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HUC Cert Review 1-8
WeCare Online, Health Unit Coordinator Cert Course Review
Term | Definition |
---|---|
acuity | The severity of the patient's condition and the level of care needed for the patient. |
acute | A rapid onset and a short but severe course. |
Allergist | Specializes in allergies |
Anesthesiologist | Administers anesthesia during surgery or other major procedures |
angiography | X-ray study of the inside of the heart and blood vessels. It is done after a dye is injected. |
autonomy | The state of functioning independently, without outside influence, or being self-reliant |
Behavioral Health | Long Term A unit of facility for patients with psychiatric or mental illness diagnoses. |
BSN | Bachelor of Science in Nursing |
cardiac catheterization | A test in which a long tube is passed into the heart through a large blood vessel in an arm or leg. |
Cardio (dept) | Cardiology - Inpatient |
Cardiology (Cardio) | Inpatient; a unit where patients with heart diagnoses are admitted. |
Cardiologist | Specializes in the study and treatment of the heart |
cardiology | The study of the heart |
case management | A management system in which the case manager reviews patient care and changes systems to reflect the best possible treatment with the best possible outcomes. |
certification | Compliance with a set of standards defined by nongovernmental organizations |
chronic | Long-lasting and recurrent |
CICU | Coronary intensive care unit |
clinical care | Direct, hands-on care |
clinical laboratory | A room or building equipped for scientific analysis of body fluids and tissues |
clinical provider | One who provides direct patient care, care given with direct hands-on contact with the patient. |
CNA | Certified Nurse Assistant |
competency | The skills and/or abilities of an individual to perform the requirements of te job description |
coordination | The arrangement or harmonious functioning of parts for the requirements of the job description |
critical thinker | A member of the patient care delivery team who makes the critical decisions for the patients on the team, usually a registered nurse. |
department | A division, a section, or a separate part of a whole, a unit |
DO | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine |
DRG | Diagnosis Related Groups |
drug formulary | A listing of medications available in the facility's pharmacy |
dumbwaiter | Small mechanical pulley elevator large and sturdy enough to allow for portable equipment and supplies to be sent up vertically through the floors of the facility. |
Podiatrist | Treats foot disease |
PP | Postpartum |
Postpartum Department | The department where patients are admitted after they have a baby |
PPR | Postpartum Recovery |
Postpartum Recovery | The department where patients who have delivered a baby recover. |
Pre-op | Preoperative Unit |
Preoperative Unit | Inpatient unit where a patient is prepared for an operation |
Prenatal clinic | Outpatient department that provides ongoing services to patients during their pregnancy |
Progressive Care Unit/Step Down | Inpatient unit with special monitoring equipment. It may be a unit that provides a level of care between intensive and general |
Pulmonology | Inpatient unit where patients lung or respritory diagnoses are admitted. |
Radiologist | Specializes in performing and reading x-rays and other radioactive exams. |
Radiology | Outpatient department with equipment that makes images of internal organs and bones. This is usually a one-time service. |
Rehabilitation | Long term unit or facility for patients with physical disabilities requiring therapy, such as after a stroke or motor vehicle accident. |
RN | Registered Nurse |
RT | Respiratory Therapist |
SDS | Same Day Surgery, Outpatient |
Same Day Surgery | Outpatient Surgery |
SICU | Surgical Intensive Care Unit |
Sleep lab | Outpatient department that diagnoses and treats sleep disorders |
Social Security | A U.S. government program that provides financial support for people faced with disabilities, illness, old age, or unemployment |
Sports medicine | Outpatient department that provides health services to athletes |
Substance Abuse/Addiction | Long term department or facility for patients with addicition diagnoses |
Surg | Surgical, Inpatient |
Surgical | Inpatient unit where patients with scheduled inpatient surgery are admitted. |
team care | A system in which different members of a nursing care team provide patient care to meet the patient's needs. |
Telemetry | Inpatient cardiac unit with special heart-monitoring equipment |
ED | Emergency Department, Outpatient |
Emergency Department | Outpatient department that provides immediate medical attention. Many of the services offered by this department are on a one-time basis, but some medical problems require follow-up treatments in other departments of the health care facility. |
Epidemiologist | Deals with the causes, distribution and control of diseases. |
ER | Emergency Room, outpatient |
Emergency Room | Same as ED, outpatient |
Extended care facility | Long term facility that provides long-term inpatient care, such as a nursing home |
focused care | A patient care delivery system in which the patient is the focus of the care provided |
Gen | General, inpatient |
General | Inpatient unit where patients with medical diagnoses are admitted. Same as Medical Unit |
Genetics | Outpatient department that provides genetic testing or test that provide information about inherited diseases. This services would probably be done in just one or two visits. |
Gerontologist | Specializes in aging and diseases associated with aging. |
health care team | A team of health care providers who provide clinical and nonclinical care to the patient. |
Hemodialysis | Outpatient department with dialysis machines that are used to cleanse blood for patients whose kidneys are not able to filter blood. Usually this is an ongoing service, perhaps done every few days. |
Home care | Long term department that provides care and equipment to patients in their homes |
Hospice | Long term department or facility that provides inpatient or outpatient care to terminally ill patients |
HRP | High-risk perinatal |
High-risk Perinatal | department that provides services to patients with high-risk pregnancies |
HUC | Health Unit Coordinator |
ICD | International Classification of Disease |
