Glossary Flashcards
process of moving a body part away from the midline
abduction
fetuses that did not reach the age of viability
abortions
a complication of pregnancy that occurs when the placenta tears away from the uterine wall, resulting in hemorrhage and fetal distress
abruptio placentae
mistakenly accepting payment for items that should not be paid as a result of improper coding and billing practices
abuse
eye’s ability to adjust it optical powers to maintain a clear image of objects at various distances
accommodation
amount of money a patient owes
account balance
a free-form note that some computer systems allow in which more detailed information can be entered than can be entered in the description field; may be used, for example, when posting adjustments to an account
account note
system of reporting the financial results of a business
accounting
amounts of money the physician owes to others for supplies, equipment, and services
accounts payable (AP)
money owed to the physician or medical practice
accounts receivable (AR)
process by which an institution voluntarily completes an extensive self-study after which an accrediting association visits the school to verify the self-study statements
accreditation
accreditation bureau that certifies medical assisting programs; graduates of ______ accredited programs may take the CMA (AAMA) or RMA examination
Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools (ABHES)
special stain used to expose the tuberculosis organism
acid-fast stain
common skin condition that occurs when oil and dead skin cells clog the skin’s pores; also called simply acne
acne vulgaris
occurs when the person is exposed to a live pathogen, develops the disease, and becomes immune as a result of the primary immune response
acquired active immunity
series of illnesses that occur as a result of infection by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes the immune system to break down
acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS)
hormonal disorder that results from the overproduction of growth hormone by the pituitary gland, most commonly affecting middle-aged adults
acromegaly
introduction of immunity by infection or what a vaccine
active immunity
paying attention completely to the speaker, concentrating on the verbal message, watching for nonverbal cues, and offering a response
active listening
medical files of patients who are currently being seen by the physician that may cover one to five years, depending on office policy
active records
process in cells that requires energy to transport materials to, from, and within the cell
active transport
when the subject of the sentence performs the action
active voice
sharpness
acuity
illnesses or injuries that occur suddenly and require treatment but may or may not be life threatening
acute conditions
confusion (e.g., inability to follow a conversation, answer questions appropriately, understand important facts) with symptoms lasting less than three months
acute confusion
expected pain associated with trauma or surgery that lasts through the recovery of that condition
intense pain, usually lessening over time
acute pain
condition that occurs when something, such as a blockage, toxins, or a sudden loss of blood flow, causes a change in the filtering function of the kidneys
acute renal failure
condition in which the cortex of the adrenal gland is damaged, decreasing the production of adrenocortical hormones, usually resulting from an autoimmune disorder but also caused by infection, cancer, or hemorrhage into the glands
Addison’s disease
a substance added in small amounts, such as a chemical within a test tube
additive
in procedure coding, a code added to a primary procedure code to indicate a related procedure
add-on code
process of moving a body part toward the midline
adduction
pharyngeal tonsils
adenoids
scar-like tissue that forms between two membranous structures
adhesion
positive or negative change to a patient’s account balance that does not involve the exchange of money or the addition of a charge for services
adjustment
laws governing the administration of agency regulations
administrative law
transition period between puberty and adulthood
adolescence
policies and procedures to ensure the security of electronic protected health information
administrative safeguards
endocrine organs that secrete hormones; located on top of each kidney, consisting of the cortex and the medulla
adrenal glands
age designation from roughly 20 years of age to death
adulthood
notice to patient that payment for a recommended service may be denied by Medicare and that the patient would then be obligated to pay
gives the patient the opportunity to accept or decline the service, knowing they may have to pay for it
Advance Beneficiary Notice
ABN
Advance Beneficiary Notice
AIDS
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AP
Accounts Payable
AR
Accounts Receivable
ABHES
Accrediting Bureau of Health Education Schools
when the patient schedules his or her next appointment before leaving the office
advance booking
document that allows patients to request that life-sustaining treatments and nutritional support not be used to prolong their life; includes the durable power of attorney
advance directive
negative effects that outweigh the benefit of taking a medication and require the patient to discontinue its use
adverse effects
requires oxygen to live
aerobic
absence of a fever
afebrile
behaviors that are based on feelings and emotions
affective
carry impulses from the sensory receptor to the central nervous system
afferent nerves
ACA
Affordable Care Act
PPACA
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
a medium for growing bacterial cultures that contains whole blood
agar
prejudice against and incorrect assumptions about an individual or individuals because of age
ageism
clumping together
agglutination
trying to impose one’s point of view on others
aggressive
prime mover
agonist
actions taken to reduce transmission of pathogens transported by airborne droplet nuclei so small they can remain suspended in air and widely dispersed by air currents; this may involve patient isolation and use of mask and gown by health care personnel
airborne precautions
inherited disorder that is indicated by the absence of melanin in the skin, hair, and eyes
albinism
any substance capable of causing an allergic reaction
allergen
physician who specialized in treating allergies, asthma, and immune system disorders
allergist
hypersensitivity to a normally harmless substance
allergy
