Unit 1 healthcare

The use of computers and technology to simulate intelligent behavior and critical thinking; one example is predicting the spread of infectious diseases in a population.

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.

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.

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

Providing the same healthcare opportunities for everyone - for example, universal immunization for infants and children.

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

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

A mental illness and brain disorder caused by addiction to drugs used to relieve pain such as morphine or synthetic opioids.

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

Public health measures to immunize by vaccination to prevent the spread of infectious diseases within a population. For example, the flu vaccine in adults and measles, mumps, and hepatitis A and B vaccines in children.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

Behaviors that impact the incidence and development of disease - for example, diet, physical activity, sexual activity, and use of alcohol, illegal drugs, and cigarettes.

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

When an infectious disease affects large numbers of people and spreads around the world. The COVID-19 virus increased in China (epidemic) but when the virus and illness caused by the virus spread around the world causing many deaths, the outbreak was considered this.

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.

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

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.

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

Removing obstacles to health care - for example, providing high-quality health care regardless of income and providing transportation or child care to remove obstacles for prenatal care for women.

Structural changes in organs or other body parts in infants at birth; surgery may be required to improve function. Common types are structural changes of the heart.

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

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 the mother and infant.

Actions of individuals that can promote health such as eating a healthy diet and participating in regular physical activity. Also, actions that can increase the risk for disease - for example, eating a less healthy diet, having infrequent physical activity, smoking, excessive use of alcohol or illicit drugs, and risky sexual behavior.

When everyone has the same opportunity to be as healthy as possible because the obstacles (income, employment, education, gender expression, sexual orientation, race, ethnicity, immigration status, and age) that prevent discrimination and lack of healthcare access are addressed.

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.

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 the health findings.

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

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

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

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

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

Infection of the digestive tract caused by a virus transmitted between individuals. The most common cause in humans is the norovirus with symptoms of vomiting and diarrhea.

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

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

Sudden unexplained death in an infant younger than 1 year of age, usually between 1 and 4 months of age.

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

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

Personal behaviors that prevent the transmission of infectious disease by removing microorganisms that can cause infectious diseases of the skin, respiratory tract, or gastrointestinal tract. For example, frequent hand washing and bathing with soap and water.

Infants weighing less than 2,500 grams (5 pounds, 8 ounces) compared to the average birth weight of 8 pounds (3269 grams); more likely to occur in infants born before 37 weeks with complications requiring admission to a neonatal intensive care unit.

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

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

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

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

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.

Agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that manages Medicare and Medicaid and strives to ensure effective, up-to-date healthcare coverage and promote quality care for beneficiaries.

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

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

Illness caused by food contaminated with a microscopic organism (virus, bacteria, or fungus) or toxins released by these organisms; can be caused by improper storage temperatures or inadequate cooking temperatures. Symptoms are typically vomiting and diarrhea.

The spread of harmful microorganisms (virus, bacteria, parasites, fungi) between animals and people. An example is avian flu that is spread between birds or poultry and humans.

An inflammatory response to a serious and widespread infection; the response causes damage to organ systems and can cause shock and death.

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

Pandemic caused by a deadly H1N1 influenza A virus that lasted two years, spread worldwide, and caused many deaths.

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

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.

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