| behavioural health | An interdisciplinary field dedicated to promoting a philosophy of health that stresses individual responsibility in the application of behavioural and biomedical science knowledge and techniques to the maintenance of health and prevention of illness and dysfunction by a variety of self-initiated individual and shared activities. (05 Mar 2000) |
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| 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) |
| radiologic health | Health concerns associated with the effects of radiation on the environment and on public and personal health. (12 Dec 1998) |
| pan american health organization | <organisation> WHO regional office for the americas acting as a coordinating agency for the improvement of health conditions in the hemisphere. The four main functions are: control or eradication of communicable diseases, strengthening of national and local health services, education and training, and research. (21 Jun 2000) |
| marketing of health services | Application of marketing principles and techniques to maximise the use of health care resources. (12 Dec 1998) |
| maternal-child health centres | Facilities which administer the delivery of health care services to mothers and children. (12 Dec 1998) |
| maternal health services | Organised services to provide health care to expectant and nursing mothers. (12 Dec 1998) |
| regional health planning | Planning for health resources at a community or regional level. (12 Dec 1998) |
| patient acceptance of health care | The seeking and acceptance by patients of health service. (12 Dec 1998) |
| peer review, health care | The concurrent or retrospective review by practicing physicians or other health professionals of the quality and efficiency of patient care practices or services ordered or performed by other physicians or other health professionals . (12 Dec 1998) |
| voluntary health agencies | Non-profit organizations concerned with various aspects of health, e.g., education, promotion, treatment, services, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mental health | The state wherein the person is well adjusted. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mental health associations | Voluntary organizations which support educational programs and research in psychiatry with the objective of the promotion of mental health. An early association in the united states was founded as the national committee for mental hygiene in 1909, became the mental health association in 1976 and later the national mental health association in 1980. State and local mental health associations in this country are chartered by the national organization and affiliated with it. (12 Dec 1998) |
| mental health services | Organised services to provide mental health care. (12 Dec 1998) |
| child health services | Organised services to provide health care for children. (12 Dec 1998) |