Definitions
ACE Inhibitor - an oral medicine that lowers blood pressure
Acute - rapid onset and short but severe course
Acute Care Facility
- a hospital that provides short-term patient care
Acute
Psychiatric
Hospital - a facility which provides 24-hour in-patient care for those
affected with short term or long term mental illness
Arthroscopy - a procedure using an instrument that allows a surgeon to
view the inside of a joint to show any problems
Average Length of Stay - the average number of days a patient stays at
the facility (Calculation: Total # of patient days divided by the # of
discharges for a given period)
Beds - an adult bed, pediatric bed, birthing room or newborn bed
maintained in a patient care area for lodging patients in acute, long-term or
domiciliary areas of the hospital
Beta blocker - medicine used to treat high blood pressure and other heart
conditions by reducing the heart rate and the heart's output of blood
Blood culture - a test to determine if bacteria, fungus or other
microorganisms are present in the blood
Bone Imaging - a diagnostic procedure for determining problems with your
bones, such as arthritis, infection, fractures, and tumors
Burn Intensive Care (BICU) - a special treatment unit for burned patients
needing more intensive care then typical medical/surgical patients, which is
staffed with specially trained personnel and outfitted with special equipment
used to care for burn patients
Cardiac Rehab - (short for Cardiac rehabilitation) is a comprehensive
program, including exercise, education and behavioral modification, for patients
with heart disease used to improve their physical and emotional health
Cardiac Cath Lab - (short for Cardiac Catheterization Laboratory) is a
specialized service for diagnosing and treating heart conditions
Cardiac Surgery - is surgery on the heart
Cardiovascular Services - services involving the heart and the blood
vessels
Cataracts - the clouding of the eye's natural lens, usually caused by
aging
Chronic - always present or reoccurring
Coronary Intensive Care (CCU) - an intensive care unit for patients with
life-threatening heart conditions, which is staffed with specially trained
personnel and outfitted with equipment required for intense, comprehensive
observation and care
Computed Tomography (CT) Scanner - a machine that uses a 360-degree x-ray
beam and computer production of images, which shows a cross-sectional view of
body organs and tissues
Computed Tomography Angiography (CTA) - a specialized x-ray that examines
blood flow in arteries when they are filled with a contrast material
Co-Pay or Co-Insurance - a capped contribution defined in the insurance
policy that the insured is expected to pay for a medical expense or prescription
at the time of visit
Deductible - the amount of money an insured must pay before the insurance
company's coverage plan begins
Discharges - the total number of patients released from a hospital after
being treated in the facility for a period of one night or more
Echocardiogram - a test in which ultrasound is used to examine the heart
Electroencephalography (EEG) - a test in which electrodes are placed on
the scalp to measure electrical activity produced by the brain
Electrophysiology - the study of electrical activity in the heart
Emergency Department - the section of a healthcare facility that provides
immediate, unscheduled outpatient care for victims of sudden illness or trauma
Emergency Services - services necessary to prevent death or serious
impairment
General Medical/Surgical Bed - (also called General Med-Surge Beds) - are
beds used for routine care
Hemodialysis - the use of a machine to clean wastes from the blood after
the kidneys have failed
HMO - Health Maintenance Organization - a type of medical insurance
coverage that specifically states which doctors and medical institutions
patients may use and which medical tests and procedures will be paid for by the
HMO
Hyperbaric Oxygen - oxygen that is at an atmospheric pressure higher than
the pressure at sea level
Inpatient procedure - a procedure that requires a patient to be admitted
to a hospital for treatment and to stay at least one night
Inpatient Surgery - surgery which requires the patient to be admitted and
stay in the hospital at least one night
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) - type of 3-dimensional
radiation therapy using computer images to show the size and shape of a tumor
Intensive Care Unit (ICU) - a separate, clearly designated treatment area
maintained within the facility solely for the care and treatment of patients who
are critically ill
Irregular heartbeat - a disturbance in the regular rhythm of the
heartbeat
Ischemia - a condition where the flow of oxygen-rich blood to a part of
the body is restricted
Joint Replacement - surgical replacement of a joint
Left Ventricular Function (LVF) - the pumping function of the heart
chamber supplying body circulation
Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction (LVSD) - abnormal activity of the
left chamber of the heart often occurring following a heart attack and
