiple healthcare facilities and systems.

Firewall

A security feature that protects files from unauthorized access.

Encryption

Converting data into codes to prevent unauthorized access.

ā

Medical abbreviation for before.

p̄

Medical abbreviation for after.

c̄

Medical abbreviation for with.

s̄

Medical abbreviation for without.

q̄

Medical abbreviation for every.

NPO

Medical abbreviation standing for nothing by mouth.

PRN / prn

Medical abbreviation standing for as necessary.

STAT / stat

Medical abbreviation standing for at once, immediately.

ADLs

Medical abbreviation standing for activities of daily living.

NKDA

Medical abbreviation standing for no known drug allergies.

I&O

Medical abbreviation for intake and output, a measure of fluid balance that tracks the amount of fluids a patient consumes and excretes.

BID

Medical abbreviation standing for bis in die, meaning 'twice a day' for dosing medications.

TID

Medical abbreviation standing for ter in die, meaning 'three times a day' for dosing medications.

QID

Medical abbreviation standing for quarter in die, meaning 'four times a day' for dosing medications.

R/O

Medical abbreviation meaning 'rule out', often used when considering a diagnosis.

D/C

Medical abbreviation standing for discharge, which can refer to discontinuing a medication or discharging a patient from care.

CBC

Complete Blood Count, a blood test that gives information about blood cells, including red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets.

H&P

History and Physical, a comprehensive documentation describing a patient’s medical history and current physical examination findings.

NKA

Medical abbreviation meaning 'no known allergies', often used in patient assessments.

Rx

Medical abbreviation for prescription, indicating a doctor's order for medication.

Handoffs in Healthcare

The transfer of patient information and responsibility from one healthcare provider to another, crucial for continuity of care.

Patient Records

Documents that typically include medical history, medications, allergies, laboratory results, and current health status.

Barriers to Communication in Handoffs

Challenges such as lack of standardization, interruptions, and unclear information that can lead to errors in patient care.

Avoiding Communication Barriers

Strategies like using standardized communication tools (e.g., SBAR), clear documentation, and minimizing interruptions during handoffs.