Medical Terminology FINAL definitions

LD learning disability

disorders affecting the ability to understand or use language, calculations, movements or attention

L

left

Lesion

abnormal change/damage in the structure of an organ/tissue due to injury or disease

LE lower extremity

includes the leg, ankle, and foot

LPN licensed practical nurse

provide basic medical care under direction of RN and doctors

LTG long term goal

desired aim/progress of therapy

MMT manual muscle test

standardized set of assessments to measure strength and function of muscle groups

Max

maximum

Medial

near the median plane or midline of an organ (lying/extending toward the median/middle axis of the body)

Med A Medicare part A

inpatient insurance care in hospitals, SNF, hospice, tests, surgery, and home care

Med B Medicare part B

medically necessary and preventative services - physician, outpatient hospital, some home health, durable medical equipment, others not covered by part A (clinical research, ambulance, mental health, prescription drugs

MCP metacarpophalangeal

AKA MP joint, between metacarpal bones and prox. phalanges, the first knuckle where finger bones meet hand bones (hinge joint, vital in gripping and pinching)

MD muscular dystrophy

hereditary diseases causing progressive muscle weakness and atrophy. From mutations

MDS minimum data set

federal mandate for standardized assessment of function and health needs of all residents in Medicare/Medicaid certified nursing homes

MH mental health

emotional, psychological, and social well-being. absence of mental illness

MICA Mentally ill chemical abuse

dual diagnosis of mental illness and a substance use disorder

MI myocardial infarction

heart attack. Lack of blood flow to the heart often caused be CAD

MOHO model of human occupation

describes how humans generate and modify occupations in interaction with environment, a dynamic open cycle system of actions. Considers environment and feedback of action

MR mental retardation / Intellectual disability ID

below-average intelligence/mental ability, lack of skills necessary for daily living. Slower learning

NBCOT National Board for Certification of OT

responsible for administration of certification exams and certification of OT practitioners. Certified in all areas of practice

NDT neurodevelopmental treatment

therapy using guided/facilitated movements to ensure correlation of input from tactile, vestibular, and somatosensory receptors in the body. Improve gross motor function, nonstandardized

Neurologist

physician skilled in diagnoses and treatment of diseases of the brain/nervous system

NICU Neonatal Intensive Care unit

specialized unit for newborns requiring intensive care such as preterm or sick babies

NIMH national institute of mental health

federal agency for research on mental disorders (understanding, treatment, prevention)

NOS not otherwise specified

subcategory in systems of disease/disorder classification, notes presence of illness where symptoms presented were enough to make a general diagnosis, but a specific diagnosis was not made

NPO nothing by mouth

time period in which nothing can be eaten or drank

NWB non weight bearing

weight cannot be placed on a (injured) lower limb for a period of time

O2

oxygen

OA osteoarthritis

most common form of arthritis, progressive degenerative changes in cartilage of one or more joints, adjacent bone thickens and overgrows (typical onset middle/old age, leads to stiffness, swelling, pain, deformation of joints, loss of ROM)

OCD obsessive compulsive disorder

chronic anxiety disorder, uncontrollable reoccurring thoughts and/or behaviors accompanied by an urge to repeat them (case distress, consume time, or interfere with daily functioning, recognized as unreasonable)

ODD oppositional defiant disorder

disruptive behavior pattern in childhood/adolescence. defiant, disobedient, and hostile behavior toward peers and authority figures

Ophthalmologist

eye/vision specialists, MD

Orthopedist

specialists in correction/prevention of deformities, disorders, or injuries of the musculoskeletal system (skeleton and associated structures)

OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration

government agency that inspects workplaces to ensure a safe working environment

Pt

patient

PAM Physical Agent Modality

devices/interventions to produce therapeutic response in tissue, used with therapeutic exercises (light, water, temperature, sound, electricity)

Pediatrician

physician specializing in children's health

Physiatrist

physician specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation, physical therapists (PM&R)

Plantar Flexion

bending forward or downwards

PROM passive range of motion

amount of motion at a given joint when moved by an external force

Prognosis

probable course/outcome of a disease and recovery

Proximal

nearer to a point of reference, origin, point of attachment, or midline

Prn

as needed

POTA Pennsylvania Occupational Therapy Association

state level membership based organization, advocates for OT, hosts state conferences, aids in lawmaking ?