the amount insurance companies consider to be an appropriate fee for a given service
allowed amount
baldness or loss of hair
alopecia
filing system based on the letters of the alphabet
alphabetic filing
small air sacs at the end of the bronchioles with a network of capillaries that perform the exchange of gases
alveoli
progressive, degenerative disease of the brain characterized by loss of memory and other cognitive functions
Alzheimer’s disease
a disorder in children caused by the eye muscles being weaker in one eye; also called lazy eye
amblyopia
act of walking
ambulation
surgery performed on a person who is admitted and discharged from a surgical facility on the same day
ambulatory surgery
absence of menstrual periods
amenorrhea
professional association for medical assistants that offers CMA (AAMA) certification and educational opportunities
American Association of Medical Assistants
AAMA
American Association of Medical Assistants
ABA
American Bankers Association
code numbers that identify the bank; found on the right upper corner of a printed check
American Bankers Association number
AMT
American Medical Technologists
professional association that provides oversight for the registration and testing of medical technologists, medial assistants, and phlebotomists
American Medical Technologists (AMT)
ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act
act ensuring that people with disabilities have equal access to structures and options
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
articulation or joint that permits very slight movement
amphiarthrotic joint
to make louder
amplify
small, sealed glass bottles containing a single dose of medication
ampules
a disease of unknown cause that breaks down the nerves in the nervous system that are responsible for movement
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)
ALS
amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
able to live without oxygen
anaerobic
severe allergic reaction that causes respiratory distress due to swelling of upper airways
anaphylaxis
body structure; study of the structure of an organism
anatomy
service provided by the U.S. Postal Service that permits giving the Postal Service instructions on how to handle mail that is undeliverable, such as forwarding instructions or receipt of a changed address
ancillary service endorsements
condition in which levels of hemoglobin in the red blood cells are insufficient; caused by decreased healthy red cell production by the bone marrow, increased erythrocyte destruction, or blood loss from heavy menstrual periods or internal bleeding
anemia
medication that causes the partial or complete loss of sensation
anesthesia
abnormal widening or ballooning of a portion of an artery, related to weakness in the vessel wall
aneurysm
X-ray visualization of blood vessels after a radiopaque material has been injected into them
angiography
surgical vessel repair procedure frequently used to reopen a blocked coronary artery
angioplasty
eating disorder associated with a distorted sense of body image and the persistent quest for thinness, at times to the point of emaciation
anorexia nervosa
agency that answers phone calls and forwards messages to directed recipients
answering service
muscle that counteracts, or opposes, the action of another muscle
antagonist
the inner-elbow area
antecubital space
deadly infectious disease caused by Bacillus anthracis
anthrax
science of size, proportion, weight, and height
anthropometry
specialized proteins that lock onto and have the ability to neutralize specific antigens
antibodies
immune response in which B lymphocytes produce antibodies that seek out and destroy foreign antigens; also called humoral immunity
antibody-mediated response
a chemical that prevents blood from clotting and keeps it in its liquid form
anticoagulant
foreign substance that invades the body
antigen
agent used for hand hygiene
antiseptic
absence of urine
anuria
largest artery of the body into which blood enters after it leaves the left ventricle
aorta
heart rate that is counted at the apex of the heart
apical
absence of breathing for more than 19 seconds
apnea
oldest system of measurement in which dry weight is measured in grains
apothecary system
formal submission to an insurance carrier to question a denied claim that includes additional and detailed information beyond that which was submitted with the original claim
appeal
inflammation of the appendix caused by a blockage of the inside of the appendix (the lumen), which leads to increased pressure, impaired blood flow, and potentially gangrene and rupture
appendicitis
one of the two divisions of the skeletal system, consisting of the 126 bones, including the shoulder and pelvic girdles, as well as extremities, that are not part of the axial skeleton
appendicular skeleton
small appendage attached to the cecum, which has no known function in humans
appendix
software installed in a computer to perform specific tasks such as word processing, creating spreadsheets, desktop publishing, and Internet browsing
form usually completed at the time of the job interview that includes personal information and previous work experience
application
watery fluid that fills the anterior cavity of the eyeball
aqueous humor
report that categorizes a company’s accounts receivable (AR) according to the length of time since they have been billed to determine what action, if any, should be taken on a given account; for example, accounts less than 30 days old are considered current; Medicare accounts over 30 days old should be investigated
AR aging analysis
a hearing or determination of the outcome of a dispute or the settling of a difference between parties by a person or persons selected to direct the parties to an agreement
arbitration
stored for later retrieval
achived
therapy that utilizes pleasant smells
aromatherapy
irregular heartbeat caused by a disturbance of normal electrical activity of the heart; pulse with an irregular rhythym
arrhythmia
measurement of oxygen and carbon dioxide in arterial blood
arterial blood gases (ABGs)
ABGs
arterial blood gases
blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood away from the heart to the cells
arteries
a thickening and loss of elasticity of the arteries; also called hardening of the arteries
arteriosclerosis
inflammation of one or more joints caused by various disease processes
arthritis
the place where two bones connect, with the positioning of the bones determining they type of movement the joint performs; also called joints
articulation
