| develop | 1. To go through a process of natural evolution or growth, by successive changes from a less perfect to a more perfect or more highly organised state; to advance from a simpler form of existence to one more complex either in structure or function; as, a blossom develops from a bud; the seed develops into a plant; the embryo develops into a well-formed animal; the mind develops year by year. "Nor poets enough to understand That life develops from within." (Mrs. Browning) 2. To become apparent gradually; as, a picture on sensitive paper develops on the application of heat; the plans of the conspirators develop. 1. To free from that which infolds or envelops; to unfold; to lay open by degrees or in detail; to make visible or known; to disclose; to produce or give forth; as, to develop theories; a motor that develops 100 horse power. "These serve to develop its tenets." (Milner) "The 20th was spent in strengthening our position and developing the line of the enemy." (The Century) 2. To unfold gradually, as a flower from a bud; hence, to bring through a succession of states or stages, each of which is preparatory to the next; to form or expand by a process of growth; to cause to change gradually from an embryo, or a lower state, to a higher state or form of being; as, sunshine and rain develop the bud into a flower; to develop the mind. "The sound developed itself into a real compound." (J. Peile) "All insects . . . Acquire the jointed legs before the wings are fully developed." (Owen) 3. To advance; to further; to prefect; to make to increase; to promote the growth of. "We must develop our own resources to the utmost." (Jowett (Thucyd)) 4. <mathematics> To change the form of, as of an algebraic expression, by executing certain indicated operations without changing the value. 5. <photography> To cause to become visible, as an invisible or latent image upon plate, by submitting it to chemical agents; to bring to view. <geometry> To develop a curved surface on a place, to produce on the plane an equivalent surface, as if by rolling the curved surface so that all parts shall successively touch the plane. Synonym: To uncover, unfold, evolve, promote, project, lay open, disclose, exhibit, unravel, disentangle. Origin: F. Developer; de- (L. Dis-) + OF. Voluper, voleper, to envelop, perh. From L. Volup agreeably, delightfully, and hence orig, to make agreeable or comfortable by enveloping, to keep snug (cf. Voluptuous); or. Perh. Fr. A derivative of volvere, volutum, to roll (cf. Devolve). Cf. Envelop Alternative forms: develope. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| ambulatory care | Medical care (including diagnosis, observation, treatment and rehabilitation) provided on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory care is given to persons who are not confined to a hospital but rather are ambulatory and, literally, are able to ambulate or walk about. (A well-baby visit is considered ambulatory care even though the baby is not walking). (12 Dec 1998) |
| ambulatory care facilities | Those facilities which administer health services to individuals who do not require hospitalization or institutionalization. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ambulatory care information systems | Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the provision and utilization of ambulatory care services and facilities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cancer care facilities | Institutions specializing in the care of cancer patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiac care facilities | Institutions specializing in the care of patients with heart disorders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| care | In medicine and public health, a general term for the application of knowledge to the benefit of a community or individual. (05 Mar 2000) |
| care, ambulatory | Medical care (including diagnosis, observation, treatment and rehabilitation) provided on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory care is given to persons who are not confined to a hospital but who are ambulatory and literally able to ambulate, to walk about. (A well-baby visit is considered ambulatory care even though the baby is not walking). (12 Dec 1998) |
| care, managed | Any system that manages healthcare delivery in order to control costs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| care proxy, health | A health care proxy is one form of advance medical directive. Advance medical directives preserve the person's right to accept or reject a course of medical treatment even after that person becomes mentally or physically incapacitated to the point of being unable to communicate those wishes. There are two basic forms of advance directives: 1. A living will, in which the person outlines specific treatment guidelines that are to be followed by health care providers. 2. A health care proxy (also called a power of attorney for health-care decision-making) in which the person designates a trusted individual to make medical decisions in the event that he or she becomes too incapacitated to make such decisions. Advance directive requirements vary greatly from one jurisdiction to another and should therefore be drawn up in consultation with an attorney who is familiar with the laws of the particular jurisdiction. (This entry is based upon material from the National MS Society). (12 Dec 1998) |
| palliative care | Treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and pain rather than effecting a cure. (13 Nov 1997) |
| palliative care physician | <specialist> A medically qualified specialist in the care of people with incurable disease where the focus is on symptom control and the enhancement of quality of life. (13 Nov 1997) |
| managed care | Any system that manages healthcare delivery to control costs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| managed care programs | Health insurance plans intended to reduce unnecessary health care costs through a variety of mechanisms, including: economic incentives for physicians and patients to select less costly forms of care; programs for reviewing the medical necessity of specific services; increased beneficiary cost sharing; controls on inpatient admissions and lengths of stay; the establishment of cost-sharing incentives for outpatient surgery; selective contracting with health care providers; and the intensive management of high-cost health care cases. The programs may be provided in a variety of settings, such as health maintenance organizations and preferred provider organizations. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pastoral care | Counseling or comfort given by ministers, priests, rabbis, etc., to those in need of help with emotional problems or stressful situations. (12 Dec 1998) |