Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

The end part of the hindgut in an embryo. The most posterior part of the embryonic hindgut. It becomes divided into the rectum and the urogenital sinus, which receives the bladder together with the urinary and genital ducts. A cavity lined with endoderm at the posterior end of the body that serves as a common…

A doctor, usually not a surgeon, who has considerable experience in treating patients. An person who uses a recognized scientific knowledge base and has the authority to direct the provision of personal health services to patients. An Institute of Medicine Report (lOM) recommends the use of the term clinician as defined here over the term…

A thermometer used in a hospital or by a doctor for measuring a person’s body temperature. Measurement of the temperature of warm-blooded organisms, especially humans. The oral temperature of the healthy human body ranges between 96.6° and 100°F (35.9° and 37.8°C). During a 24-hr period, a person’s body temperature may vary from 0.5° to 2.0°F…

A nurse who specialises in a particular branch of clinical care. A nurse with particular competence in certain areas such as intensive care, cardiology, oncology, obstetrics, or psychiatry. A clinical nurse specialist holds a master’s degree in nursing, preferably with emphasis in clinical nursing.  

The administrative manager of the clinical nursing staff of a hospital.  

Using information gathered from the treatment of patients in a hospital ward or in the doctor’s surgery.  

The responsibility given to doctors to coordinate audit, research, education, use of guidelines and risk management to develop a strategy to raise the quality of medical care. A concept, introduced in a UK government White Paper in 1997, aimed at ‘ensuring that all NHS organizations have in place proper processes for continuously monitoring and improving…

The ability of a procedure or treatment to achieve the desired result.  

The care and treatment of patients in hospital wards or in doctors surgeries.  

An evaluation of the standard of clinical care. A medical audit carried out by health professionals.