Dynamics Midterm Study Guide

Acute Care Facility

a health care facility that provides care for patients who have extremely serious, severe, or painful conditions that require immediate medical attention.

Assisted-living Facility

a facility that generally provides housing, group meals, personal care, support services, and social activities in a community setting.

Complementary Therapies

treatment methods that typically promote healing through nutrition, exercise, or relaxation; sometimes referred to as alternative medicine.

Custodial Care

non-medical care given to individuals who are unable to perform activities of daily living.

Extended Care Facility

a facility that provides health care and help with the activities of daily living to people who may be physically or mentally unable to care for themselves; this type of care may last from days to years.

General Practitioner

a physician who diagnoses and treats a variety of common health problems.

Hippocratic Oath

was an oath written by Hippocrates of Cos that serves as the moral basis for many medical regulations and guidelines still in use today.

Home Health Care

care provided in a patient's home through community health departments, visiting nurses' associations, hospital-based case managers, and home health agencies.

Homeopathy

a holistic system of healing that focuses on stimulating the body's ability to heal itself by giving very small doses of highly diluted substances.

Hospice

a care program focused on reducing pain, symptoms, and stress during the last stage of terminal illnesses.

Independent-living Facility

a group of apartments or houses for residents who can take care of themselves and are mobile, yet need some help with daily activities; it may offer meals and other social activities in a community setting.

Inpatient

a person who remains in an acute care facility, such as a hospital, for more than 24 hours.

Interdisciplinary Team

a group of health care professionals with varied medical educations, backgrounds, and experiences who work together to deliver the best possible care for each patient.

Microbiology

the branch of biology that studies microorganisms and their effects on humans.

Outpatient/Ambulatory

a patient who is discharged within 23 hours, but may require ongoing treatment, care, and education.

Pandemic

an infectious disease that affects entire continents or even the world.

Prognosis

a medical opinion about the likely outcome of a condition or disease.

Rehabilitation Center

a health care facility that specializes in services for patients needing physical or emotional rehabilitation or treatment of chemical dependency.

Sphygmomanometer

a device that is used to measure blood pressure; commonly referred to as a blood pressure cuff.

Stethoscope

a device that allows health care professionals to listen to the internal sounds of a patient.

Subacute Care Facility

a health care facility that fills the gap between hospitalization and rehabilitation, by providing care to patients who are stable and don't need acute care, yet need more complex treatment that can be found in a nursing or rehabilitation facility.

Chronic

continuing or occurring again and again for a long time.

Acute

Of abrupt onset.

Specialist

a doctor or other health care professional who is trained and licensed in a special area of practice.

Transverse

a horizontal plane passing through the standing body so that the transverse plane is parallel to the floor.

Superior

toward the head end of the body; upper.

Inferior

away from the head; lower.

Andreas Vesalius

A physician who revealed detailed information on the human body through dissection. His writings and illustrations were published as the first comprehensive book of anatomy.

Edward Jenner

An English doctor who found that a person who was inoculated with a small amount of cowpox would be immune to smallpox. He called this material vaccine and gave the first successful smallpox inoculation in 1796. In 1798, Jenner coined the term vaccination.

Hippocrates

An important figure in early Greek medicine that rejected the idea that illnesses were caused by supernatural forces. He emphasized prognosis, which is a medical opinion about the likely outcome of a condition or disease. He and some of his followers wrote a collection of early medical works known as the Hippocratic Corpus. In his collection, one of his more famous works known as the Hippocratic Oath, serves as the moral basis for many medical regulations and guidelines still in use today. Hippocrates bases his medical on the theory of humorism, which is the idea that the body is filled with four basic substances: yellow bile, black bile, blood, and phlegm. He believes that illnesses are caused by an imbalance of the substances.

Sir Joseph Lister

He discovered why some people were dying after surgery, it was because they had open wounds, and infections were coming from the outside. He started to sanitize before operations.

Sigmund Freud

An Austrian neurologist that advanced psychoanalysis. He believed that people with traumatic pasts could have neuroses from the traumatic experiences and that the experiences were forgotten from the person's consciousness. He treated the patients by having them remember the traumatic event, and challenge it.

Louis Pasteur

A French chemist that developed the germ theory of disease. The germ theory of disease is the theory that most infectious diseases are caused by germs. Pasteur was able to create vaccinations to protect against rabies and anthrax.

Avicenna

A Persian physician who wrote the Canon of Medicine that set a new norm for the medical practices throughout much of Europe and Asia, and described the origins of many common diseases.

Rene Laennec

A French physician that invented the stethoscope in 1816.

Sir Humphrey Davy

A British chemist and inventor that recommended the use of nitrous oxide, or laughing gas, as anesthesia in minor surgeries.

