| schools, public health | Educational institutions for individuals specializing in the field of public health. (12 Dec 1998) |
|---|---|
| proxy, health care | 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) |
| holistic health | Health as viewed from the perspective that man and other organisms function as complete, integrated units rather than as aggregates of separate parts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| public health | The health of the human population as a whole. (09 Oct 1997) |
| public health administration | Management of public health organizations or agencies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| public health dentistry | A dental specialty concerned with the prevention of disease and the maintenance of oral health through promoting organised dental health programs at a community, state, or federal level. (12 Dec 1998) |
| public health nurse | A nurse who provides care to individuals or groups in a community outside of institutions. Usually works through the auspices of a state or city health department. Synonym: community health nurse, community nurse. (05 Mar 2000) |
| public health nursing | The field of nursing focusing on the health of the community through educational and preventive programs, as well as providing treatment and diagnostic services. (12 Dec 1998) |
| public health practice | The activities and endeavors of the public health services in a community on any level. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national centre for health care technology | A centre in the public health service which coordinates and administers a program of research, demonstrations, and evaluations of medical technologies and assessments of health care technology. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national centre for health statistics | A centre in the public health service which is primarily concerned with the collection, analysis, and dissemination of health statistics on vital events and health activities to reflect the health status of people, health needs, and health resources. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national health planning information centre | A centre in the health resources administration division of planning methods and technology which provides access to current information on health planning and resources development. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national health programs | Components of a national health care system which administer specific services, e.g., national health insurance. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national institute for occupational safety and health | An institute of the centres for disease control and prevention which is responsible for assuring safe and healthful working conditions and for developing standards of safety and health. Research activities are carried out pertinent to these goals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| national institute of mental health | A component of the national institutes of health concerned with research, overall planning, promoting, and administering mental health programs and research. (12 Dec 1998) |