Category: S

A society whose membership is made up of specialist physicians, such as surgeons or internists. Conversely, a “medical society” is a term generally used with reference to an association of physicians of various specialties, geographically defined (for example, a city, county, state, or national medical society). The medical staff of a hospital is not a…

An allied health professional for whom the American Medical Association’s Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation (CAHEA) has accredited education programs.  

An area of the hospital for critically ill or injured patients. Special care units include intensive care, burn, neonatal (newborn) intensive care, and cardiac care units.  

A significant factor in the upward spiral of health care costs in the U.S. The apparently normal human inclination to be more willing to spend somebody else’s money, rather than your own. A reduced incentive to shop more carefully for services and products, or forego them altogether.  

The repair or replacement of a defective gene by a technique which is treats only the somatic (body) cells of the individual, that is, the change produced by the therapy affect only that individual; it will not produce changes in the sperm cells or ova which will be inherited by offspring.  

Computer programs and systems, as contrasted with “hardware,” which refers to the physical (hard) components of the computer and its accessories.  

A national organization which was merged with the Society for Advanced Medical Systems (SAMS), forming the American Association for Medical Systems and Informatics (AAMSI).  

A national organization which was merged with the Society for Computer Medicine (SCM), forming the American Association for Medical Systems and Informatics (AAMSI).  

A member of the staff of a long-term care facility (LTCF) responsible for identification of the emotional and social needs of a patient and for the services to meet these needs. Note that this term pertains to the duties assigned the employee, rather than the employee’s qualifications.  

An approach to health care reform which would regulate insurers who sell policies to small businesses, to make insurance more available and affordable. Such regulations may, for example, outlaw cherry picking, predatory pricing, medical underwriting, and other questionable practices.