Copyright Goodheart-Willcox Co., Inc.
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Introduction to Health Science
employee assistant programs (EAPs) employer-
sponsored services designed to help employees
with personal or family problems, including
mental health, substance abuse, addiction, marital
problems, parenting problems, emotional problems,
or fi nancial or legal concerns
employment at will a principle that describes
employment as a mutual agreement between
employer and employee that either party can end
whenever they wish
endoplasmic reticulum (ER) the organelle that
moves ribosomes in and out of the nucleus as
they are assembled; can be rough (covered with
ribosomes from the nucleus for building proteins)
or smooth (builds and stores fats and carbohydrates
and detoxifi es harmful substances)
environment the factor of a system that involves the
setting in which the system operates; can be internal
or external
environmental barriers distractions in the surrounding
area that cause a person’s attention to wander
environmental engineer a worker who ensures the
health of the public, such as by monitoring safe
drinking water and air quality
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) a government
agency that recommends practices for maintaining the
environment and determines appropriate chemicals for
reducing the spread of infection in healthcare facilities
while minimizing environmental risks
environmental services the hospital department
responsible for housekeeping, laundry, and facility
maintenance
e-prescribing electronic generation, transmission,
and fi lling of a medical prescription
epidemiologists scientists who study the spread of
diseases
epidermis the thin, outer layer of the skin
epididymis the structure where sperm mature
epiglottis a fl ap of cartilage that helps direct food
and air down the correct tubes
epiphysis the knob at the end of a long bone, which
is made up of mostly spongy bone
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
(EEOC) a federal agency that enforces various
employee protection acts and has the power to
bring lawsuits on behalf of workers who believe
they have been discriminated against
Equal Pay Act a federal law that requires employers
to pay men and women equally for performing the
same job under the same conditions
erythrocyte a red blood cell that transports oxygen
and carbon dioxide to and from body tissues
esophagus the digestive tube that runs from the
throat to the stomach
estrogen a hormone that is responsible for the
development of female characteristics during puberty
ethical a term used to describe an action that fi ts
with someone’s personal morals or professional
rules of conduct
ethics board a committee that meets to discuss
unusual or controversial cases and advises
professionals on ethical dilemmas
etiquette term for a code of polite behavior among
members of a profession or group
eugenics a movement that attempts to promote
desirable genetic characteristics
evidence-based practices methods of diagnosis
and treatment based on the best available current
research, clinical expertise, and a patient’s needs
and preferences
exclusive provider organization (EPO) insurance
plan that charges an access fee for a network of
healthcare providers at reduced rates; premiums are
usually lower than those of an HMO, but the choice
of covered providers is more limited
excretion the removal of waste products from the
body
executive summary an overview of a technical
document
explanation of benefi ts (EOB) a detailed account of
each claim processed by an insurance plan, which is
sent to the patient as notifi cation of claim payment
or denial
exposure control plan a detailed set of standards
that explains how specimens, contaminated
equipment, contaminated work surfaces, and
contaminated waste materials can be handled safely
expressed a term that means the terms are spelled
out in detail
extension an action that moves a dorsal surface
toward a dorsal surface and increases the angle of
the ventral surfaces of a joint
F
face page part of a patient’s electronic health
record that shows contact information, insurance
information, and medical history; also called the
summary screen
facsimile machine a machine used to transmit
pictures or written documents using the public
telephone network
Fahrenheit scale a method of measuring
temperature that is sometimes used in US
healthcare facilities
Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) a federal law
that restricts work settings and hours for workers
younger than 18 years of age
fallopian tubes tubes that carry the ovum to the
uterus
false imprisonment that act of holding people
against their will or limiting their movement
without the right to do so
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) a federal
law that grants workers the right to up to 12 weeks
off work in a 12-month period to give birth to a
child, care for a newborn or newly adopted child,
care for a seriously ill family member, or recover
from a personal illness or injury