Chapter 5 Terminology

Question 1

Statue

Answer 1

A written law adopted by a legislative body that governs a city, county, state or county.

Question 2

Regulation

Answer 2

Rules issued by administrative agencies that have the force of law.

Question 3

Standard

Answer 3

A uniform method of defining basic parameters for processes, products, services and measurements.

Question 4

Regulatory Standards

Answer 4

A comparison benchmark that is mandated by governing agency. Noncompliance with regulatory standards may lead to citations and legal penalties.

Question 5

Voluntary Standards

Answer 5

Guidelines or recommendations for the best practices to provide better patient care. Industry, nonprofit organizations, trade associations and others develop these.

Question 6

Best Practice

Answer 6

A method or technique that has consistently shown results superior to those achieved by others means.

Question 7

MedWatch

Answer 7

A safety information and adverse event reporting system the serves healthcare professionals and the public by reporting serious problems suspected to be associated with drugs and medical devices they prescribe, dispense or use.

Question 8

Greenhouse Gases

Answer 8

Any of the gases that absorb solar radiation are responsible for the greenhouse effect, including carbon dioxide, methane, ozone and fluorocarbons.

Question 9

Medicare

Answer 9

A federal medical insurance program that primarily serves those over age 65 years of age (regardless of income), and people under 65 with end stage renal disease.

Question 10

Medicaid

Answer 10

A federal and state assistance program that pays covered medical expenses for low-income individuals. It is run by state and local governments within federal guidelines.

Question 11

Health Insurance Portability And Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Answer 11

The HIPAA Privacy Rule provides federal protections for individually identifiable health information held by covered entities and their business associates, and gives patients an array of rights with respect to that information, ww.hhs.gov

Question 12

Standards (AAMI)

Answer 12

Voluntary guidelines representing a consensus of AAMI members that are intended for use by healthcare facilities and manufactures to help ensure that medical instrumentation is safe for patient use.

Question 13

Technical Information Reports (TIRs)

Answer 13

Reports developed by experts in the field that contain valuable information needed by the healthcare industry. TIRs have not undergone the formal approval system that standards are submitted to and may need further evaluation by experts. TIR may be revised or withdrawn at any time because they address a rapidly-evolving field or technology.