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
