Biomed Dynamics Exam Terms

Accreditation

educational institution recognized by outside agency as having standards that qualify graduates for professional practice

Acculturation/Cultural Assimilation

process where a member of minority shifts from minority to dominant & adopts their values/culture

Acronym

word created from 1st letter of each word in phrase or each item on a list

Acrostic

phrase/sentence created from 1st letter of each item on a list

Acute Care Facility

health care facility that provides care for patients that require immediate medical attention

Administrative Tasks

job duties that usually that involve carrying out office procedures

Advanced Practice Nurse

registered nurse who has more extensive education/training & broader work responsibilities

Aerobic

requires oxygen to live

Airborne Disease

disease that spreads through droplets in the air

Altruism

concern for welfare & well being of others

Anaerobic

doesn’t require oxygen to live

Antiseptics

agents commonly used to disinfect wounds

Assault

threat or attempt to touch someone without their permission

Assisted Living Facility

facility that provides housing, group meals, personal care, support services, & social activities in community setting

Autocratic Leadership/Directive Leadership

leadership style where leader assumes complete control over decisions & activities

Autonomy

right to self determination or personal independence

Bactericidal/Germicidal

infection control method that kills microorganisms

Bacteriology

study of bacteria

Bacteriostatic

agents that inhibit growth of microorganisms, but doesn’t kill them

Balloon Angioplasty

procedure where balloon is attached to end of catheter to clear blockages in blood vessels

Battery

offensive touch/use of force on non consenting person

Biotechnology

manipulation of genetic material in living organisms to make products & services

Blood Borne Disease

disease that spreads when infected person’s blood or other body fluids come into contact with mucous membranes/bloodstream of uninfected person

Body Language

nonverbal communication that relays message without speaking/writing

Bridge

artificial tooth/crown attached to adjoining teeth

Bronchoscopy

procedure where flexible tube is inserted into nose/mouth through trachea to view lungs

Cardiac Catheterization

procedure where tube is inserted into vein & guided toward heart to reveal blood vessel blockages

Career Ladder

hierarchy of careers in field; person needs more education/training to move from lower to higher career

Carrier

person infected with pathogen

Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC)

US government agency dedicated to prevention & control of disease, injury, & disability

Certification

credential from professional organization that shows that health care worker meets requirements set by certifying organization to demonstrate mastery of job

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)

health care professional who performs basic nursing functions for patients’ personal needs under direction of LPN or RN

Charting by Exception

abbreviated documentation method that uses well defined standards of practice & documents only significant or abnormal findings

Chemical Burn

lesion from wet/dry corrosive substances making contact with skin or mucous membranes

Chest Physiotherapy

variety of techniques used to eliminate secretions, re-expand lung tissue, & promote efficient use of respiratory muscles

Chronological Organization

method of organizing information in written communication where items are presented in sequence from earliest to most recent date

Civil Law/Private Law

body of law that focuses on issues between private citizens

Civil Rights

guaranteed rights of personal liberty held by US citizens

Clinical Decision Support System (CDSS)

computerized expert system that provides administrative, clinical, cost control, & decision support for activities in health care institution

Clinical Tasks

tasks that involve examining & helping treat patients

Co-insurance

portion of medical costs patient may still have to pay once deductible has been met

Common Law

traditional civil law of region resulting from rulings by judges on individual disputes/cases

Comparison Organization

method of organizing information in written communication where 2+ pieces of information are compared

Competence

ability to perform specific functions accurately & in timely manner

Complementary Therapies/Alternative Medicine

treatment methods that typically promote healing through nutrition, exercise, or relaxation

Computerized Physician/Provider Order Entry System (CPOE)

computerized system that allows licensed health care professionals to enter medical orders with less errors

Co-Pay

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

Critical Thinking

systematic way to form & shape thinking that functions purposefully

Crown

cap for broken/weak teeth

Cultural Diversity

group of people whose members are characterized by wide range of distinctions

Culture

shared system of beliefs, values, & behavioral expectations that provide social structure for daily living

