| IC | icteric, icterus; immune complex; immunoconjugate; immunocytochemistry; immunocytotoxicity; impedanc... |
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| ICU | infant care unit; immunologic contact urticaria; intensive care unit; intermediate care unit |
| NICU | neonatal intensive care unit; neurological intensive care unit; neurosurgical intensive care unit; n... |
| PCCM | pediatric critical care medicine; primary care case management; primary care case manager |
| RC | an electronic circuit containing a resistor and capacitor in series; radiocarpal; reaction center; r... |
| diabetic patient | Diabetes mellitus is a disorder that is caused by the insufficient production of the pancreatic hormone insulin. Without insulin cells are unable to absorb glucose, necessary for cellular metabolism and energy production. Patients may have type I diabetes (juvenile onset) or type II diabetes (adult onset). Individuals with either condition are considered to be diabetic. (27 Sep 1997) |
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| disease transmission, patient-to-professional | The transmission of infectious disease or pathogens from patients to health professionals or health care workers. It includes transmission via direct or indirect exposure to bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral agents. (12 Dec 1998) |
| disease transmission, professional-to-patient | The transmission of infectious disease or pathogens from health professional or health care worker to patients. It includes transmission via direct or indirect exposure to bacterial, fungal, parasitic, or viral agents. (12 Dec 1998) |
| target patient | In group therapy, the patient being analyzed in turn by another member patient. (05 Mar 2000) |
| unstable patient | The distinction of stability is made by a physician and based on a large number of variables: patient diagnosis, vital signs, physical findings, laboratory findings, subjective factors and patient prognosis. (27 Sep 1997) |
| ambulatory care | Medical care (including diagnosis, observation, treatment and rehabilitation) provided on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory care is given to persons who are not confined to a hospital but rather are ambulatory and, literally, are able to ambulate or walk about. (A well-baby visit is considered ambulatory care even though the baby is not walking). (12 Dec 1998) |
| ambulatory care facilities | Those facilities which administer health services to individuals who do not require hospitalization or institutionalization. (12 Dec 1998) |
| ambulatory care information systems | Information systems, usually computer-assisted, designed to store, manipulate, and retrieve information for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling administrative activities associated with the provision and utilization of ambulatory care services and facilities. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cancer care facilities | Institutions specializing in the care of cancer patients. (12 Dec 1998) |
| cardiac care facilities | Institutions specializing in the care of patients with heart disorders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| care | In medicine and public health, a general term for the application of knowledge to the benefit of a community or individual. (05 Mar 2000) |
| care, ambulatory | Medical care (including diagnosis, observation, treatment and rehabilitation) provided on an outpatient basis. Ambulatory care is given to persons who are not confined to a hospital but who are ambulatory and literally able to ambulate, to walk about. (A well-baby visit is considered ambulatory care even though the baby is not walking). (12 Dec 1998) |
| care, managed | Any system that manages healthcare delivery in order to control costs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| care proxy, health | 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) |
| palliative care | Treatment aimed at relieving symptoms and pain rather than effecting a cure. (13 Nov 1997) |