| qualificator | An officer whose business it is to examine and prepare causes for trial in the ecclesiastical courts. Origin: LL. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998) |
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| qualifying facility | A power production facility that qualifies for special treatment under the Public Utility Regulatory Policies Act. A qualifying facility must generate its power using cogeneration, biomass, waste, geothermal energy, or renewable resources, such as solar and wind. PURPA prohibits utilities from owning majority interest in qualifying facilities. (05 Dec 1998) |
| qualimeter | <radiobiology> An obsolete device for estimating the degree of hardness of X-rays. Origin: L. Qualis, of what kind, + G. Metron, measure (05 Mar 2000) |
| qualitative alteration | In electric irritability, a change in which the muscle contracts as readily on application of the anode as on that of the cathode. (05 Mar 2000) |
| qualitative analysis | Determination of the nature, as opposed to the quantity, of each of the elements composing a substance. (05 Mar 2000) |
| qualitative trait | <genetics> A feature that can conveniently and effectively be analyzed by sorting into classes either because there is no satisfactory way of measuring it (as with blood groups) or because it falls into natural classes so that the variation among classes far exceeds that within classes (e.g., the phenotypic effects of many enzyme polymorphisms); existence of categories suggests but does not prove the operation of a major, simple, underlying cause. Synonym: qualitative trait. (05 Mar 2000) |
| quality adjusted life year | A year of life adjusted for its quality or its value. A year in perfect health is considered equal to 1.0 qaly. The value of a year in ill health would be discounted. For example, a year bedridden might have a value equal to 0.5 qaly. A measurement index derived from a modification of standard life-table procedures and designed to take account of the quality as well as the duration of survival. This index can be used in assessing the outcome of health care procedures or services. (12 Jul 2000) |
| quality assurance | Programs of regular assessment of medical and nursing activities to evaluate the quality of medical care. (05 Mar 2000) |
| quality assurance, health care | Activities and programs intended to assure or improve the quality of care in either a defined medical setting or a program. The concept includes the assessment or evaluation of the quality of care; identification of problems or shortcomings in the delivery of care; designing activities to overcome these deficiencies; and follow-up monitoring to ensure effectiveness of corrective steps. (12 Dec 1998) |
| quality control | In biotechnology, quality control is essential to ensure purified protein pharmaceuticals are indeed pure and that they are intact and maintain their biological activity. (14 Nov 1997) |
| quality control chart | A chart illustrating the allowable limits of error in laboratory test performance, the limits being a defined deviation from the mean of a control serum, most commonly ±2 SD. See: quality control. (05 Mar 2000) |
| quality factor | <radiobiology> (Q) A multiplying factor used with absorbed dose to convert to dose equivalent and therefore to express the radiation's effectiveness in causing biological effects. (16 Dec 1997) |
| quality indicators, health care | Norms, criteria, standards, and other direct qualitative and quantitative measures used in determinng the quality of health care. (12 Dec 1998) |
| quality of health care | The levels of excellence which characterise the health service or health care provided based on accepted standards of quality. (12 Dec 1998) |
| quality of life | Refers to the level of comfort, enjoyment, ability to pursue daily activities. Often used in discussions of treatment options. (16 Dec 1997) |