Healthcare Science Vocab

alternative, complementary, or integrative therapies

healthcare practices and treatments that minimize or avoid the use of surgery or drugs

holistic care

therapies that treat the patient as a whole person after assessing the individuals physical, social, mental, and spiritual wellbeing

western medicine

the most common form of medical care in the United States; uses medication and surgery to treat the signs and symptoms of illness

genomic medicine

personalized medical care that uses a patients unique combination of genes and chromosomes to prevent illness and maintain health

nanotechnology

a field of science that manipulates individual atoms and molecules to create devices that are thousands of times smaller than current technologies allow

regenerative medicine

a form of medical care that creates living tissue to replace tissue or organ function lost due to age, disease, injury, or birth disorder

telesurgery

surgery performed by robotic equipment that is monitored and controlled from a remote site

integrative medicine

care that combines practices and treatments from alternative medicine with conventional medicine

patient protection and affordable care act

a healthcare reform law that increased access to and coverage by health insurance plan

antioxidant

a natural or man-made substance that can prevent or slow down damage to cells caused by unstable molecules

infusion

the slow, controlled delivery of fluids, medications, or nutrients directly into a patient’s body

chronic

a health condition that lasts for a long time

in vitro

a procedure, test, or experiment done outside a living body

mammogram

specialized imaging process that uses low dose x-rays to take pictures of the inside of the breast

pacemakers

An electronic medical device used to correct abnormal heart rhythms like bradycardia

prosthetics

an artificial device replacing a missing body part

stem cells

a cell that can divide and turn into many different types of cells in the body

stents

tiny, expandable tube made of metal mesh, plastic, or fabric that doctors place inside a hollow structure in the body