Alexander Fleming

A Scottish physician and microbiologist that discovered penicillin in 1928.

Printing Press

Allowed information to be spread widely and quicker.

Salk and Sabin

Jonas Salk developed a "killed-virus" vaccine for poliovirus that was an injection in 1955. Albert Bruce Sabin created a "live-virus" vaccine that was an oral vaccine in the 1960s that eventually replaced Salk's vaccine.

NASA

It has contributed to new medical technologies. For example, a nonsurgical alternative to balloon angioplasty was derived from NASA-pioneered technology. Another example is that the technology for the MRI and CT scan came from the digital imaging developments for the Apollo moon landing program.

Crick and Watson

Watson, who was an American molecular biologist, and Crick, who was a British graduate student/researcher, uncover the code that identifies the structure of the DNA molecule in 1953.

Zacharias Janssen

A spectacle maker from Holland that invented the microscope in 1590.

MASH

It stands for the Mobile Army Surgical Hospital, and it was first used in combat during the Korean War. Military actions have a major effect on both innovation and the delivery of health care.

John Hopps

A Canadian electrical engineer that created the first cardiac pacemaker in 1950.

William Harvey

An English physician that published an explanation of how blood pumps from the heart, through the body, and then returns to the heart, in 1628. The work was titled An Anatomical Study of Motion to the Heart and of Blood in Animals, and formed the basis for future research on blood vessels, arteries, and the heart.

Robert Koch

A German physician that studied microorganisms in the late 19th century, and studied diseases, including anthrax and cholera. He was awarded a Nobel Prize in 1905 for his discoveries related to tuberculosis. He is considered one of the founders of microbiology along with Louis Pasteur because their studies led to the understanding that infectious diseases were caused by certain bacteria and germs.

Dolly the Sheep

The first successful cloning experiment from a single mammary cell, that was completed by the British embryologist and genetic engineer, Ian Wilmut, in 1996.

Christiaan Barnard

A South African surgeon that completed the first heart transplant in humans in 1967.

Alec Jeffreys

A British geneticist that developed DNA fingerprinting in 1984.

The Renaissance Period (1300 AD-1600 AD)

When many people in Western Europe were living in unsanitary conditions, people started to get diseases. Then the bubonic plague, also known as the Black Death, came along that killed more than half of the population in Europe. As a result of the Black Death, people started to study medicine more. Medical texts that were Greek and Roman started to be translated, and medicine was progressing. For instance, Andreas Vesalius completed detailed drawings and writings on the anatomy of the human body. Some of the first medical universities were also founded during the Renaissance.

Prehistoric Times (8000 BC-3000 BC)

People were in small groups, so diseases did not spread very much. In this time period, medicine was based on religion and spiritualism.

The Medieval Times (500 AD-1300 AD)

At this time, medicine was based on religion, and diseases were thought of being disciplines from God, and that only God could cure these diseases and sicknesses. As a result, there wasn't much medical development at this time, and not many jobs with Christians were involved in medicine. There were healers, but these were not full-time jobs. The Canon of Medicine by Avicenna was released during this time period.

Ancient Times (3000 BC-500 AD)

Egyptians were a step ahead in the medical world. For example, they knew to wash and shave a body, or part of a body, before performing surgery. The Egyptian practices then went on to shape Greek medical practices, which influenced Roman medical practices. Hippocrates was influential during this time, and he pointed out the idea of prognosis, because he didn't believe that sickness was caused by inhuman things. Hippocrates went on to write many pieces, including the Hippocratic Oath, which is known and followed by many medical professionals today. Preventative health care was also started more commonly in these times. Medical specialists and specialties were also put into place.

Co-insurance

the portion of the medical costs a patient may still have to pay once an insurance plan's deductible has been met (typically a percentage of the total amount the health care provider charges).

Catastrophic Plan

a qualified health plan offered through the Marketplace that covers essential health benefits and requires the highest level of cost sharing allowable for essential health benefits.

Co-pay

a flat fee that many health insurance plans require patients to pay each time they receive a health care service.

Deductible

the money a person must pay before an insurance policy provides benefits.

Diagnostic Related Groups (DRGs)

a classification system used by Medicare and Medicaid to determine payment for health services based on diagnosis, surgical procedures, age, and other information.

Direct Payment

the act of paying for health care with one's own money.

Exclusive Provider Organization (EPO)

a managed care plan where services are covered only if you go to doctors, specialists, or hospitals in the plan's network (except in an emergency).

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

a monetary account, offered through an employer, into which money is put through payroll deductions, before it is taxed. Funds can be withdrawn for qualified medical expenses as needed, but the funds must be spent each year.

Gatekeeper

a physician who not only delivers primary care services, but also makes referrals for specialty care.

Government Institution

a public health care facility that receives most of its funding from local, state, or federal sources.

