health science internship vocabulary by: cindy quisenberry

Health Science InternshipVocabulary

By: Cindy Quisenberry

Acute Problem that begins rapidly and typically lasts 7-10 days; then the person recovers

Chronic An ongoing illness or condition that does not have cure, usually has gradual onset, and lasts for a long time

Long Term Care FacilityPart of the health care system that provides rehabilitation, continuous supportive, high level nursing, respite or hospice care for an extended period of time

Interdisciplinary TeamA group of caregivers from all departments in a facilityNursingMedicinePhysical therapySocial servicesEtc.

Nursing AssistantA trained member of the healthcare team who provides the majority of hands-on resident (patient) care

Charge NurseA nurse who has the day-to-day responsibility for supervising nurse assistants, nurses, and organizing patient care on their assigned hall, unit, etc.

Alzheimer’s Disease

A progressive, incurable disease that affects the brain and causes memory loss and eventual death

BiologicalsMedical products made from living organisms, such as vaccinations or blood products

Cognitive ImpairmentDisruption in knowledge, memory, awareness, or judgment

CollaborationThe act of working together

Conflict ResolutionUse of effective communication to resolve problems

ConvalescentRecovering health and strength gradually after sickness and weakness

Intravenous

Entering through a vein

Hospice CareA program with a specially trained interdisciplinary team that cares for a terminally ill resident who is expected to die within 6 months

Intellectually Disabled A person with impaired mental skills, characterized both by a significant below average score on a test of mental ability or intelligence and by limitations in the ability to function in areas of daily life; sometimes called cognitive disability or mental retardation

Mental RetardationCondition in which the individual has significantly below average intelligence and minimal adaptive skills

Adaptive SkillsSkills people use every day to live, work, and play

Occupational TherapistWorks with fine motor skills to help individuals keep using their hands and arms for activities

Physical TherapistWorks with individuals to improve functional mobility so individuals can maintain or increase their physical abilities, such as walking

RestorativeDesigned to help one to return to health and be as independent and functional as possible

SpeechTherapist/Speech-language PathologistAssess, treat, and prevent communication and swallowing disorders, such as patients who:

cannot make speech sounds or cannot make them clearly

stutterhave inappropriate pitchhave difficulty understanding and producing language

have oral motor problems with eating and swallowing

Recreation TherapyWorking with residents to help them stay active

Subacute CareCare provided to individuals who do not need to be in the hospital but are not ready to be at home

GerontologyA branch of knowledge dealing with aging

Respite CareAn interval of rest or relief - usually rest or relief for families who have been providing care for their loved one

Dental AssistantPerform both preparatory and break-down duties in the office. Some of these duties include disinfecting and laying out instruments for a dentist, obtaining patients' dental records, handing instruments to dentists during procedures and instructing patients on how to care for their teeth after they leave the dentist's office.

Dental HygienistPerforms tasks that are more advanced and independent; perform several tasks that were only done by dentists in the past. Their duties may include polishing patients' teeth, removing hard and soft deposits from teeth and using several tools to remove tartar, plaque and stains. Hygienists may also develop x-ray film.

Significant OtherPerson who is very close and important to another person, but who is not related by a traditional family relationship or marriage; usually refers to a sexual partner outside of marriage

Medical Doctor (Physician)Abbreviation for Doctor of Medicine. Sometimes written today as MD .

All medical schools in the United States and Canada award an MD degree, usually after 4 years undergraduate study at a college or university followed by 4 years of medical school.

Doctor of Osteopathy (Physician)Abbreviation for Doctor of Osteopathy. Sometimes written today as DO.

All schools of Osteopathy in the United States and Canada award an DO. degree, usually after 4 years undergraduate study at a college or university followed by 4 years of medical school.

Physicians (MD & DO)After medical school, both DOs and MDs obtain graduate medical education through internships, residencies and fellowships. This training lasts three to eight years and prepares DOs and MDs to practice a specialty.