increasing the patients' risk for recurrent heart attacks, heart failure or
other fatal events
Lithotripsy (ESWL) - treatment to break up kidney stones so their
fragments can be passed through the urinary track
Long-Term Acute Care Hospitals (LTACHs) - specialty care hospitals
designed for extended stay patients with chronic conditions
Magnetic Resonance Angiography (MRA) - a machine that uses a large,
powerful magnet to create pictures of the blood vessels
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) - a non-invasive procedure using a
large, powerful magnet that produces a two-dimensional view of an internal organ
or structure
Mammography - a specific type of imaging that uses a low-dose x-ray
system for the examination of breasts
Medicare Cost Reports
- an annual report required of all institutions participating in the Medicare
program, which records each institution's total costs and charges associated
with providing services, the portion of those costs and charges allocated to
Medicare patients, and the Medicare payments received
MedPAR - Medicare Provider
Analysis and Review (MedPAR) data is information abstracted from the UB-92
billings for Medicare (A UB-92 is a common claim form used by a hospital to bill
for services provided to a patient)
Neurosciences - any of the sciences dealing with the nervous system
Nuclear Studies of the Heart - tests that show how well blood is flowing
to various portions of the heart muscle
Nursing Facility (NF) - a licensed facility housing chronically ill,
usually elderly, patients and providing long-term nursing care, rehabilitation
and other services; also commonly referred to as a long-term care facility
Obstetrics - the branch of medicine that deals with the care of women
during pregnancy, childbirth and the recovery period following delivery
Oncology Services - the branch of medicine dealing with tumors
Orthopedic Services - The branch of surgery dealing with the skeletal
system
Organ Transplant (Medicare certified) - a surgical operation in which a
failing or damaged organ in the human body is removed and replaced with a
functioning one (including heart, intestines, kidney, liver, lung and pancreas)
Outpatient procedure - a procedure that allows the patient to go home the
same day he or she was treated
Oxygenation assessment - measuring the oxygen level in the blood
PCI-Percutaneous Coronary Interventions (previously called Angioplasty,
Percutaneous Transluminal Coronary [PTCA], or Balloon Angioplasty) - encompasses
a variety of procedures used to treat patients with diseased arteries of the
heart
Physical Therapy - therapy using exercise and physical activity helping
to condition muscles and restore strength and movement
Pneumococcal vaccination - a shot to prevent pneumonia
Positron Emission Tomography (PET) - a specialized imaging method that
generates three-dimensional colored images of the body
PPO - Preferred Provider Organization - a managed care policy that gives
members access to a network of providers who charge reduced rates. Members pay
for care as it's needed.
Psychiatric - the branch of
medicine that deals with mental and emotional disorders
Radiation Therapy - cancer treatment with radiation
Radiology - the branch of medicine dealing with the use of radioactive
substances to diagnose and treat disease
Rehabilitation - the
process of restoring skills and normal functions to a person who has had an
illness or injury helping them to become self-sufficient
Rural Hospitals - Acute
care hospitals located in a rural area that have more than 25 beds
Single Photon Emission Computerized Tomography (SPECT) - an imaging
technique measuring blood flow within the brain
Skilled Nursing (SNF) - a long-term care service providing continuous
skilled nursing care for patients who have deteriorating condition requiring
skilled care or who show potential for improvement to a stabilized condition
Sleep Studies - study done overnight monitoring sleep activities used for
diagnosing and determining the type and severity of sleep disorders
Smoking cessation - to quit smoking
Special Care Beds - beds used for intensive care units, coronary care
units, etc.
Speech Therapy - therapy to correct speech disorders
Surgical Intensive Care (SICU) - a section of a hospital in which
patients need surgery because of sudden life threatening medical problem and are
placed under continuous monitoring with detailed care
Swing Beds - refers to a hospital's ability to use its beds to provide
either acute (regular hospital care) or skilled nursing level care
Thrombolytic Medication - medication used during a heart attack to
dissolve clots that may block blood flow in the coronary arteries
Ultrasound - a method of obtaining images from inside the human body
through the use of high-frequency sound waves
Vascular Surgery - surgery or procedures related to the blood vessels of
the body
Vascular Intervention - nonsurgical procedures used to treat arteries and
veins outside the coronary vascular system
Wound Care - care for an acute or chronic wound
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