CNA Long-Term Care: Chapter 1

Understanding Healthcare Settings

Providers

People or organizations that provide health care, including doctors, nurses, clinics, and agencies.

Facilities

Places where care is delivered or administered, including hospitals, long-term care facilities, and treatment centers (such as for cancer).

Payers

People or organizations paying for healthcare services. Including insurance companies, government programs like Medicare and Medicaid, and the individual patients, residents, or clients.

Long-term Care (LTC)

Given in long-tern care facilities for people who need 24-hour skilled care.

Skilled Care

Medically necessary care given by a skilled nurse or therapist; it is available 24 hours a day. It is ordered by a doctor and involves a treatment plan. This type of care is given to people who need a high level of care for ongoing conditions.

Length of Stay

The number of days a person stays in a healthcare facility.

Terminal Illness

An illness that will eventually cause death.

Chronic Illness

The conditions last a long period of time, even a lifetime.

Home Health Care

Provided in a person’s home. Generally given to people who are older and chronically ill but wish to remain home.

Diagnoses

Medical conditions determined by a doctor.

Assisted Living

Facilities that are residences for people who need some help with daily care.

Dementia

The serious loss of mental abilities, such as thinking, remembering, reasoning, and communicating.

Adult Day Services

Services for people who need some assistance and supervision during certain hours, but who do not live in the facility when care is provided.

Acute Care

24-hour skilled care given in hospitals and ambulatory surgical centers for people who require short-term, immediate care for illnesses or injuries.

Subacute Care

Care given in hospitals or long-term care facilities. Used for people who need less care than for an acute (sudden, onset, short-term) illness.

Outpatient Care

Given to people who have had treatments, procedures, or surgeries and need short-term skilled care.

Rehabilitation

Care given by specialists and professionals. Physical, occupational, and speech therapists help restore or improve function after an illness or injury.

Hospice Care

Given in facilities or homes for people who have approximately 6 months or less to live.

Managed Care

Cost-control strategies included in many health insurance plans.

Activities of Daily Living (ADLs)

Daily personal care tasks.

Catheters

Thin tubes inserted into the body to drain fluids or inject fluids.

Policy

A course of action that should be taken every tie a certain situation occurs.

Procedure

A method, or way, of doing something.

Cite

To document a problem found during a survey.

Joint Commision

An independent not-for-profit organization. Works to improve the quality and safety of care given.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)

A federal agency within the US department of Health and Human Services.

Medicaid

A medical assistance program for people who have a low income, as well as for people with disabilities. Funded by the federal government and each state.

Cultural Change

Term for the process of transforming services for elders so that they are based on the values an practices of the person receiving care.

Person-centered care

Emphasizes the individuality of the person who needs care, and recognizes and develops the person’s capabilities.

Trauma-informed Care

An approach to patient care that recognizes that people may have experienced trauma in their lives.