Category: I

Lacking the ability to make decisions. Competency is relative, and standards of legal competency will vary according to the type of decision to be made. For example, competency to make decisions about one’s own health care treatment requires the ability to understand one’s condition, the options available, and the potential consequences of the various alternatives.…

An event in the hospital which does not comport with the standards of the hospital, or which is unexpected and undesirable. For example, a patient leaving against medical advice (AMA) or a patient’s adverse reaction to administration of a drug might be classified by a hospital as “incidents.” Sometimes “incident” is used more narrowly to…

A health benefits plan which provides a built-in incentive for its beneficiaries to reduce their use of the plan’s services. The incentive may consist of monetary or other rewards.  

A cell taken from a culture of cells which is being reproduced outside the body. A cell taken directly from a living organism is called a primary cell.  

A term which covers the variety of technologies which result in pictures (images) of body structures or functioning. The first imaging technology was, perhaps, medical illustration. Then came conventional radiology (x-ray). The next technology to gain prominence was computed tomography (CT) scanning. To these have been added magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), diagnostic ultrasound, single photon…

A new use of the term “imaging” by the archiving industry. The term had already been well established to include a number of technologies which produce pictures of body structures or functioning, see” imaging (diagnostic)”. The archiving industry uses it to mean, primarily, storing analog images and digital images of documents (including text, x-rays, electrocardiograph…

A genus of widely distributed parasitic ticks. Several species are responsible for transmitting the diseases tularemia, Rocky Mountain spotted fever, and Russian spring-summer encephalitis. The bite of a few species can give rise to a serious paralysis, caused by a toxin in the tick’s saliva. A classification of parasitic arachnids known for transporting the bacterium…

A drug that dilates blood vessels and is used to improve blood flow in such conditions as cerebrovascular disease and arteriosclerosis and to inhibit contractions in premature labor. It is administered by mouth or injection and rarely it may cause flushing, increased heart rate, dizziness, and nausea.  

Inability of the kidneys to produce either a concentrated or a dilute urine. This occurs in the final stages of renal failure. Having a uniform urinary specific gravity and osmolarity despite marked variations in plasma osmolarity; a sign of impaired renal tubular function.  

A parasympatholytic drug that prevents muscle spasm in the digestive system and helps to reduce acid secretion in the stomach. It is administered by mouth for the treatment of stomach and duodenal ulcers. Side-effects can include dry mouth, disturbed vision, increased heart rate, difficulty in urination, and constipation.