Medical Key Terms
The examination of a cadaver to determine or confirm the cause of death.
autopsy (aw’top-sē)
A licensed practitioner who has obtained education and licensing for 9 to 12 years and taken multiple tests known as board tests.
board-certified physician (bōrd sĕr’ti-fīd fi-zish’ŭn)
Patient health records created and stored on a computer or other electronic storage device. Also known as electronic medical records.
electronic health records (EHR) (ĕ-lek-tron’ik helth rek’ŏrdz)
Screening tests and drugs to prevent disease.
preventive care (prĕ-ven’tiv kār)
Verifies Patient insurance coverage
Processes Insurance claims
Obtains fees for procedures and services performed from both patients and insurance companies.
Billing and Insurance Specialist
The removal and examination of a sample of tissue from a living body for diagnostic purposes.
biopsy (bī’op-sē)
A physician who provides routine medical care and referrals to specialists.
primary care physician (PCP) (prī’mar-ē kār fi-zish’ŭn)
A subset of telehealth that indicates remote clinical services, such as diagnosis and monitoring by a licensed practitioner.
Telemedicine
Foods that have little or no processing before they are eaten.
whole foods (hōl fūdz)
A US based nonprofit organization with the goal of maintaining and elevating the standards of healthcare delivery through the evaluation and accreditation of healthcare organizations.
The Joint Commission (TJC)
A chemical secreted by a cell that affects the functions of other cells.
hormone (hōr’mōn)
Pathways of energetic flow that are distributed symmetrically throughout the body. These pathways are used in acupuncture, traditional Chinese medicine, and Ayurveda.
meridians (mĕr-id’ē-anz)
Place that provides care to people who need nursing or other professional healthcare services on a regular basis and it is unsafe for them to live alone.
Long-Term Care Centers
To assess the urgency and types of conditions patients present as well as their immediate medical needs.
triage (trē’ahzh)
Treat people who have pain or discomfort by inserting thin, hollow needles under the skin.
Acupuncturists
Specialized tissue that lines the body openings and cavities. Mucous membranes are found inside the mouth, digestive system, and lungs.
mucous membranes (myū’kus mem’brānz)
A philosophy of life and personal hygiene that views health as not merely the absence of illness but the fullest realization of one’s physical and mental potential, as achieved through positive attitudes, fitness training, a diet low in fat and high in fiber, and the avoidance of unhealthful practices.
wellness (wĕl’nĕs)
Uses whole-person approach to healthcare
Doctors of Osteopathy (DO)
Focus on health of individuals in order to protect, promote, and maintain health and well-being.
Preventive Medicine
4+ year bachelor's degree and use complex laboratory equipment to perform clinical tests.
Medical Technologists (MTs)
A severe, often fatal form of shock characterized by smooth muscle contraction and capillary dilation initiated by cytotropic (IgE class) antibodies.
anaphylactic shock (an’ă-fi-lak’tik shok)
A system of hands-on techniques that help relieve pain, restore motion, support the body’s natural functions, and influence the body’s structure. Osteopathic physicians study OMM in addition to medical courses.
osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM) (ŏs’tē-ō-păth’ĭk mă-nip’yū-lă-tiv med’i-sin)
Specialize in physical medicine and rehabilitation.
Physiatrists (Physical medicine Specialist)
Recognizes 24 specialties and subspecialties.
The American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS)
Performs tests to oversee quality control, to prepare and administer radioactive drugs, and to operate radiation detection instruments.
Nuclear Medicine Technologist