Complementary Therapies & Public-Health Indicators Lecture

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms from the lecture on complementary therapies, nursing responsibilities, Healthy People 2030 leading health indicators, and cost-quality issues in modern healthcare.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

Non-mainstream health practices used together with (complementary) or in place of (alternative) conventional medicine.

Biofeedback

Technique that measures bodily responses and trains patients to regulate functions such as pain or muscle tension.

TENS Therapy

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation; electrodes deliver mild electrical pulses to relieve pain.

Reiki Therapy

Energy-based therapy in which a practitioner channels healing energy to a patient through light touch or proximity.

Aromatherapy

Use of essential oils and scents to promote relaxation, reduce stress, or manage symptoms.

Reflexology

Massage of specific points on the feet (or hands) believed to correspond to body organs and systems.

Acupuncture

Insertion of fine needles at specific points on the body to relieve pain or treat various conditions; must be performed by a licensed professional.

Herbal Supplement

Plant-derived product taken to improve health; may interact with medications or diets.

Nursing Process

Five-step framework—Assess, Diagnose/Analyze, Plan, Implement, Evaluate—applied to CAM use and all care.

Leading Health Indicator (LHI)

Priority public-health issue in Healthy People 2030 identified as a major cause of morbidity or mortality.

Healthy People 2030

U.S. federal initiative setting 10-year, data-driven objectives to improve national health outcomes.

Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP)

Federal office that develops and oversees Healthy People objectives.

Social Determinants of Health

Conditions in which people are born, grow, live, work, and age that affect health risks and outcomes.

Drug Overdose Death

Fatality caused by excessive drug consumption; an LHI targeted for reduction through education and naloxone access.

Naloxone (Narcan)

Opioid antagonist used to reverse opioid overdose; available as over-the-counter nasal spray in many areas.

Food Insecurity

Limited or uncertain access to adequate, nutritious food, linked to negative health outcomes.

Food Desert

Geographic area with limited availability of affordable, nutritious foods such as fresh produce.

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)

Federal program (formerly food stamps) providing funds to purchase food for low-income individuals and families.

Women, Infants, and Children (WIC)

Nutrition program supplying specific healthy foods, education, and support to pregnant women and young children.

Meals on Wheels

Service that delivers prepared meals to home-bound or elderly individuals to reduce food insecurity.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

U.S. law aiming to expand insurance coverage and tie reimbursement to quality and reduced costs.

Bundled Payment

Single reimbursement covering all services for one episode of care, encouraging cost control and quality.

Hospital Readmission

Patient’s return to the hospital soon after discharge; high rates can reduce reimbursement under ACA rules.

Incident Overtime

Unplanned labor cost from staff clocking in early or out late; contributes significantly to healthcare expenses.

HCAHPS Survey

Standardized patient-experience questionnaire whose scores influence hospital reimbursement.

Hospital-Acquired Pressure Injury (Bed Sore)

Skin breakdown that develops during hospitalization; prevention is nurse-driven and affects reimbursement.

Supply Waste

Unnecessary use or disposal of medical supplies, increasing healthcare costs; minimized by taking only needed items to the bedside.