MA Chapter 1: The Healthcare System Flashcards

Key Terms in Healthcare

• Ambulatory Care: Outpatient medical care where patients attend the facility and return home the same day.
• Capitation: Fixed monthly payment from managed care insurance for each patient, regardless of services provided.
• Curative Treatment: Treatments designed to cure or eliminate diseases.
• Empirical: Knowledge gained through observation or experiments, essential for scientific validation.
• Formulary: An approved list of prescription medications covered by a managed care insurance provider.
• Holistic: An approach in medicine that considers the whole person, including multiple aspects of a patient's health.
• Managed Care: A healthcare delivery system aimed at controlling costs while providing care.
• Palliative Care: Treatment aimed at alleviating symptoms and providing relief rather than curing the underlying condition.
• Residency: A period of training for doctors that follows medical school and provides hands-on experience in a medical setting.
• Symptomatic Treatment: Therapy focused on relieving symptoms without addressing the underlying condition.
• Utilization Review: Evaluation of medical services to determine their necessity, appropriateness, and quality.
• Osteopathy: A medical discipline emphasizing the relationships among bones, muscles, and overall health, often involving manipulative treatment.
• Paramedic: Emergency medical service personnel trained to provide critical care in emergencies.
• CMA (Certified Medical Assistant): Professionals performing both administrative and clinical tasks in ambulatory care settings.
• Gynecology: Medical field focused on the health and diseases of females.
• Podiatry: Medical specialty concerning the diagnosis and treatment of foot and ankle issues.
• Chiropractic: A practice focusing on the diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders through spinal adjustments.

Healthcare Systems and Insurance

• Medicaid: Government insurance initiated for low-income children, now expanded to cover low-income individuals generally.
• Medicare: Insurance for the elderly, disabled, and those with end-stage renal disease.
• CHAMPUS: Health coverage for families of military personnel, including some outpatient services.
• HMO (Health Maintenance Organization): Aimed at reducing medical costs, emphasizes preventative care and requires justification for hospital stays.

Healthcare Practices and Education

• Routine Care: Encourages regular health checkups, immunizations, and child healthcare visits to promote preventive health.
• U.S. Medical Licensing Examination (USMLE): Physicians must pass this examination in three parts to obtain a state medical license.
• Board Certification: Additional examination required for physicians to achieve certification in a medical specialty.
• Physician Assistant (PA) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) Education: PAs require 2 years of college and 2 years of PA study, followed by a national certification exam.
• Effective Teamwork: Vital for medical assistants to maintain clear communication with all medical office staff.

Patient Care Process

• Typical Patient Visit Steps: Checking in at the front desk, consultation with the physician, diagnostic testing, diagnosis or treatment plan, scheduling follow-ups, and providing follow-up instructions.

Specialties in Healthcare

• Internal Medicine: Focused on adult health issues.
• Pediatrics: Addresses health concerns for infants, children, and adolescents.
• Family Medicine: Offers comprehensive health care for all ages.
• Obstetrics/Gynecology (OB/GYN): Specialized in female health care, including pregnancy and childbirth.
• Spinal Manipulation: A chiropractic technique targeting musculoskeletal disorders.

Test your knowledge of key terms in the healthcare system with these flashcards from MA Chapter 1. This quiz covers essential concepts such as ambulatory care, capitation, and curative treatment. Ideal for students and professionals looking to reinforce their understanding of medical care terminology.