| 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) |
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| continuity of patient care | Health care provided on a continuing basis from the initial contact with a physician or clinic and following the patient through all episodes of his medical care needs. (12 Dec 1998) |
| point-of-care systems | Laboratory and other services provided to patients at the bedside. These include diagnostic and laboratory testing using automated information entry systems. (12 Dec 1998) |
| coronary care unit | A group of beds within a hospital set aside for the care of patients having or suspected of having myocardial infarction. (05 Mar 2000) |
| coronary care units | The hospital unit in which patients with acute cardiac disorders receive intensive care. (12 Dec 1998) |
| critical care | Health care provided to a critically ill patient during a medical emergency or crisis. (12 Dec 1998) |
| critical care unit | A hospital facility for provision of intensive nursing and medical care of critically ill patients, characterised by high quality and quantity of continuous nursing and medical supervision and by use of sophisticated monitoring and resuscitative equipment; may be organised for the care of specific patient groups, e.g., neonatal or newborn ICU, neurological ICU, pulmonary ICU. Synonym: critical care unit. (05 Mar 2000) |
| postnatal care | The care provided a woman following the birth of a child. (12 Dec 1998) |
| postoperative care | The period of care beginning when the patient is removed from surgery and aimed at meeting the patient's psychological and physical needs directly after surgery. (12 Dec 1998) |
| custodial care | Board, room, and other personal assistance services generally provided on a long term basis. It excludes regular medical care. (12 Dec 1998) |
| preconception care | An organised and comprehensive program of health care that identifies and reduces a woman's reproductive risks before conception through risk assessment, health promotion, and interventions. Preconception care programs may be designed to include the male partner in providing counseling and educational information in preparation for fatherhood, such as genetic counseling and testing, financial and family planning, etc. This concept is different from prenatal care, which occurs during pregnancy. (12 Dec 1998) |
| prenatal care | Care provided the pregnant woman in order to prevent complications, and decrease the incidence of maternal and prenatal mortality. (12 Dec 1998) |
| preoperative care | Care given during the period prior to undergoing surgery when psychological and physical preparations are made according to the special needs of the individual patient. This period spans the time between admission to the hospital to the time the surgery begins. (12 Dec 1998) |
| health care | Services provided to individuals or communities by agents of the health services or professions for the purpose of promoting, maintaining, monitoring, or restoring health. (05 Mar 2000) |
| health care coalitions | Voluntary groups of people representing diverse interests in the community such as hospitals, businesses, physicians, and insurers, with the principal objective to improve health care cost effectiveness. (12 Dec 1998) |