Healthcare Org Vocabulary Words Chp 1

Vocabulary terms and definitions from Chapter 1 of Healthcare Organization.

Affordable Care Act (ACA)

Healthcare reform legislation signed into law by President Barack Obama in March 2010 with a goal of increasing access to health insurance while controlling healthcare costs.

Medical Technology

The procedures, equipment, and process by which medical care is delivered.

Chronic Disease

A disease that is long in duration, reoccurs frequently, and progresses slowly.

Disparities

Wide differences in access to health care or quality of health care based on where one lives as well as income, educational level, race, ethnicity, gender expression, or sexual orientation.

Health Outcomes

Health status of an individual or community as a result of preventive public health programs or medical intervention.

Federal Poverty Level (FPL)

A measure of income level issued yearly by HHS used to determine eligibility for Medicaid, the Children's Health Insurance Program, and the cost of premiums for health insurance purchased through Health Exchanges.

Epidemics

An outbreak of disease in a certain geographic area in greater numbers than usual; the most common cause of an epidemic in the United States is influenza (flu).

Infectious Diseases

Illness caused by pathogenic viruses, fungi, or bacteria and transmitted by person-to-person contact or through a vector such as an infected mosquito.

Hygeine

Personal behaviors that prevent the transmission of infectious diseases by removing microorganisms that can cause infectious diseases of the skin, respiratory tract, or gastrointestinal tract.

World Health Organization (WHO)

Agency of the United Nations that directs and coordinates international health within the United Nations' system.

Universal Vaccination

Public health program to prevent communicable diseases through vaccination programs of children, adolescents, and adults. Immunization programs for children have eliminated most childhood infectious diseases such as measles, mumps, meningitis, hepatitis A and B, and polio. Adult immunizations prevent bacterial pneumonia, shingles, and influenza.

Acute Infectious Disease

An illness with sudden onset that has an intense but short effect on the body.

Longetivity

The length of human life; longevity usually refers to living past the estimated life expectancy or the average age of death.

Mortality

Causes and rates of death in a population; monitoring mortality over time is used to develop policies to improve health outcomes.

Life expectancy

Represents the average number of years of life that could be expected if current death rates were to remain constant; used as gauge of overall health of population.

Opioid Use Disorders

A mental illness and brain disorders caused by addiction to drugs used to relieve pain.

Infant Mortality

The number of deaths in children less than one year of age per 1,000 live births; reflects quality of healthcare.

Congenital Malformations

A physical defect of an organ or body part that is present in infant at birth.

Preterm Birth

Birth that occurs 37 weeks before gestation; can be caused by lack of prenatal care, underlying disease in the mother or multiple births. Infants need additional support, including care in a neonatal intensive nursery because of immature organ systems.

Low Birth Weight

Infants weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) compared to average birth weight of 8 pounds (3629 grams); more likely to occur in infants born before 37 weeks with complications requiring admission to a neonatal intensive care unit.

SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome)

Sudden unexplained death in an infant younger than 1, between 1 to 4 months.

Doulas

Individual who provides emotional and physical support for women during pregnancy and childbirth and after the birth of the infant to promote the health and well being of mother and infant.

Lifestyle

Behaviors that impact the incidence and development of disease.

Birth defects

Structural changes in organs or other body parts in infants at birth; surgery may be required to improve function.

Clinical Preventive Services

Guidelines for primary care providers to use in screening and counseling patients to prevent or reduce the risk of heart disease, cancer, and infectious disease.

Immunizations

Public health measures to immunize by vaccines to prevent spread of infectious diseases within a population.

Globilization

Ease of access to travel and transportation of food products. Increases exposure to communicable diseases and food borne illnesses and adds to challenges in tracing the origin of disease or food borne illness.

Viral Gastroenteritis

Infection of digestive tract caused by a virus transmitted between individuals.

Foodborne Illness

Illness caused by food contaminated with microscopic organisms or toxins released by these organisms.

Zoonotic Diseases

The spread of harmful microorganisms (virus, bacteria, parasites, fungi) between animals and people.

Coronavirus

One of a group of viruses that causes respiratory illness in animals and humans. Beginning in 2019 the virus resulted in a worldwide pandemic and many deaths.

Pandemic

When an infectious disease affects large numbers of people and spreads around the world.

Spanish Flu (1918 Flu)

Pandemic caused by a deadly HINI influenza A virus that lasted two years, spread worldwide, and caused many deaths.

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Refers to wearing face masks, gowns, and gloves in a healthcare setting to prevent the transmission of infectious diseases.

National Institute of Health (NIH)

Agency of HHS that conducts research to discover causes and treatments for diseases.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

Branch of the federal government that tracks the health of the nation and provides support to identify causes of epidemics and foodborne illnesses.

Telehealth

Healthcare appointments delivered by the clinician through telecommunication technologies. Also communicating appointment reminders, visit summaries, and laboratory and diagnostic results through an electronic record.

Ebola virus

Causes rare and deadly infection endemic to Africa; the largest Ebola epidemic in history occurred in West Africa in 2014.

Avian (Bird) Influenza

Strains of influenza virus that normally infect birds, including poultry but can sometimes pass to humans.

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Strain of the S. aureus bacteria that is resistant to many antibiotics. In community settings, MRSA is usually confined to skin; in medical facilities MRSA causes life threatening bloodstream and surgical site infections and pneumonia.

Sepsis

An inflammatory response to a serious and wide-spread infection; the response causes damage to the organ system and can cause shock and death.

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

The use of computers and technology to stimulate intelligent behavior and critical thinking.

Health Information Technology (Health IT)

Broad concept that encompasses an array of technologies to record, store, retrieve, protect, share, and analyze health information.

Electronic Health Record (EHR)

individual patient health record stored in a computer database for easy access by physicians and other healthcare workers regardless of the setting - clinic, hospital, nursing home, or emergency care center.

Human Genome Project

An international research project that sequenced and mapped all human genes and allows prediction of illness and adverse drug response.

Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD)

a group of developmental disabilities that can cause significant social, communication and behavioral challenges.

Applied Behavioral Analysis (ABA)

Application of behavioral sciences in schools and clinics to improve behavioral problems and facilitate learning; part of treatment for ASD.

Social Determinants of Health (SDOH)

The conditions under which people are born, live, work, and age. Lack of access to stable housing, nutritious food, employment, education, reliable transportation, and personal safety influences access to quality health care.

Clinical Care

Service provided to an individual, group, or community to benefit their health status.

Health behaviors

An action taken to attain, maintain, or regain good health and to prevent illness.

Social and Economic factors

Lack of access to stable housing, nutritious food, employment, education, personal safety, and personal or family support.

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation

Division of CMS that tests various payment and service delivery models to achieve better health care while lowering costs by improving healthcare systems.

Value-based care

Paying providers of health care based on the quality of care instead of the volume or number of patients treated or the number of treatment procedures.

American Hospital Association (AHA)

A national industry trade group that supports hospitals, healthcare systems, and health networks as well the communities served.

American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

Professional organization of primary care physicians who provide medical care for all ages. The academy supports family physicians through networking and continuing education and serves as an advocate through state and federal legislation.

Health Disparities

Differences in health outcomes (infant mortality or longevity) because of differences in race, ethnicity, immigration status, income, education, or employment.

Discrimination

Discrimination in health care refers to the marginalized- those of low income, racial, and ethnic minorities, and those who identify as LGBTQ+ -who often experience obstacles in obtaining healthcare.

Equality

Providing the same healthcare opportunities for everyone.

Equity

Removing obstacles for healthcare.

Health Equity

when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible because the obstacles that prevent discrimination and lack of healthcare access are addressed.