Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

A general term which covers any kind of alternative organizational arrangement for the delivery of health care, such as a health maintenance organization (HMO), in which payment for physician services is other than fee-for-service (FFS). Thus, an ADFS is a combination of an alternative delivery system (ADS) and an alternative financing system (AFS).  

A string of characters containing both letters of the alphabet and numerals. The term is usually applied to codes, which are typically either alphabetic (letters only), numeric (numerals only), or alphanumeric (both).  

That branch of medicine which deals with disorders due to allergy and diseases of the immune system. One of the medical specialties for which residency programs have been approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME).  

A state of readiness of the body to respond in an excessive manner to exposure to an allergen. The body must have had an initial exposure to the allergen, in response to which the immune system developed greater than normal immunity to the allergen. Subsequent exposure is then able to elicit an allergic reaction.  

A service restricted to the diagnosis and treatment of alcoholic patients. It does not include rehabilitation services.  

A service that includes services to enable the alcoholic patient to return to normal functioning. It is contrasted with alcoholism treatment, which confines itself to the acute episode of intoxication.  

A component of the Public Health Service (PHS), which is in turn a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). This PHS agency, run by the director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), was “created by the Superfund law to prevent or mitigate adverse human health effects and diminished…

A component of the U.S. Public Health Service (PHS), which is in turn a component of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS). Its stated mission is to be “the lead agency charged with supporting research designed to improve the quality of health care, -reduce its cost, and broaden access to essential services”. AHCPR’s…

Federal legislation prohibiting discrimination based on age in employment practices. The Act is codified at 29 U.S.C.A. sec 621. This law applies to everyone, regardless of whether they receive federal funding or not. Physician recruitment program criteria which is based on age or years out of medical school may violate the ADEA.  

The branch of preventive medicine which deals with the special problems of flying, both within and outside the atmosphere. One of the medical specialties for which residency programs have been approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME). Branch of medicine concerned with the selection of individuals for duty as pilots or crew…