Category: D
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Discovery rule
In malpractice, a rule in use in some jurisdictions under which the statute of limitations does not commence to run until the wrongful act is discovered or, with reasonable diligence, should have been discovered. The statute of limitations is the period of time ordinarily beginning with the wrongful act, dining which an injured party may…
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Discharge abstract
A summary description of an admission prepared upon a patient’s discharge from a hospital or other health facility. The abstract records selected data about the patient’s stay in the hospital, including diagnoses, services received, length of stay, source of payment and demographic information. The information is usually obtained from the patient’s medical record and abstracted…
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Direct cost
A cost which is identifiable directly with a particular activity, service or product of the program experiencing the cost.
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Diploma school
A program which educates registered nurses in a hospital, the diploma being given upon completion of the program and licensure as a registered nurse. Classroom and laboratory teaching may be given under an arrangement with a college, but are the responsibility of the hospital and no college level degree is given.
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Dictionary
A malevolent literary device for cramping the growth of language. This dictionary, however, is a most useful work. (From The Devil’s Dictionary.)
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Developmental disability
A disability which; originates before age 18: can be expected to continue indefinitely; constitutes a substantial handicap to the disabled’s ability to function normally in society; and is attributable to mental retardation, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, autism, any other condition closely related to mental retardation because it results in similar impairment of general intellectual functioning or…
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Detail person
A sales representative of a pharmaceutical manufacturer who promotes prescription drugs for use by physicians, dentists, and pharmacists. Such detailing includes personal presentations, advertising, and provision of drug samples and educational materials prepared by the manufacturers to professionals in their offices. Many detail persons are now pharmacists.
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Dental technician
An individual who makes complete and partial dentures, orthodontic appliances, bridgework, crowns, and other dental restorations and appliances, as prescribed by dentists. There were an estimated 32,000 dental technicians in 1972. Most dental technicians work in commercial dental laboratories. However, increasing numbers are employed by private dental practitioners and by Federal, State, and private institutions.…
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Dental health services
All services designed or intended to promote, maintain or restore dental health including educational, preventive, and therapeutic services.
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Dental health
A state of complete normality and functional efficiency of the teeth and supporting structures, the surrounding parts of the oral cavity, and the various structures related to mastication and the maxillo-facial complex.