inpatient | A patient who usually spends more than 24 hours in the health care facility and meets the criteria set forth by the health care facility. |
Internist | Experts on treating problems of the internal organs |
JCAHO | Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations |
job description | A written document describing the duties, responsibilities, skills, qualifications, and reporting relationships of a particular job. |
L&D | Labor and Delivery |
Labor and Delivery | the department where mothers in labor are admitted and babies are delivered |
LPN | Licensed Practical Nurse |
MD | Doctor of Medicine |
Med. | Medical, Inpatient |
Medical | Inpatient unit where patients with medical diagnoses are admitted; Same as General |
Medicaid | A U.S. program administered by each individual state to provide medical assistance for people with low incomes and resources |
medical staff | The licensed physicians who have privileges to admit and attend to patients in the health care facility |
Medicare | A U.S. federal health insurance program designed to provide all older adults with medical coverage at an affordable cost |
MICU | Medical Intensive care unit |
NAHUC | National Association of Health Unit Coordinators |
National Association of Health Unit Coordinators (NAHUC) | The only professional association for health unit coordinators |
Nephrology | Inpatient unit where patients with kidney diagnoses are admitted. |
Neuro | Neurology, Inpatient |
Neurology | Inpatient unite where patients with nervous system diagnoses are admitted |
NICU | Neonatal intensive care unit |
nonclinical | Indirect patient care or duties; care or duties performed without having direct physical or hands-on contact with the patient. |
nonclinical provider | One who provides only indirect care for the patient; does not provide care at the bedside or by touching the patient. |
NP | Nurse Practitioner |
Nursery | A unit for newborn babies |
nursing care team | A team of clinical and nonclinical nursing staff who provide care to the patient. |
Onc | Oncology, Inpatient |
Oncology | Inpatient unit where patients with cancer are admitted. |
Oncologist | Specializes in cancer |
OPS | Outpatient Surgery |
Outpatient Surgery | Outpatient unit where a patient will go before and after an operation that does not require an overnight stay. It is usually a one-time service. |
OR | Operating Room, Inpatient |
Operating Room | Inpatient department where surgery is performed |
Ortho | Orthopedic, Inpatient |
Orthopedic | Inpatient unit where patients with orthopedic or bone diagnoses are admitted. |
Outpatient | A patient who usually requires health care for less than 24 hours and meets the criteria set forth by the health care facility |
PA | Physician's Assistant |
PACU | Postanesthesia Care Unit, Inpatient |
Postanesthesia Care Unit | Inpatient department where surgical patients recover after receiving a general anesthesia during operation |
paper requisition | A paper form used for ordering tests from hospital departments |
patient care | |
patient classification system | A manual or computerized method used to determine patient acuity levels. It addresses criteria such as the tasks and characteristics associated with each patient. It is a method of determining, validating,& monitoring individual patient care requirements. |
Peds | Pediatrics, Inpatient |
Pediatrics | Inpatient unit where children are admitted. |
PDR | Physician's Desk Reference |
Physician's Desk Reference (PDR) | A medication reference book |
PICU | Pediatric intensive care unit |
PM&R | Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Outpatient |
Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | Outpatient department or group of departments that provides services to patiends needing physical, occupational, vocational or speech/communication therapy. The service provided by this dept is usually ongoing. |
terminal competency | The end goal of training; what a student has learned at the end of the training course |
total patient care | A patient care delivery system in which one care provider on each shift provides the entire care for a patient |
Trauma services | Outpatient department that treats serious or critical bodily injuries |
unit | a division, a section, a subgroup with a special function, a department |
unit census | a list of the names of all the patients within the unit and demographic information about each patient |
CT | computerized tomography |
computerized tomography | A technique for examining internal structures of the body that shows a detailed cross section of tissue structure. Is a highly accurate picture that shows the relationships of structures to each other. |
diagnose | to determine the type and cause of a health condition on the basis of a patient's signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, and information about family and occupational background as well as recent injuries or exposure to dangerous substances. |
diagnostic departments | Areas of a hospital, clinic, or long-term health care facility that examine the patient with specialized equipment to determine the nature or the cause of the disease as well as the extent of the injury or illness |
diagnostic x-ray | Electromagnetic radiation of shorter wavelength than visible light; can go through most substances and are used to investigate the integrity of certain structures. |
endoscopic | General term regarding visual examination of the body organs or cavities |
gastroenterologist | A physician who specializes in diseases and treatment of the stomach and intestines. |
gastroenterology | The study of the stomach, intestines, and related structures such as the esophagus, liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. |
gastrology | the study of the function and diseases of the stomach. |
MRI | Magnetic resonance imaging |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging | A noninvasive diagnostic technique that produces computerized images of internal body tissue and is based on nuclear magnetic resonance of atoms within the body induced by the application of radio waves. |
mammography | X-ray of the breast and its soft tissues. |
nuclear medicine | A branch of medicine that uses radioactive chemical elements in the diagnosis and treatment of disease. |
occupational therapist | A person licensed to work with patients who need help in activities of daily living |
