Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
Glossary
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de-identifi ed information health documents from
which specifi ed personal data has been removed
deductible the minimum amount a patient must pay
out-of-pocket before the insurance company will pay
for healthcare
deep a directional term that refers to body structures
farther below the surface of the body
defamation a term that means damaging someone’s
good name or reputation
dehydration a condition caused by too little fl uid in
the body tissues
delegate to direct another healthcare worker to
perform a care task that is within that worker’s
training and experience and within the scope of
practice of the licensed provider giving the direction
delegation the act of assigning tasks to each member
of a team
dementia a condition characterized by memory loss
and the decline of other thinking skills
dendrites branches of a neuron that collect stimuli
and transport them to the cell body
deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) material present in a
cell that contains complete plans for items the cell
builds; carries cell’s genetic information
Department of Health and Human Services
(HHS) a government agency with 11 divisions
that oversee many programs focused on improving
the health of Americans
deposit slip a form used to record the total amount
of cash and checks in a bank deposit
dermis the middle layer of the skin, which contains
most of the skin’s structures
diagnostic pertaining to the identifi cation of a
disease or syndrome
diaphysis the long shaft of bone between the two
epiphyses
dictation a verbal recording describing a patient’s
symptoms and the treatment given
dietetic technician a worker who plans and
produces meals based on established guidelines,
teaches principles of food and nutrition, and helps
clients make healthy food choices
dietitians food and nutrition experts who advise
patients on what foods to eat to improve their
particular health condition
differential diagnosis a determination made by a
doctor that distinguishes a disease or condition
from others that have similar symptoms
digestion term for the mechanical and chemical
breakdown of food into nutrients that can be
absorbed and used by the body
Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine
(DICOM) a standard for handling, storing,
printing, and transmitting information that enhances
the distribution and viewing of medical images
dilemma a problem that requires a person to choose
between two confl icting obligations
dilution ratio the amount of solvent as compared to
the amount of solute in a solution
direct contact physical interaction with an infected
patient, surface, fl uid, or object that can cause
infection transmission
discretion the ability to know when to keep sensitive
information private
discrimination unfair treatment of individuals on
the basis of their membership in a specifi c group,
such as age, ethnicity, gender, nationality, or religion
disinfection the use of chemicals to kill pathogens
that are present on nonliving objects
distal a directional term that refers to a part that is
farther away from the attachment site on the body;
can also be used to describe internal organs
dorsal a directional term used to describe surfaces
are located on the back of the body
dorsal cavity the cavity in the back of the body that
is protected by the bones of the skull and vertebrae
dosage the total quantity of medicine that is to be
administered
dose the portion of medicine to be administered at
one time
droplet precautions practices used when a pathogen
can be transmitted through close contact with the
respiratory system or mucous membranes of a
patient
drug-resistant bacteria strains of a bacterium that
have adapted and are no longer controlled or killed
by normal antibiotic treatment
E
edema a condition caused by too much fl uid in the
body tissues
efferent term that describes motor transmitters that
carry impulses from the central nervous system out
to the muscles and glands
electronic balances measuring instruments that
display the weight of a substance digitally and are
used to weigh chemicals in labs
electronic health record (EHR) a medical document
that contains information from all of the clinicians
involved in a patient’s care and which can be
created and managed by authorized clinicians and
staff across more than one healthcare organization
electronic medical record (EMR) an earlier version
of the EHR that allowed physician’s offi ces and
outpatient clinics to convert their paper records to
electronic formats
embryo the developing human from the time of
implantation to the end of the eighth week after
conception
emergency medical services (EMS) a system that
provides rapid response care for those experiencing
sudden illness and injury
empathy the ability to identify with another person’s
feelings and thoughts
employability skills skills related to choosing a
career, acquiring and keeping a job, changing jobs,
and advancing in a career