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.
acute and subacute
definition of the words acute and subacute
definition of the words acute and subacute
adjuvant therapy
The definition of adjuvant therapy.
The definition of adjuvant therapy.
allopathic medicine
definition of allopathic medicine
definition of allopathic medicine
alternative medicine
the definition of alternative medicine
the definition of alternative medicine
apomediation - the definition of apomediation
apomediation - the definition of apomediation, apomediate, apomediary or apomediator
apomediation - the definition of apomediation, apomediate, apomediary or apomediator
balance billing
The definition of balance billing when used in a medical billing context
The definition of balance billing when used in a medical billing context
black box warning (from the FDA)
Definition of black box warning
Definition of black box warning
CAM - Complementary and Alternative Medicine
The definition of CAM, the acronym for 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
The definition of catastrophic health insurance
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of drug treatment. Learn the full definition of chemotherapy.
Chemotherapy is a type of drug treatment. Learn the full definition of chemotherapy.
chronic
definition of the word chronic
definition of the word chronic
clinical - definition of clinical
definition of clinical
definition of clinical
comorbid, comorbidity
definition of the word comorbidity or comorbid
definition of the word comorbidity or comorbid
complementary medicine
the definition of complementary medicine
the definition of complementary medicine
Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
The Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act (COBRA)
contraindication
contraindication
contraindication
curative care
Definition of curative care.
Definition of curative care.
cyberchondria
cyberchondria, cyberchondriac
cyberchondria, cyberchondriac
defensive medicine
the definition of defensive medicine
the definition of defensive medicine
diagnosis
definition of diagnosis
definition of diagnosis
differential diagnosis
definition of differential diagnosis
definition of differential diagnosis
disease management
definition of disease management
definition of disease management
drug class, drug classification, class of drugs
What is a class of drugs?
What is a class of drugs?
EMTALA, The Emergency Medical Treatment and Labor Act
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?
What is the difference between a pandemic and an epidemic?
evidence-based
evidence-based
evidence-based
FMLA - The Family Medical Leave Act
FMLA - The Family Medical Leave Act
FMLA - The Family Medical Leave Act
formulary
definition of formulary
definition of formulary
Frequent Flyer - What Is a (Healthcare) Frequent Flyer?
What do medical professionals mean by "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.
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
Description of HON, the Health on the Net Foundation
healthcare rationing
A description of rationing of health care or medical care
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
HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of the US Federal Government
homeopathy, homeopathic
Definition of Homeopathy, Homeopathic
Definition of Homeopathy, Homeopathic
idiopathic
definition of idiopathic
definition of idiopathic
integrative medicine
The definition of 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
Definitions or descriptions of both Medicine 2.0 and Health 2.0
metastasize
metastasize, metastasis, metastasized
metastasize, metastasis, metastasized
never events
The National Quality Forum has listed "never events" to help quantify patient safety.
The National Quality Forum has listed "never events" to help quantify patient safety.
nocebo or nocebo effect
the definition of nocebo
the definition of nocebo
nosocomial infections - what are nosocomial infections?
The definition of a nosocomial infections
The definition of a nosocomial infections
obecalp or cebocap
obecalp or cebocap
obecalp or cebocap
off label
Definition of off label.
Definition of off label.
orphan diseases - the definition of orphan diseases
a definition and description of orphan diseases
a definition and description of orphan diseases
orphan drug
definition of orphan drug
definition of orphan drug
over-the-counter
over-the-counter
over-the-counter
palliative care
Definition of palliative care.
Definition of palliative care.
Pandemic - the definition of Pandemic
pandemic, pandemic flu, pandemic disease
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
definition of pedigree as it applies to the pharmaceutical industry, as determined by the FDA
peer-reviewed
Definition of "peer-reviewed."
Definition of "peer-reviewed."
physician extenders
Physician extenders are a new category of healthcare providers.
Physician extenders are a new category of healthcare providers.
placebo
definition of placebo
definition of placebo
prognosis
The definition of prognosis
The definition of prognosis
prophylactic treatment or care
definition of prophylactic care
definition of prophylactic care
quack
Learn the definition of quack as used in medicine.
Learn the definition of quack as used in medicine.
reimbursement
the definition of reimbursement in a healthcare context
the definition of reimbursement in a healthcare context
rescission - health insurance term
definition of "rescission" in a health insurance policy context
definition of "rescission" in a health insurance policy context
somatoform disorders
definition of somatoform disorders and conversion disorders
definition of somatoform disorders and conversion disorders
standard of care
definition of 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
the definition of step therapy or step protocol when used with pharmaceutical drugs
telemedicine - the definition of telemedicine
The definition of telemedicine
The definition of telemedicine
therapeutic
definition of therapeutic
definition of therapeutic
transparency (health or medical care related)
the definition of transparency when used in a medical or healthcare framework
the definition of transparency when used in a medical or healthcare framework
trashcan diagnosis
definition of "trashcan diagnosis"
definition of "trashcan diagnosis"
Woo or "Woo woo"
Definition of "Woo" or "Woo Woo"
Definition of "Woo" or "Woo Woo"