Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A physician, such as a cardiologist or gastroenterologist, whose specialty requires performance of interventions, such as placement of cardiac pacemakers or procedures through a gastroscope.  

Written questions sent by one party in a lawsuit to the adverse (opposing) party, in preparation for the trial of the suit. Interrogatories are part of the process of discovery, and must be answered by the adverse party within a certain amount of time.  

An international membership organization organized in 1985 to encourage research, education, cooperation, and the exchange of information concerning the clinical and social implications of health care technologies, and to foster their optimal utilization. The organization publishes a newsletter (no title) and The International Journal of Technology Assessment in Health Care (IJTAHC).  

The 1975 revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) series of statistical classifications, which was expanded for North American use into the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). One often finds reference to use of ICD-9 as the disease classification system being employed in clinical settings, research, and reimbursement systems in the…

An extension of the neoplasm chapter (Chapter II) of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), published by the World Health Organization, Geneva, 1990. Although listed as the second edition, the first edition was an extension of The International Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death, Ninth Revision.  

A classification and coding system developed by the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities (CPHA) for certain hospital-provided services in order to standardize patient care data and to facilitate computer handling of those data. Schemas are available for laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, and drugs. Similar schemas are under development for supplies, anesthesia, cardiology, respiratory therapy,…

A variety of home health care which includes daily care for a two- to three-week period and thereafter under “exceptional circumstances.”  

A portion of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) which is organized so as to provide “intermediate care” (the other portion of the SNF, that portion giving “skilled nursing care,” would be the facility’s “skilled nursing unit” (SNU)). Rarely is an intermediate care unit a portion of an acute hospital. The acronym ICU for an intermediate…

A free-standing facility which provides intermediate care for mentally retarded patients.  

A plan required by federal regulations for each patient in a long-term care facility (LTCF). The plan must define the patient’s problems and needs, and must also set forth measurable goals, approaches to the care, and the profession (department or service) responsible for the care of the patient. An IPCP is sometimes referred to by…