Healthcare can be confusing. When you add in all the medical jargon and acronyms, it can be difficult to decipher. But you don’t need a degree to understand some of the common healthcare terms. We’re here to help.
The following are some of commonly misunderstood medical terms simplified for you. By understanding these you can take control of your health and feel more confident and informed when the time comes that you or your loved one are faced with a medical emergency.
Healthcare Terms
Acute – A sudden onset of a medical condition
Acute care – A setting of care for treatment of short-term needs, such as a hospital or urgent care facility
ADLs – Activities of Daily Living such as grooming, dressing and personal hygiene
Ambulation – The act of walking
Aspiration – The breathing in of a foreign object, such as food or liquids, into the lungs
Chronic – A condition or illness that lasts or reoccurs over time
CMS – Center for Medicare/Medicaid Services
Comorbidity – additional medical conditions that are not the primary reason for treatment
Continence – The ability to control the bladder and bowels
CVA – Cerebrovascular Accident, commonly called a “stroke”
DVT – Deep Vein Thrombosis is a blood clot occurs deep within the veins
Dysphagia – Difficulty swallowing and moving food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach
Glucose – A simple sugar often a component of carbohydrates that serves as an energy source
HDL – High-Density Lipoprotein, also known as “good” cholesterol
Hypertension – Also known as high blood pressure, is when the pressure of blood flow is too high, causing the heart to work harder
Hypotension – Also known as low blood pressure, is when the pressure of blood flow is too low
Incontinence – The inability to control the bladder and bowels
Inpatient – A setting where a patient stays overnight at the hospital or facility while receiving treatment and recovering
LDL – Low-Density Lipoprotein, also known as the “bad” cholesterol, forms plaque in the blood vessels, which can lead to health concerns such as heart attack and stroke
Left neglect – A deficit or impairment in awareness of the left side of the body caused by an injury or condition in the right side of the brain
Length of stay – The time a patient stays in a setting of care
LPN – Licensed Nurse Practitioner
Morbid obesity – Having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or greater or weighing 80 to 100 pounds over normal weight
Myocardial infarction – The medical term for a heart attack
Outpatient – When a patient receives treatment, but is not admitted to the hospital or facility
OT – Occupational Therapist
PCP – Primary Care Physician
Prognosis – The likely course or progression of a disease or condition
Premorbid – Occurring or existing before the onset of a disease or illness
Post-acute care – A setting of care where patients receive care after or in lieu of an acute care stay, such as inpatient rehabilitation hospitals, home health and skilled nursing facilities
PT – Physical Therapist
Readmission – When a patient returns to the hospital after a prior stay within 30 days
RN – Registered Nurse
SLP – Speech Language Pathologist, or speech therapist
Sliding scale insulin – The sliding scale takes into account that glucose levels can vary before and after meals, so the dose of insulin is adjusted accordingly
Spasticity – Abnormal muscle tone that prevents normal movement
Transfers – Movement of a patient from one surface to another, such transitioning from the bed to a wheelchair
TIA – Transient Ischemic Attack, also known as a mini-stroke, is a brief interruption of blood flow to the brain or spinal cord, which causes temporary symptoms similar to a stroke
The content of this site is for informational purposes only and should not be taken as professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding any medical conditions or treatments.
