Dynamics of Healthcare Vocabulary

acute care facility

a facility where a patient can receive short term health care

assisted-living facility

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

complementary therapies

therapies that typically promote healing through nutrition, exercise, or relaxation

extended care facility

provide health care and help with the activities of daily living to people of any age

general practitioner

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

Hippocratic Oath

the moral basis for many medical regulations and guidelines still in use today

home health care

care in a patient's home

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 help with daily activities

Inpatient

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

interdisciplinary team

a team of health care professionals with varied medical educations, backgrounds, and experiences, that 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

a patient who is discharged within 23 hours

Pandemic

am infectious disease that affects entire continents or even the world

Prognosis

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

rehabilitation centers

centers specializing in services for patients needing physical or emotional rehabilitation or treatment of chemical dependency

Sphygmomanometer

a device that checks someone's blood pressure

Stethoscope

equipment that helped doctors listen to the internal sounds of a patient

subacute care facility

cares for a variety of patients with complex medical and rehabilitative needs

Co-insurance

the term used to describe plans that require the insured to share a portion of the costs for health care services, in order to lower monthly premiums

Co-pay

a flat fee required for health procedures

Deductible

the money a person pays before the insurance policy provides benefits

Diagnostic related groups

a driving force behind the effort to contain health care costs

Direct payment

when patients pay for their health care with their own money

Flexible spending account

a tax-advantaged spending account

Gatekeeper

the primary care provider

Government institution

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

Government plan

a health care plan funded by a government agency

Health care cost containment

measures designed to lower health care costs

health maintenance organization plan

provides coverage only if the care is delivered by a member of its hospital, physician, or pharmacy panel

health savings account

an account that is commonly paired with a high-deductible health insurance plan, and is a savings account that can be used to pay health related costs. It is tax-advantaged.

in-network provider

providers in a plan

managed care

puts health care providers in the position of managing a patient's 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

out-of-network provider

providers who are not in a plan

point-of-service plan

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

preferred provider organization plan

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 an insurance company for health insurance coverage

private insurance

an employment-based health insurance system

proprietary institution

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

prospective payment system

a system that pays the provider a fixed amount that is based on the medical diagnosis or specific procedure, rather than rather than on the actual cost of hospitalization or care

resource utilization

the process of health care workers asking themselves how they can best use health care resources

TRICARE

a system that provides medical coverage for active and retired service personnel and their dependents.

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. They also typically receive other advantages, such as donations that are tax-deductible for donors.

Assault

When a threat or attempt is made to touch a patient without consent.

Battery

When a non-consenting patient is actually touched.

Civil Law

Law that focuses on issues between private citizens.

Civil Rights

The basic legal rights held by all us citizens.

Common Law

A traditional civil law of an area or region ruled by judges.

Constitutional Rights

The rights afforded to all citizens through the US constitution.

Defamation of Character

Making false or malicious statements that do harm to a person's reputation.

Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care (HIPAA)

Designates a person to make healthcare decisions on behalf of the patient in the event that the patient becomes incapacitated.

Ethics

Another set of guidelines that help determine right or wrong behavior.

False Imprisonment

Any attempt to restrain an individual or restrict their freedom.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

A privacy rule that protects patients' right to confidentiality.

Human Rights

The fundamental rights of all people regardless of citizenship status.

Implied Consent

When patients don't sign a written statement but give permission for care to be provided, or assumed to have given permission due to being unconscious.

Incapacitated

Unable to make one's own decisions.

Informed Consent

When patients are given information about their care and voluntarily consent.

Intentional Torts

Deliberate acts intended to cause harm.

Invasion of Privacy

Intentional and unreasonable exposing of a patient's body or revealing of a patient's personal information.

Legal Guardian

Someone appointed by a judge to act for another person, such as a minor or a mentally incompetent adult.

Libel

Written form of defamation.

Litigation

A legal proceeding in court.

Living Will

Documents the steps to take in order to save or prolong a person's life.

Malpractice

Any illegal, unethical, negligent, or immoral behavior that results in failure of responsibilities to a health care professional.

Negligence

Careless or senseless behavior by a healthcare practitioner that results in harm.

Professionalism

A set of values, behaviors, and relationships that form a foundation in which patient and colleague trust is formed.

Public Law

Law that focuses on issues between the government and its citizens.

Restitution

Compensation.

Slander

Spoken form of defamation.

Statutory Law

Law that is enacted by federal, state, and local legislators and enforced by the court system.

Tort

Any wrongful act that results in harm.

Unintentional Torts

Accidents or mistakes that result in harm.

Ward

The person who is under legal guardianship.

acculturation

when people of different cultures lose the cultural characteristics that once made them different

cultural assimilation

same thing as acculturation; occurs when an individual shifts his or her identity from the minority group to the dominant group and adopts the values, attitudes, and behaviors of the dominant culture

cultural diversity

the occurrence of multiple different cultural identities

culture

a shared system of beliefs, values, and behavioral expectations that provide structure for daily living

dominant group

the group within a society that tends to control that society's values

ethnicity

involves a sense of identification with a group based on a common heritage

ethnocentrism

the belief or assumption that a particular social or cultural group is superior in some way

folk medicine

a form of prevention and treatment that uses old-fashioned remedies and household medicines handed down from generation to generation within a particular culture

hereditary

inherited genetically

immigrate

settle in a new country

minority group

a group that usually has some physical or cultural characteristics that identify the people within it as different from the dominant group

race

a group that people are assigned based on specific physical characteristics, such as skin pigmentation, body stature, facial features, and hair texture

subculture

a group of people who are members of a larger cultural group, but whose attitudes and behaviors reflect different beliefs and values from those of the larger culture

accreditation

when a school is recognized by an outside agency, such as a national board or commission, as having standards that qualify graduates for professional practice

biotechnology

the manipulation of genetic material in living organisms, or parts of living organisms, to make products and services

career ladder

hierarchy of careers in a field

certification

demonstrates a healthcare worker meets the requirements set by the certifying organization to demonstrate mastery of the job

diagnostic services

careers that determine the presence, absence, or extent of disease and provide date on the effectiveness of treatment

licensure

the act of granting authority by the state

registration

means that you have graduated from an accredited school and have passed a standardized national exam administered by a nongovernmental agency

support services

provide care for patients, directly or indirectly

therapeutic services

provide treatment for patients or animals