Physicians (MD & DO)Both DOs and MDs can choose to practice in any specialty of medicine—such as pediatrics, family medicine, psychiatry, surgery or ophthalmology.

DOs and MDs must pass comparable examinations to obtain state licenses.

DOs and MDs both practice in accredited and licensed health care facilities.

Medical Director/ HospitalistThe staff physician that treat the patients/residents medical conditions and directs general medical care.

Director of Nursing (DON)Supervises the nursing staff and sets the philosophy and approach for caregiving

Nursing StaffThe largest department; The nursing staff help residents with the activities of daily (ADL’s), medical treatments, medications, and health promotion. Staff includes registered and licensed nurses and nursing assistants.

Social WorkerCounsel patients/residents and their families; they might help residents apply for Medicaid, arrange for home care services, etc.

AdministratorManages a facility and directs all staff. The administrator’s goal is to make sure each patient/resident’s quality of life and care needs are met.

HousekeepingKeeps the inside of the facility clean.

BookkeepingManages accounting, payroll, and purchasing.

Dietitian/Nutritionist

Plans and prepares meals, assesses a patient’s/resident’s likes and dislikes, and ensures good nutrition.

DisabilityLack of a full physical or mental function

RehabilitationThe process of restoring to a former state

Rehabilitative

Restoring to former health

OptimalMost desirable or satisfactory; highest

PreferencesPersonal choices or favorites

PremiumsPayments for insurance policies

AccreditTo recognize or vouch for as conforming with a standard

AdmissionAdministrative procedure for entering a facility; opposite of discharge

DischargeAdministrative procedure for leaving a facility; opposite of admission

ResidentialLong term care facility in which people live

Restraint

Device used to restrict movement

MedicareFederal health care insurance for the elderly.

Pays for a limited number of days in a facility; after that, the person must turn to Medicaid or their own resources to pay for care

MedicaidState and federal program that pays the costs for people with limited income and assets. It was originally intended to meet the healthcare needs only of the poor.

Is a major part of the US long-term care system b/c so many people cannot pay in other ways.

Managed Care PlansA type of private insuranceVaries from state to state

Centers for Medicare an d Medicaid Services (CMS)Provides health insurance for 74 million US citizens through Medicare, Medicaid, and other programs.

CMS oversees the surveying and certification of long term care facilities.

Facilities must follow CMS regulations to receive reimbursement

JCAHO - Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare OrganizationsEvaluates and accredits health care organizations and programs in the US.

Organizations seek JCAHO accreditation in order to receive managed care contracts.

Assisted Living FacilitiesProvide 24-hour supervision in a home-like setting. Support services are based on each resident’s needs. Services may include help with eating, bathing, dressing, toileting, taking medicine, transportation, laundry, housekeeping, etc.

Intermediate Care FacilitiesHave a wide variety of services for mentally and developed mentally disabled persons. Care focuses on helping the person become as independent as possible. Staff work with the skills of each person and build success from that starting point.

LTACHLong Term Acute Care Hospital - A long term acute care facility is a specialty-care hospital designed for patients with serious medical problems that require intense, special treatment for an extended period of time—usually 20 to 30 days.

Long term acute care facilities offer more individualized and resource-intensive care than a skilled nursing facility, nursing home or acute rehabilitation facility.

ContractureDeformity caused by a permanent shortening of a muscle or ligament, or by scar tissue

Resuscitate

To revive from apparent death

Values

Beliefs people have about what is important to them

Shift Scheduled period of work for a group of people (day shift, evening shift, night shift, 7a-7p, etc.)

Inservice

Educational programs taught to staff while on the job

Wing/Hall

Separate section of a building attached to the central section

Confidentiality Keeping information private

Grievance A formal complaint

OBRA (Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act) Nursing home reform bill – defined residents’ rights

Right to exercise one’s rightsRight to privacy and confidentialityRight to informationRight to chooseRight to notification of changeProtection of residents’ personal fundsGrievance rights