1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Patient Empowerment

Med-Speak / Patient Empowerment Glossary

An empowered patient knows the importance of understanding med-speak -- the clinical terms physicians use to explain a treatment, diagnosis, or other piece of medical information. Knowing what these words mean and how they are used will help you navigate the system better, and improve your communication with your health providers.

What is epidemiology? What is an epidemiologist's role?

Definition of epidemiology and an epidemiologist

What is herd immunity?

the definition of herd immunity

acute and subacute

definition of the words acute and subacute

adjuvant therapy

The definition of adjuvant therapy.

allopathic medicine

definition of allopathic medicine

alternative medicine

the definition of alternative medicine

apomediation - the definition of apomediation

apomediation - the definition of apomediation, apomediate, apomediary or apomediator

balance billing

The definition of balance billing when used in a medical billing context

black box warning (from the FDA)

Definition of black box warning

CAM - Complementary and Alternative Medicine

The definition of CAM, the acronym for complementary and alternative medicine

Catastrophic Health Insurance or Catastrophic Health Plan

The definition of catastrophic health insurance

chemotherapy

Chemotherapy is a type of drug treatment. Learn the full definition of chemotherapy.

chronic

definition of the word chronic

comorbid, comorbidity

definition of the word comorbidity or comorbid

complementary medicine

the definition of complementary medicine

compromised immune system or supressed immunity

What is a compromised immune system?

Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)

contraindication

contraindication

curative care

Definition of curative care.

cyberchondria

cyberchondria, cyberchondriac

defensive medicine

the definition of defensive medicine

diagnosis

definition of diagnosis

differential diagnosis

definition of differential diagnosis

disease management

definition of disease management

EMTALA, The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

EMTALA, the Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act

epidemic or pandemic - what is the difference between epidemic and pandemic?

What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?

evidence-based

evidence-based

FMLA - The Family Medical Leave Act

FMLA - The Family Medical Leave Act

formulary

definition of formulary

Frequent Flyer - What Is a (Healthcare) Frequent Flyer?

What do medical professionals mean by "frequent flyer"?

generic drugs (vs. branded or innovator drugs)

A generic drug is bioequivalent to a branded, or innovator, drug.

Health on the Net Foundation (HON)

Description of HON, the Health on the Net Foundation

healthcare rationing

A description of rationing of health care or medical care

HIPAA

HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of the US Federal Government

homeopathy, homeopathic

Definition of Homeopathy, Homeopathic

idiopathic

definition of idiopathic

integrative medicine

The definition of integrative medicine

Medicine 2.0 and Health 2.0

Definitions or descriptions of both Medicine 2.0 and Health 2.0

metastasize

metastasize, metastasis, metastasized

never events

The National Quality Forum has listed "never events" to help quantify patient safety.

nocebo or nocebo effect

the definition of nocebo

nosocomial infections - what are nosocomial infections?

The definition of a nosocomial infections

obecalp or cebocap

obecalp or cebocap

off label

Definition of off label.

orphan diseases - the definition of orphan diseases

a definition and description of orphan diseases

orphan drug

definition of orphan drug

over-the-counter

over-the-counter

palliative care

Definition of palliative care.

Pandemic - the definition of Pandemic

pandemic, pandemic flu, pandemic disease

pedigree or electronic pedigree (as they apply to the pharmceutical industry)

definition of pedigree as it applies to the pharmaceutical industry, as determined by the FDA

peer-reviewed

Definition of "peer-reviewed."

physician extenders

Physician extenders are a new category of healthcare providers.

placebo

definition of placebo

prognosis

The definition of prognosis

prophylactic treatment or care

definition of prophylactic care

quack

Learn the definition of quack as used in medicine.

reimbursement

the definition of reimbursement in a healthcare context

rescission - health insurance term

definition of "rescission" in a health insurance policy context

somatoform disorders

definition of somatoform disorders and conversion disorders

standard of care

definition of standard of care

step therapy or step protocol

the definition of step therapy or step protocol when used with pharmaceutical drugs

telemedicine - the definition of telemedicine

The definition of telemedicine

therapeutic

definition of therapeutic

transparency (health or medical care related)

the definition of transparency when used in a medical or healthcare framework

trashcan diagnosis

definition of "trashcan diagnosis"

Woo or "Woo woo"

Definition of "Woo" or "Woo Woo"
Explore Patient Empowerment
About.com Special Features

8 Ways to Cut Drug Costs

Learn how to save money on medications with these recommendations. More >

Healthy Bodies, Healthy Minds

Keep yourself, and your family, happy and healthy this fall with these tips. More >

  1. Home
  2. Health
  3. Patient Empowerment
  4. Med-Speak Glossary

©2009 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company.

All rights reserved.