Government Plan

a health care plan funded by a government agency. Government plans are available for active military personnel and their dependents and for veterans. Medicaid and Medicare are also government-funded health care programs.

Health Care Cost Containment

measures designed to lower health care costs that aim to create an affordable health care system for all Americans.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

a health insurance plan that provides coverage only if the care is delivered by a member of the plan's hospital, physician, or pharmacy panel.

Health Savings Account (HSA)

a monetary account commonly paired with a high-deductible health insurance plan that allows individuals to pay for qualified medical care using tax-free HSA dollars until they meet their deductibles. Any funds remaining in an HSA at the end of each year are rolled over and can be saved for future use.

In-network Provider

a health care provider who has a contract with a managed care insurance plan.

Managed Care

a type of health insurance plan that establishes predetermined rates for services with health care providers such as doctors and hospitals, and puts providers in the position of managing patients' use of health care.

Medicaid

a government program that offers health insurance to many low-income and disabled people.

Medicare

the federally-funded health care program for older Americans.

Medicare Part A

a program that covers most inpatient care costs. It usually doesn't require people to pay a monthly premium because the premium had already been paid through payroll taxes.

Medicare Part B

covers most outpatient costs, such as physician visits, medications, and home health services. It is voluntary, and it charges a monthly premium.

Medicare Part C

provides coverage for Part A and Part B services, but generally has extra benefits and lower co-payments than the regular Medicare program.

Medicare Part D

prescription drug coverage is available under this plan.

Out-of-Network Provider

a health care provider who is not in a particular managed care health insurance plan.

Point-of-Service Plan (POS)

a physician-coordinated health insurance plan that combines characteristics of both HMO and PPO plans.

Preferred Provider Organization Plan (PPO)

a health insurance plan that allows patients to receive care from a non-plan provider, but requires them to pay a higher out-of-pocket price if they do so.

Premium

the monthly amount paid to a private insurance company for health insurance coverage.

Private Insurance

a health insurance system that allows individuals to obtain group health benefits through an organization, such as an employer, a union, or an association.

Proprietary Institution

a for-profit health care facility, usually owned by a corporation.

Prospective Payment System

a health insurance system that pays the health care provider a fixed amount based on the medical diagnosis or specific procedure, rather than on the actual cost of hospitalization or care; if the actual cost for care is greater than the fixed amount, the provider must absorb the additional expense.

Resource Utilization

making better use of health care resources to cut costs.

TRICARE

a government health insurance system that provides medical coverage for active and retired service personnel and their dependants.

Utilization Review

a process in which an insurer reviews decisions by physicians and other providers about how much care to provide.

Voluntary Nonprofit Institution

a community facility that receives federal, state, and local tax exemptions in exchange for providing a community benefit, such as services to Medicaid patients and those who are unable to pay.

Accountable Care Organizations

healthcare delivery model that ties provider reimbursement payment to the quality and cost of care for a patient population—for example, patients on kidney dialysis.

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.

Coverage Gap

refers to health insurance; for example, individuals who do not qualify for Medicaid because their income is too high yet are unable to purchase health insurance through the Marketplace because the cost of premiums is unaffordable.

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.

Employer Shared Responsibility Payment

the Affordable Care Act requires employers with at least 50 full-time employees to either offer minimum essential health insurance coverage or make an employer shared responsibility payment to the Internal Revenue Service for each employee.

Gross Domestic Product

the standard measure of the value of the goods and services produced by a country minus the value of imports during a specified period of time.

Healthcare and Education Reconciliation Act 2010

modification of the original Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act with the addition of student loan reform.

Hospital Readmission Reduction Program (HRRP)

a program under the Affordable Care Act to improve quality and reduce costs of care for patients readmitted to the hospital for pneumonia, congestive heart failure, or acute myocardial infarction. Medicare reduces prospective payments to hospitals that fail to meet the criteria for readmission for these three diagnoses.

Pre Existing Conditions

medical diagnosis present at the time health insurance is purchased.

Comorbidities

the condition of having two or more diseases at the same time.

Bundling Payments

method of controlling healthcare costs by reimbursing Medicare for all services for a procedure—for example, hip replacement surgery and home care after discharge from the hospital.

Advanced Directive

legal document that states a person's wishes about receiving medical care if that person is no longer able to make medical decisions because of a serious illness or injury. Some types of advanced directives are a living will, durable power of attorney, and DNR orders.

Advocacy

supporting the best interests of patients and helping them secure quality care. Caregivers must be willing to put aside personal opinions, beliefs, and biases. In their role as an advocate, many health care professionals work with insurance companies to help ensure patients receive the best possible care based on their coverage and benefits.

Artificial Nutrition

a medical treatment that allows a non‐oral mechanical feeding.