Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

Biopsy

A

A small sample of body tissue safely removed for microscopic analysis

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2
Q

Bleep

A

An electronic pager normally carried by hospital staff. This allows anyone in the hospital to be contacted quickly by any member of staff.

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3
Q

Capacity

A

The ability of a patient to make decisions about their healthcare. A patient may have the capacity to make one decision but not have the capacity to make another. Capacity is formally assessed on admission to hospital.

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4
Q

Chronic disease

A

A disease that is not normally curable and so is instead managed over a patient’s life. Common chronic diseases include diabetes, hypertension, and rheumatoid arthritis.

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5
Q

COPD

A

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
A chronic progressive lung disease, almost exclusively the result of a long-term history of smoking cigarettes (with exceptions).

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6
Q

Consultant

A

A senior doctor whom has completed the training pathway for their chosen specialty.

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7
Q

Comorbidities

A

Diseases that are occurring simultaneously in a patient, that are often chronic but not necessarily related. Elderly patients are more likely to have multiple comorbidities

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8
Q

Do-Not-Attempt-Resuscitation (DNAR)

A

A legal document signed by both doctor and patient stating that in the event of a medical emergency (namingly a cardiac arrest) no attempts at resuscitation are made, with the aim to prevent further suffering to the patient.

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9
Q

Electrocardiogram (ECG)

A

A recorded pattern of the electrical activity of the heart, which can be used to identify problems with it, such as heart attacks or arrhythmias

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10
Q

General Medical Council (GMC)

A

The UK regulatory body for doctors and publisher of guidelines outlining recommended medical practice with the aim to protect patients and optimise patient care. All doctors must have GMC registration to lawfully practice medicine in the UK.

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10
Q

Foundation Training

A

The first compulsory training pathway for all newly qualified doctors. It is organised over two years and comprising of three 4-month rotations per year in different specialties. An optional third foundation year is also now available to trainees

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11
Q

General Practitioner

A

A community-based generalist doctor, normally the first point of call for diagnosis and treatment of mild to moderate illness. GPs have historically been called ‘family doctors’.

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12
Q

History (of Presenting Complaint)

A

The patient’s account of their presenting problem. The history is normally the patient’s own description of their problem but is guided by the clerking doctor with a mixture of open and closed questions.

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13
Q

Holistic

A

The concept of treating the ‘whole’ patient. It describes not just managing and treating in terms of their disease, but also the wider impact of the disease on their physical, mental and social well-being, and recognising the patients’ own expectations and priorities for healthcare.

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14
Q

Hospice

A

A type of tertiary care specialist facility that focuses on caring for patients with chronic, often terminal, conditions where the focus is on managing symptoms rather than cure. Some patients are inpatients based on a hospice ward, while others only visit during the day for specialist treatments that cannot be carried out by primary care services.

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15
Q

Multidisciplinary Team (MDT)

A

A team of healthcare professionals with a variety of different roles and inputs in the care of the same group of patients. Multidisciplinary management of patients allows specialist input on all aspects of patient care.

16
Q

National Health Service (NHS)

A

The government-funded public health service in the UK. Founded in 1948 by Aneurin Bevan, the NHS was formed on the premise that it would meet the health needs of anyone, would be free at the point of entry, and based on clinical need rather than the ability to pay.

17
Q

Outpatients

A

Specialist-run clinics for the management of patients with needs that cannot be managed in primary care. These patients normally require more specialist assessments, investigations, and treatments. These clinics are run by doctors, specialist nurses, and other HCPs. Patients must be referred by another doctor (e.g. GP or hospital doctor) to access outpatient services.

18
Q

Palliative Care

A

A specialty dedicated to providing end of life care.

19
Q

Prevalence

A

The number of cases in the population (normally represented as a percentage or fraction).

20
Q

Primary Care

A

Community-based care for patients making their first approach to health services regarding a health problem. Examples of primary care services include GP surgeries and drop-in clinics (e.g. sexual health).

21
Q

Rapport

A

The relationship a doctor develops with their patient during a consultation. A good rapport is a doctor developing an understanding and appreciation of a patient’s health concerns and priorities and in response the patient putting their trust in the doctor. This has many positive sequelae, such as increased adherence to treatment.

22
Q

Reflection

A

The process of analysing a past experience to learn more about yourself, and to apply this knowledge to your future behaviours.

23
Q

Registrar

A

A doctor that is training to become a consultant in their field

24
Q

Secondary Care

A

The provision of higher-level care in a centre with multiple specialist staff and resources, such as a hospital. Secondary care services cannot normally be accessed without a referral from primary care or via emergency admission.

25
Q

Sign

A

A clinical abnormality that a doctor recognises in the physical examination of a patient (but that the patient may not notice).

26
Q

Symptom

A

An abnormality in a patient’s health that the patient describes (e.g. pain)

27
Q

Tertiary Care

A

Very high-level care provided at a specialist centre often focusing on only one discipline, such as a hospice or a neurorehabilitation centre.

28
Q

Ward Round

A

Review of each patient on a ward being cared for by a clinical team in a specialist care setting. Each patient is seen and reviewed for aspects such as current and new diagnoses, investigations, treatments, and discharge planning. This sets the ‘jobs’ to be done for each patient for the rest of the day. The round is normally led by a consultant and is multidisciplinary.