Healthcare Glossary

Due to advances in technology, health care professionals now perform more and more procedures safely on an outpatient basis. This new capability saves both time and money, as patients do not have the expense of spending additional time in the hospital. Ambulatory care refers to a wide range of medical services and procedures that are conducted on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory care can be given at a hospital, doctor’s office, or ambulatory surgery center (ASC). Procedures conducted at these facilities include blood tests, X-rays, endoscopy, some biopsies, catheterizations, minor surgery, childbirth, plastic surgery, eye care and much more. (read more) Read more...

In an effort to cut down on the increasing number of patient injuries and deaths, the healthcare industry has been pressured to introduce Computerized Physician Order Entry (CPOE) systems. While CPOEs were originally heralded as a cornerstone of improved patient safety (no more illegible prescriptions sent to hospital pharmacies), there are many studies (including a recent report in the Journal of the American Medical Association) which show that use of CPOEs might actually increase medical prescription errors. (read more) Read more...

The healthcare industry is constantly under pressure to reduce costs while at the same time providing higher quality care with fewer mistakes. However, due to increasingly complex treatment options and an ever-growing, ever-moving population, paper medical records have become outdated in modern medicine. A 2005 study conducted at Dartmouth University found that of $1.8 trillion spent on healthcare each year, about a third of the waste is on unnecessary tests, procedures and simple errors. Poor organization and incomplete or incorrect information is a direct cause of this waste. (read more) Read more...

Regulation plays a major role in the healthcare industry and healthcare insurance coverage. Through various regulatory bodies, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) protects the public from a number of health risks and provides programs for public health and welfare. Together, these regulatory agencies protect and regulate public health at every level. (read more)Read more...

Compared to other industries Heatlhcare is in the stone age when it comes to Information Technology (IT). However, with President Bush's call for the creation of a nationwide electronic health records system within the next 10 years, healthcare information technology (HIT) is now at the forefront of the minds of many healthcare IT professionals. (read more) Read more...

The HIPAA law, also known as the Kennedy-Kausbaum Act or the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, was designed to protect health insurance for workers and families when they change or loose their jobs. HIPAA says that group health plans cannot deny application for coverage based solely on health status, basically giving workers who change or lose jobs better access to health insurance even when they have pre-existing conditions. The one area which HIPAA law does not cover is when moving from one individual health insurance plan to another. Individual health insurers can simply turn away applicants who have chronic health problems. (read more) Read more...

Over the last decade, the US has seen a sweeping change from tradition fee for service systems to managed care organizations (MCOs) which were meant to provide better service at a better price. While a majority of insured Americans are now enrolled in managed healthcare programs, there are serious questions about the long term consequences of this shift. Concerns about managed care first focused on patient's rights... (read more) Read more...

As the Economist recently wrote, "Medicaid reform is the next big thing" as the Social Security debate seems to have been pushed to the sidelines.

Medicare was originally set up in 1965 to provide healthcare for the poor, but has long been a dog's breakfast of American health policy with all types of programs thrown together. In addition to being a health insurer for the very poor, it's a long-term care plan for some of the elderly, Medicaid is a subsidy program for large inner city hospitals (the DiSH program), and it even pays Medicare Part B premiums for those "dual eligibles" too poor to afford them. In addition, in many states the Children's Health Insurance Program... (read more) Read more...

While medical malpractice cases have been big news for years, the Bush/Kerry election brought medical malpractice reform to the forefront of the national debate (partly because of John Edward's background as a trial attorney). Behind the idea of reform is that litigation against hospitals and doctors drive up the cost of insurance premiums. Furthermore, fear of lawsuits inherently increase the cost of healthcare because doctors are forced to order more tests to cover their backs... (read more) Read more...

Medicare is a federal insurance program that provides health care coverage to Americans over 65, and to those with disabilities. Instituted in 1965 under the Social Security Act, it is administered by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid, a division of the Department of Health. Four components make up Medicare: ... (read more) Read more...

Part D is the newest addition to Medicare, the result of the Medicare Prescription Drug Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003. It was instituted to defray the cost of prescription drugs for Medicare users. For those who enrolled before the end of the year 2005, the plan will begin January 1, 2006; all others have until May 15, 2006 to choose which plan, if any, they wish to participate in. The Part D plan will be delivered by private health insurers, which are subsidized by the federal government. (read more)

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