Med-Speak / Patient Empowerment Glossary
An empowered patient knows the importance of understanding med-speak - the terms providers use to explain a treatment, diagnosis, or other piece of medical information, or unfamiliar terminology used to describe your journey through the healthcare system. Knowing how to use these terms 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
adjuvant therapy
The definition of adjuvant therapy.
ADR - what does ADR stand for?
The definition of the acronym ADR
allopathic medicine
definition of allopathic medicine
alternative medicine
the definition of alternative medicine
ambulatory - the definition of ambulatory
The definition and use of the word "ambulatory".
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
Biobanks - What is biobanking?
Learn more about biobanks and the practice of biobanking human specimens.
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
Capitation - the Definition of Capitation
The definition of the term "capitation" when used in healthcare
Catastrophic Health Insurance or Catastrophic Health Plan
The definition of catastrophic health insurance
catheter and catheterization
description of a catheter and catheterization used in a medical setting
chemotherapy
Chemotherapy is a type of drug treatment. Learn the full definition of chemotherapy.
chronic
definition of the word chronic
clinical - definition of clinical
definition of clinical
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
covered entities - what is a HIPAA covered entity
The HIPAA definition of covered entities
Cryptogenic
the definition of cryptogenic when used as a medical term
curative care
Definition of curative care.
cyberchondria
cyberchondria, cyberchondriac
DABDA - An Acronym That Describes Grief
An explanation for the acronym DABDA.
Darwin's Theory of Evolution
How Charles Darwin's Theory of Evolution and Natural Selection affect our healthcare.
debride, debridement
definition of the words debride, or debridement
defensive medicine
the definition of defensive medicine
diagnosis
definition of diagnosis
differential diagnosis
definition of differential diagnosis
disease management
definition of disease management
drug class, drug classification, class of drugs
What is a class of drugs?
emPatient or e-patient
What is an emPatient or an e-Patient?
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?
epidemiology - what is an epidemiologist's role?
Definition of epidemiology and an epidemiologist
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.
gossypiboma, textiloma
the definition of the noun, gossypiboma or textiloma
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
herd immunity - What is herd immunity?
the definition of herd immunity
HIPAA
HIPAA is the acronym for the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act of the US Federal Government
homeopathy, homeopathic
Definition of Homeopathy, Homeopathic
Iatrogenic - What Is the Definition of Iatrogenic?
What is the definition of iatrogenic?
idiopathic
definition of idiopathic
definition of incidentaloma
definition of incidentaloma
indolent - definition of the word indolent
definition of the word "indolent"
Immunocompromised
the definition of immunocompromised
inpatient - what does inpatient refer to?
The definition and use of the word "inpatient".
integrative medicine
The definition of integrative medicine
laparoscopic or laparoscopy - the definition of laparoscopic …
The definition of laparoscopic or laparoscopy, often used to describe surgery.
Levels of Medical Care: Primary, Secondary, Tertiary and Quaternary Care
Sometimes we hear medical professionals or our insurers talk about "levels of care," so knowing their definitions can be useful. Learn more about primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary care.
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
lifestyle drug - the definition of a lifestyle drug
the definition of a lifestyle drug, and some examples of lifestyle drugs and medicines
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
outpatient - what does outpatient refer to?
The definition and use of the word "outpatient".
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
polypharmacy - the definition of polypharmacy
What is the definition of polypharmacy?
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
sepsis and septicemia
the definitions and descriptions of sepsis and septicemia
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
Titration or titrated - The definition of titration or titrated
The definition and usage examples for the term "titrate" or "titrated" or "titration" when used in a medical sense.
transparency (health or medical care related)
the definition of transparency when used in a medical or healthcare framework
trashcan diagnosis
definition of "trashcan diagnosis"
Triage: Definition of Medical Triage and How It Works
The definition of triage, how medical triage works, the role of EMTs and nurses in triage.
upcoding - what is the definition of upcoding?
What is upcoding? What is the definition of upcoding?
Woo or "Woo woo"
Definition of "Woo" or "Woo Woo"