occupational therapy | The training of patients with physical injury or illness, mental disease, or learning problems to work and live by themselves despite any health problem that might keep the patient from living a normal life. |
pathology | The study of the traits, causes, and effects of disease, as seen in the structure and workings of the body |
phlebotomist | One who draws blood from a vein |
physical therapist | A person who is licensed to assist in testing and treating physically disabled patients |
physical therapy | A profession that is responsible for the management of the patient's movement system |
pulmonary medicine | Pertains to the lungs and the breathing system |
pulmonologist | A physician who specializes in lung diseases |
radiology | A branch of medicine that uses radiant energy such as x-rays or ultrasound to prevent and treat disease |
respiratory therapist | A person who, under the guidance of a doctor, gives oxygen and helps patients do chest exercises to help patients with breathing difficulties |
respiratory therapy | Any treatment that maintains or improves the function of the respiratory tract |
speech therapist | A person trained in speech pathology who treats people with disorders affecting normal speech |
speech therapy | Therapeutic treatment of speech defects |
therapeutic department | A department in which patients receive treatment |
ultrasound | The use of high-frequency sound to create images of the internal anatomy. |
ADL | Activities of Daily Living |
U/S | Ultrasound |
Echocardiogram | An exam using sound frequencies to study the function of the heart |
Electrocardiogram | An exam that records electrical impulses of the heart |
ECG/EKG | Electrocardiogram |
Holter monitor | A device that monitors heart activity throughout the course of the day. A patient wears electrodes, and the heart activity is recorded on a small tape recorder that the patient wears around the waist or chest. |
Bronchoscopy | Visualization of the trachea, bronchi, and bronchial tree. |
Colonoscopy | Visualization of the lining of the large intestine |
Gastroscopy | Visualization of the inside of the stomach |
Proctoscopy | Visualization of the rectum and lower end of the colon |
Clinical laboratory technologist | Persons who work in any of the various clincal lab sections after appropriate training. The clinical assistant my assist in the collection, preparing, and recording of body fluid specimens. THere are different levels clinical lab techs. |
Clincical pathology technologists | Persons whose main responsibility is examining and analyzing body fluids, tissues, and cells. They usually have a Bachelor's degree or certificate from a hospital. |
Pathologists | Physicians who specialize in disease and work performed in the clinical lab |
Pathology assistants | Persons who assist in autopsies, dissections and processing of tissue. |
Pathology secretaries | Persons who assist pathologists as a receptionist and by arranging meetins and typing reports |
business office | Has responsibilities for calculating the patient account and for sending and monitoring the patient's hospital bill. |
chaplains | On-call ministers of vaious faiths who provide spiritual support when needed |
clinical information services | Another name for the medical records department |
computer services department | A department that provides assistance to health care facility personnel regarding computer hardware and software |
direct support services | Services provided face to face with patients to enhance the health care stay, yet not necessarily providing patient care |
environmental services | Another name for housekeeping staff |
hospital information management | Another name for the medical records department |
human resources | The department, also known as employment or personnel, that is responsible for interviewing and offering positions to qualified applicants. |
HVAC | A division of the maintenance department focusing on the heating, ventilation and air conditioning of a health care facility. |
indirect support services | Services provided that assist in the care of the patient but do no involve face to face contact with the patient |
information services | another name for computer services |
loss prevention | another name for the security department |
medical records | The department responsible for storing patient records, coordinating release of information and tabulating data from records for research purposes. |
security department | A department that works to ensure the safety and security of patients, visitors, and health care facility staff |
support services | Services provided in the health care setting that assist the staff in providing patient care or provide patient assistance |
CIS | Clinical Information Serivces |
CPR | Cardiopulmonary resuscitation |
HIM | Hopsital Information Management |
HVAC | Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning |
IS | Information Services |
OSHA | Occupational Safety and Health Administration |
PAS | Patient Access Services |
administration | The group of managment people administratively responsible for the health care system |
CEO | Chief Executive Officer |
Chief Executive Officer | The individual having overall responsibility for coordinating the health care system |
CFO | Chief Financial Officer |
Chief Financial Officer | The individual having responsibility for the financial policies and procedures of the health care system |
director of nursing | The individual having responsibility for the nursing departments and nursing department employees who deliver patient care |
DON | Director of Nursing |
governing board | Also called hospital board, board of directors, or board of trustees; a group of people selected from the community to develop organizational and operational policy for the health care system. |
leadership team | The group of people who head the various divisions, departments, and units of the health care system; the administration |
middle management | The group of managers between the employees and the leadership team |
mission statement | A written statement of purpose that defines the essence of the health care system |
nurse manager | A nurse who manages a patient care unit |
vision statement | A written statement definingthe health care system's future and the direction that will be pursued in achieving it. |