Chapter 1: Today's Health Care System Flashcards
Prognosis
Someone’s medical opinion about the likely outcome of a condition or disease.
Hippocratic Oath
Serves as the moral basis for many medical guidelines and regulations.
Pandemic
An infectious disease that affects entire continents or the world.
Stethoscope
Allows doctors to listen to the internal sounds of a patient.
Sphygmomanometer
Blood pressure cuff.
Microbiology
The study of microorganisms and how they effect humans.
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.
Inpatient
Someone who remains in an acute care facility for more than 24 hours.
Outpatient
A person who is discharged within 23 hours, but might require ongoing treatment, care, and education.
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.
Extended Care Facility
A facility that provides health care and help with the activities of daily living (ADL) to people who may be physically or mentally unable to care for themselves; this type of care may last from days to years.
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.
Home Health Care
Care provided in a patient’s home.
Rehabilitation Centers
Specialize in services for patients needing physical or emotional rehabilitation or treatment of chemical dependency.
Hospice
A care program focused on reducing pain, symptoms, and stress during the last stage of terminal illness; for dying patients and their families.
