Chapter 1- The Professional Medical Assistant and the Healthcare Team Vocab

Allopathic

A system of medical practice that treats disease by the use of remedies, such as medications and surgery, to produce effects different from those caused by the disease under treatment; medical doctors (MDs) and osteopaths (DOs) practice allopathic medicine; also called conventional medicine.

Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM)

a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products that are not presently considered to be a part of conventional medicine

Conscientious

Meticulous; Careful

Contamination

The process by which something becomes harmful or unusable through contact with something unclean

Critical thinking

The constant practice of considering al aspect of a situation when deciding what to believe or what to do

Demeanor

Behavior towards others, outward manner

Detrimental

Harmful

Hospice

A concept of care that involves health professionals and volunteers who provide medical, psychological, and spiritual support to terminally ill patients and their loved ones

Holistic

A form of healing that considers the whole person (body,mind,spirit,emotions) in individual treatment plans

Indicator

An important point or group of statistical values that, when evaluated, indicates the quality of care provided in a healthcare facility.

Initiative

The ability to determine what needs to be done and to take action on your own

integrity

Adhering to ethical standards or rights conduct standards

Learning Styles

The way people perceives and processes information to learn new materials

Mnemonic

A learning device (e.g., an image, a rhyme, or a figure of speech) that a person uses to help him or her remember information.

Morale

Emotional or mental condition with respect to cheerfulness and confidence

Negligence

Failure to act as a reasonably prudent person would under similar circumstances such conduct falls below the standards of behavior established by law for the protection of others against unreasonable risk of harm

Overlearn

To learn or memorize beyond the point of proficiency or immediate recall

Patient Navigator (care coordinator)

A person who identifies patients' needs and barriers and assists by coordinating care and identifying community and healthcare resources to meet the needs.

Processing

How an individual internalizes new information and makes it his or her own.

Perceiving

How an individual looks at information and sees it as real.

Reflection

The process of thinking about new information so as to create new ways of learning

Reliable

Dependable, able to be trusted

Triage

The process of sorting patients to determine medical need and priority of care