| profess | 1. To make open declaration of, as of one's knowledge, belief, action, etc.; to avow or acknowledge; to confess publicly; to own or admit freely. "Hear me profess sincerely." "The best and wisest of them all professed To know this only, that he nothing knew." (Milton) 2. To set up a claim to; to make presence to; hence, to put on or present an appearance of. "I do profess to be no less than I seem." (Shak) 3. To present to knowledge of, to proclaim one's self versed in; to make one's self a teacher or practitioner of, to set up as an authority respecting; to declare (one's self to be such); as, he professes surgery; to profess one's self a physician. Origin: F. Profes, masc, professe, fem, professed (monk or nun), L. Professus, p. P. Of profiteri to profess; pro before, forward + fateri to confess, own. See Confess. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| profession | 1. The act of professing or claiming; open declaration; public avowal or acknowledgment; as, professions of friendship; a profession of faith. "A solemn vow, promise, and profession." (Bk. Of Com. Prayer) 2. That which one professed; a declaration; an avowal; a claim; as, his professions are insincere. "The Indians quickly perceive the coincidence or the contradiction between professions and conduct." (J. Morse) 3. That of which one professed knowledge; the occupation, if not mechanical, agricultural, or the like, to which one devotes one's self; the business which one professes to understand, and to follow for subsistence; calling; vocation; employment; as, the profession of arms; the profession of a clergyman, lawyer, or physician; the profession of lecturer on chemistry. "Hi tried five or six professions in turn." (Macaulay) The three professions, or learned professions, are, especially, theology, law, and medicine. 4. The collective body of persons engaged in a calling; as, the profession distrust him. 5. The act of entering, or becoming a member of, a religious order. Origin: F, fr. L. Professio. See Profess. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
| professional autonomy | The quality or state of being independent and self-directing, especially in making decisions, enabling professionals to exercise judgment as they see fit during the performance of their jobs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional competence | The capability to perform the duties of one's profession generally, or to perform a particular professional task, with skill of an acceptable quality. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional corporations | Legally authorised corporations owned and managed by one or more professionals (medical, dental, legal) in which the income is ascribed primarily to the professional activities of the owners or stockholders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional impairment | The inability of a health professional to provide proper professional care of patients due to his or her physical and/or mental disability. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional practice | The use of one's knowledge in a particular profession. It includes, in the case of the field of biomedicine, professional activities related to health care and the actual performance of the duties related to the provision of health care. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional practice location | Geographic area in which a professional person practices; includes primarily physicians and dentists. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional review organizations | Organizations representing designated geographic areas which have contracts under the pro program to review the medical necessity, appropriateness, quality, and cost-effectiveness of care received by medicare beneficiaries. Peer review improvement act, pl 97-248, 1982. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional staff committees | Committees of professional personnel who have responsibility for determining policies, procedures, and controls related to professional matters in health facilities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional-family relations | The interactions between the professional person and the family. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professional-patient relations | Interactions between health personnel and patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| professor | 1. One who professed, or makes open declaration of, his sentiments or opinions; especially, one who makes a public avowal of his belief in the Scriptures and his faith in Christ, and thus unites himself to the visible church. "Professors of religion." 2. One who professed, or publicly teaches, any science or branch of learning; especially, an officer in a university, college, or other seminary, whose business it is to read lectures, or instruct students, in a particular branch of learning; as a professor of theology, of botany, of mathematics, or of political economy. Origin: L, a teacher, a public teacher: cf. F. Professeur. See Profess. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |