one and one-half syndrome
| medical waste disposal | Management, removal, and elimination of biologic, infectious, pathologic, and dental waste. The concept includes blood, mucus, tissue removed at surgery or autopsy, soiled surgical dressings, and other materials requiring special control and handling. Disposal may take place where the waste is generated or elsewhere. (12 Dec 1998) |
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| competitive medical plans | Alternative health care delivery mechanisms, such as preferred provider organizations or other health insurance services or prepaid plans (other than health maintenance organizations), that meet medicare qualifications for a risk-sharing contract. (12 Dec 1998) |
| comprehensive medical care | A concept that includes not only the traditional care of the acutely or chronically ill patient, but also the prevention and early detection of disease and the rehabilitation of the disabled. (05 Mar 2000) |
| cornell medical index | Self-administered health questionnaire developed to obtain details of the medical history as an adjunct to the medical interview. It consists of 195 questions divided into eighteen sections; the first twelve deal with somatic complaints and the last six with mood and feeling patterns. The index is used also as a personality inventory or in epidemiologic studies. (12 Dec 1998) |
| primary medical care | Care of a patient by a member of the health care system who has initial contact with the patient. (05 Mar 2000) |
| schools, medical | Educational institutions for individuals specializing in the field of medicine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| psychology, medical | A branch of psychology in which there is collaboration between psychologists and physicians in the management of medical problems. It differs from clinical psychology, which is concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of behaviour disorders. (12 Dec 1998) |
| secondary medical care | Medical care by a physician who acts as a consultant at the request of the primary physician. (05 Mar 2000) |
| societies, medical | Societies whose membership is limited to physicians. (12 Dec 1998) |
| sociology, medical | The study of the social determinants and social effects of health and disease, and of the social structure of medical institutions or professions. (12 Dec 1998) |
| specialties, medical | Various branches of medical practice limited to specialised areas. (12 Dec 1998) |
| students, medical | Individuals enrolled in a school of medicine or a formal educational program in medicine. (12 Dec 1998) |
| directives, advance medical | Advance 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 ared two basic types 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) |
| durable medical equipment | Devices which are very resistant to wear and may be used over a long period of time. They include items such as wheelchairs, hospital beds, artificial limbs, etc. (12 Dec 1998) |
| insurance, major medical | Insurance providing a broad range of medical services and supplies, when prescribed by a physician, whether or not the patient is hospitalised. It frequently is an extension of a basic policy and benefits will not begin until the basic policy is exhausted. (12 Dec 1998) |