Cytology

study of structure of cells

Deductible

money person must pay before insurance policy provides benefits

Defamation of Character

act of harming another person’s reputation by making false/malicious statements

Democratic Leadership

leadership style that promotes sense of equality between leader & other participants by sharing decisions among all members of team

Dental Assistant

trained professional who assists dentist & performs clinical & administrative work under dentist’s supervision

Dentist Hygienist

trained professional who works under dentist’s supervision & provide dental services focused on preventing & treating tooth/gum disease

Dentures

dental appliances that replace missing teeth

Development

orderly pattern of changes in structure, thoughts, feelings, or behaviors from maturation

Diagnostic Related Group (DRG)

classification system used by Medicare & Medicaid to determine payment for health services based on diagnosis, surgical procedures, age, etc

Diagnostic Services

health care services that determine the presence/absence, or extent of disease & provide data on effectiveness of treatment

Direct Patient Care

care that involves hands on contact with patients

Direct Payment

act of paying for health care with one’s own money

Disinfection

use of disinfectant agent to destroy most but not all pathogens

Dominant Group

group in society that tends to control society’s values

Durable Power of Attorney

legal document that designates person to make health care decisions on behalf of patient in event they become incapacitated

Echocardiography

use of ultrasound to examine heart & blood vessels

Electrical Burn

lesion from when skin comes into contact with electricity

Electrocardiogram (EKG/ECG)

test that records electrical activity of heart

Electrical Medical Record (EMR)

electronic document that contains patient health information gathered from different sources

Electrophysiology

study of electrical activity in body

Embryo

developing offspring during 1st eight weeks of life

Encryption

electronic security feature that ensures all messages are scrambled and can’t be read by anyone other than intended recipient

Ethics

sets of guidelines by professional organizations that determine right or wrong behavior

Ethnicity

sense of identification with group based on common heritage

Ethnocentrism

belief that particular social/cultural group is superior

Exposure/Incident Report

document used when patient/provider has been exposed to biohazard

Extended Care Facility

facility that provides health care & help with daily living to people who are physically/mentally unable to care for themselves

False Imprisonment

illegal act that occurs when attempt is made to restrain individual or restrict person’s freedom

Familial

when disease tends to occur often in particular family

Feedback

response sent back to sender in communication

Fetus

developing child in uterus from beginning of 3rd month until birth

Flexible Spending Account (FSA)

monetary account offered through employer where money is put through payroll deductions before it’s taxed

Fluoroscopy

test that uses continuous x ray beam to observe movement in body

Folk Medicine

form of prevention & treatment that uses old fashioned/household remedies handed down through generations within a culture

Gatekeeper

physician who delivers primary care services & makes referrals for specialty care

General Practitioner

physician who diagnoses & treats common health problems

Gestation

period of development from conception to birth

Government Institution

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

Government Plan

health care plan funded by a government agency

Group Dynamics

way in which individual group members relate to 1 another

Healthcare Cost Containment

measures designed to lower healthcare costs that aim to create affordable healthcare for all Americans

Healthcare/Interdisciplinary Team

group of healthcare professionals who have a variety of health related backgrounds, education, & experiences

Health/Medical Informatics

broad category of health data & related health care occupations that use information technology to manage & share files

Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act (HIPAA)

law enacted to protect patient’s right to privacy

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)

insurance plan that provides coverage only if care is delivered by member of plan’s hospital, physician, etc

Health Savings Account (HSA)

monetary account paired with high deductible health insurance plan that allows individuals to pay for medical care using tax free HSA dollars until they meet their deductibles

Hepatitis

disease that causes inflammation of liver

Hippocratic Oath

oath written by Hippocrates that’s moral basis for medical regulations & guidelines

Histology

study of microscopic structure of tissue