Health Science Internship Vocabulary

1. Health Science InternshipVocabulary By: Cindy Quisenberry

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

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

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

5. A group of caregivers from all departments in a facility • Nursing • Medicine • Physical therapy • Social services • Etc. Interdisciplinary Team

6. A trained member of the healthcare team who provides the majority of hands-on resident (patient) care Nursing Assistant

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

8. A progressive, incurable disease that affects the brain and causes memory loss and eventual death Alzheimer’s Disease

9. Medical products made from living organisms, such as vaccinations or blood products Biologicals

10. Disruption in knowledge, memory, awareness, or judgment Cognitive Impairment

11. The act of working together Collaboration

12. Use of effective communication to resolve problems Conflict Resolution

13. Recovering health and strength gradually after sickness and weakness Convalescent

14. Entering through a vein Intravenous

15. Hospice Care • A program with a specially trained interdisciplinary team that cares for a terminally ill resident who is expected to die within 6 months

16. 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 Intellectually Disabled

17. Condition in which the individual has significantly below average intelligence and minimal adaptive skills Mental Retardation

18. Skills people use every day to live, work, and play Adaptive Skills

19. Works with fine motor skills to help individuals keep using their hands and arms for activities Occupational Therapist

20. Works with individuals to improve functional mobility so individuals can maintain or increase their physical abilities, such as walking Physical Therapist

21. Designed to help one to return to health and be as independent and functional as possible Restorative

22. Works with individuals who have difficulty with speech SpeechTherapist

23. Working with residents to help them stay active Recreation Therapy

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

25. A branch of knowledge dealing with aging Gerontology

26. Respite Care • An interval of rest or relief - usually rest or relief for families who have been providing care for their loved one

27. Perform 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 Assistant

28. Performs 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. Dental Hygienist

29. Person 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 Significant Other

30. 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. Medical Doctor (Physician)

31. 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.

32. 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)

33. 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. Physicians (MD & DO)

34. Medical Director/ Hospitalist • The staff physician that treat the patients/residents medical conditions and directs general medical care.

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

36. The 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. Nursing Staff

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

38. Manages 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. Administrator

39. Keeps the inside of the facility clean. Housekeeping

40. Manages accounting, payroll, and purchasing. Bookkeeping

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

42. Lack of a full physical or mental function Disability

43. The process of restoring to a former state Rehabilitation Rehabilitative • Restoring to former health

44. Most desirable or satisfactory; highest Optimal

45. Personal choices or favorites Preferences

46. Payments for insurance policies Premiums

47. To recognize or vouch for as conforming with a standard Accredit

48. Administrative procedure for entering a facility; opposite of discharge Admission

49. Administrative procedure for leaving a facility; opposite of admission Discharge

50. Long term care facility in which people live Residential