| diagnosis-related group | A classification of patients by diagnosis or surgical procedure (sometimes including age) into major diagnostic categories (each containing specific diseases, disorders, or procedures) for the purpose of determining payment of hospitalization charges, based on the premise that treatment of similar medical diagnoses generate similar costs. A scheme for billing for medical and especially hospital services by combining diseases into groups according to the resources needed for care, arranged by diagnostic category. A dollar value is assigned to each group as the basis of payment for all cases in that group, without regard to the actual cost of care or duration of hospitalization of any individual case, as a mechanism to motivate health-care providers to economise. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| diagnosis-related groups | A system for classifying patient care by relating common characteristics such as diagnosis, treatment, and age to an expected consumption of hospital resources and length of stay. Its purpose is to provide a framework for specifying case mix and to reduce hospital costs and reimbursements and it forms the cornerstone of the prospective payment system. (12 Dec 1998) |
| differential diagnosis | The determination of which two or more diseases with similar symptoms is the one from which a patient is suffering from based on an analysis of the clinical data. (27 Sep 1997) |
| DNA diagnosis | <molecular biology> The use of DNA polymorphisms to detect the presence of a disease gene. (09 Oct 1997) |
| laboratory diagnosis | A diagnosis made by a chemical, microscopic, microbiologic, immunologic, or pathologic study of secretions, discharges, blood, or tissue. (05 Mar 2000) |
| anthropology, physical | The comparative science dealing with the physical characteristics of man as related to his origin, evolution, and development in his total environment. (12 Dec 1998) |
| map, physical | A map of the locations of identifiable landmarks on chromosomes. Physical distance is measured in base pairs. The physical map differs from the genetic map which is based purely on genetic linkage data. In the human genome, the lowest-resolution physical map is the banding patterns of the 24 different chromosomes. The highest-resolution physical map is the complete nucleotide sequence of all chromosomes, a future goal. (12 Dec 1998) |
| restraint, physical | Use of a device for the purpose of preventing the individual from moving all or part of the body. The concept excludes splints and casts. (12 Dec 1998) |
| roentgen-equivalent physical | <radiobiology, unit> A roentgen equivalent physical is a unit of absorbed radiation approximately equivalent to a roentgen, an international unit of x- or gamma-radiation. An obsolete unit of measurement; that quantity of ionizing radiation of any kind which, upon absorption by living tissue, produces an energy gain per gram of tissue equivalent to that produced by 1 roentgen of X-rays or gamma-rays. Acronym: rep See: rad. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical | Pertaining to the body, to material things or to physics. (18 Nov 1997) |
| physical age | The age in terms of structure rather than of function or of passage of time. Synonym: physical age. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical allergy | Excessive response to factors in the environment such as heat or cold. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical anthropology | The study of the physical attributes of human beings. (05 Mar 2000) |
| physical conditioning, animal | Physical conditioning of domestic, laboratory, and zoo animals. Includes exercising of animals. (12 Dec 1998) |
| physical containment | <cell culture> Creation of physical barriers to keep genetically engineered organisms inside the laboratory. (31 Dec 1997) |