| analgesia, patient-controlled | Relief of pain, without loss of consciousness, through an analgesic agent administered by the patient. It has been used successfully to control postoperative pain, during labour, after burns, and in terminal care. The choice of agent, dose, and lockout interval greatly influence effectiveness. The potential for overdose can be minimised by combining small bolus doses with a mandatory interval between successive doses (lockout interval). (12 Dec 1998) |
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| patient | 1. A person who is receiving medical treatment, especially in a hospital. 2. A person who is registered with a doctor, dentist, etc and is treated by him when necessary. (18 Nov 1997) |
| patient acceptance of health care | The seeking and acceptance by patients of health service. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient admission | The process of accepting patients. The concept includes patients accepted for medical and nursing care in a hospital or other health care institution. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient advocacy | Promotion and protection of the rights of patients, frequently through a legal process. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient care | The services rendered by members of the health profession and non-professionals under their supervision for the benefit of the patient. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient care management | Generating, planning, organizing, and administering medical and nursing care and services for patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient care planning | Usually a written medical and nursing care program designed for a particular patient. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient care team | Care of patients by a multidisciplinary team usually organised under the leadership of a physician; each member of the team has specific responsibilities and the whole team contributes to the care of the patient. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient-centreed care | Design of patient care wherein institutional resources and personnel are organised around patients rather than around specialised departments. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient compliance | Voluntary cooperation of the patient in following a prescribed regimen. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient controlled analgesia | <anaesthetics, procedure> Self-administration of analgesics by a patient instructed in doing so, usually refers to self-dosing with intravenous opioid (for example, morphine) administered by means of a programmable pump. (16 Dec 1997) |
| patient credit and collection | Accounting procedures for determining credit status and methods of obtaining payment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient discharge | The administrative process of discharging the patient, live or dead, from hospitals or other health facilities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient education | The teaching or training of patients concerning their own health needs. (12 Dec 1998) |