PPO preferred provider organization

health care insurance plan, members pay less for care provided by affiliated professionals and hospitals

PTSD post-traumatic stress disorder

mental health condition triggered by severe environmental stress, symptoms include anxiety, insomnia, flashbacks, nightmares. Often become vigilant, experience guilt, difficulty concentrating or experiencing joy

RA rheumatoid arthritis

autoimmune disease causing inflammation and deformity of the joints. May cause systemic problems

Rheumatologist

specialist in inflammatory disease/chronic diseases of the joints, connective tissues, and muscles

r/o rule-out

eliminate as a serious diagnostic consideration

ROM range of motion

measurement of range through which a joint can be moved, range of flexion and extension

RSD reflex sympathetic dystrophy

type of regional pain syndrome from malfunction of SNS and immune system, associated with nerve injury

QA quality assurance

pledge to work toward goal of optimal achievable degree of excellence in the services to every patient. Part of valid and reliable methods for evaluating care provided

qd

every day

qid

four times a day

s

without

SCI spinal cord injury

damage to spinal cord causing loss of sensation and motor control. Damage to spinal nerves from direct injury or tissue/bone damage

Schizophrenia

psychotic disorder marked by impaired thinking, emotions, and behaviors. Abnormal interpretation of the world, may have hallucinations and delusions

SI sensory integration

process of organizing and filtering environmental sensory stimuli to make an adaptive response

SIPT Sensory Integration and Praxis Text

standardized tests to identify motor planning and sensory processing deficits in children 4-8

SNF skilled nursing facility

inpatient healthcare facility with staff/equipment to provide skilled care, rehabilitation, and other services. Patients need nursing care but not hospitalization

SOB shortness of breath

or dyspnea, difficult/labored breathing out of proportion to level of activity

s/p status post

previous diagnosis, treatment, or event in a patient

STG short term goal

desired, smaller goal within treatment, but not necessarily the entire desired outcome

SOAP subjective, objective, assessment, plan

documentation method used by medical providers, notes all critical information regarding pt health during assessment

Sx symptoms

indication of disease, perceived or physical

TB tuberculosis

disease caused by bacterial infection typically affecting the lungs, formation of tubercles on the lungs and other tissues, develops after initial infection. Sx: coughing up of mucus and sputum, fever, weight loss, chest pain

TBI traumatic brain injury

injury to the brain from external force, results in LOC, memory loss, dizziness, confusion. Various degrees of damage and may have long term health effects in motor, sensory, cognitive, and behavioral areas

TD Tardive dyskinesia

involuntary jerky movements of the face, tongue, jaws, trunk, and limbs. Nervous system disorder often from prolonged treatment with antipsychotic drugs

TEDS thrombo-embolus deterrent stockings

BK stockings providing graduated compression to promote venous return and reduce the risk of blood clots

TENS transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation

electric current used to therapeutically stimulate nerves to reduce pain

T.I.A. transient ischemic attack

mini-stroke, brief episode of neurological dysfunction caused by loss of blood flow in the brain but without tissue death, same mechanism as CVA. Temporary symptoms similar to those of a stroke without permanent damage

TKR total knee replacement

surgical procedure that replaces a painful arthritic knee/articular surface with a synthetic device to restore function

Tx treatment

management/care of a patient, combating of a disease/disorder

UE upper extremity

upper limbs, includes the shoulder, arm, forearm, wrist, and hand

UT III uniform terminology

published terminology standards among OTs to maintain consistency in language

WNL within normal limits

ability is in the same range as the average person of the given age group OR no significant changes within any form of imaging/specimens

WFL within functional limits

ability is outside normal range but sufficient for ADLs

V.O. verbal order

spoken orders given to a person authorized to receive and record them

y.o.

year old

°

degree

(check) flexion

bending movement around a joint in a limb (such as the knee or elbow) that decreases the angle between the bones of the limb at the joint

/ extension

movement by which two ends of any jointed part are drawn away from each other, bringing members of a limb into a straight condition, increases the angle between the bones of the limb at the joint

Triangle

change

1°

primary

2°

secondary