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access
the ability to obtain healthcare services when and where they are needed
Beveridge model
single-payer national health service
Bismarck model
social health insurance model
cardiologist
secondary provider who specializes in heart-related conditions
charity care
free or discounted healthcare provided to individuals who are uninsured or underinsured
community hospitals
all hospitals that are not federal hospitals and offer both short-term and/or specialty care available to the general public
deductible
the amount of money a patient must pay annually before their insurance begins to cover the cost of their care
dermatologist
secondary provider who specializes in skin-related conditions
disparities
differences that negatively impact one group over another
extrinsic
factors external to an individual, such as issues that are political, cultural, or systemic
for-profit
hospitals and other healthcare organizations that are run as businesses and funded in part by investors who expect to receive a share of the profits from the business in return for the money they invest
gastroenterologist
secondary provider who specializes in conditions related to the digestive tract
health literacy
the ability of an individual to locate, comprehend, and use health-related material and make healthcare decisions
healthcare debt
money owed by patients related to healthcare activities
healthcare delivery organization
a single facility or group of facilities that provide medical care for some portion of a population
independent practice
a physician’s office, owned and operated by a single physician with a small staff
integrated delivery system (IDS)
a network of providers and agencies who collaborate with each other to provide care to individuals in a community
intrinsic
factors internal to an individual, such as beliefs and values
level of care
amount and complexity of care a patient requires
medical home
primary care space that functions as a comprehensive primary care deliverer, coordinates care across the other levels, and ensures quality of care and efficiency for the patient
multispecialty group practice
a group practice that includes providers from multiple specialties
national health insurance
single-payer national health insurance
not-for-profit (NFP)
organizations, such as hospitals and other healthcare groups, that are funded in part by donations and do not have to pay local, state, or federal taxes but are required to provide charity care and serve their communities
out-of-pocket model
market-driven health care
Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA)
a law passed by the U.S. Congress designed to improve access to health insurance and health care for all Americans
population level
all individuals in a group; can be defined by shared demographics like geography, culture, or economic group; for example, U.S. citizens, teenagers, or individuals living below the poverty line
premium
the fees that individuals pay on a regular basis for their health insurance and that may be taken out of their checks by their employer
primary care provider (PCP)
any physician or other provider (such as nurse practitioner or physician’s assistant) who provides broad, basic health care focused on prevention, screening, and mild to moderate health conditions and coordinates care among levels of the healthcare system
primary health care
level of care focused on prevention of illness and maintenance of health, includes wellness care, sick care, immunizations, screening, and referral
private
an institution that is run and funded by a group other than the government and can be either a for-profit or a not-for-profit institution
private health institutions
organizations run and funded by a group other than the government, including both for-profit and not-for-profit organizations, such as doctors’ offices, pharmacies, and same-day surgery centers
profits
money remaining after all bills, including staff salaries, loans, and taxes, are paid
provider shortage
not having enough providers for a given population
public
an institution that is run and largely funded by the government and is for the good of the people it serves
public health institutions
healthcare organization run and largely funded by the government for the good of the people they serve; provide direct patient care, set healthcare policy for all affiliated organizations, and are actively involved in caring for health at a population level
pulmonologist
secondary provider who specializes in lung-related conditions
restricted hours
limited availability of physician offices and healthcare facilities, most commonly Monday through Friday during the day only
safety-net hospital
a healthcare facility that is required to provide care for an individual regardless of their ability to pay
secondary care provider
physician, nurse practitioner, physician assistant, mental health professional, or allied health professional with advanced training in a specific organ or system of the body
secondary health care
(acute or hospital care) when a patient’s condition requires specialty care or diagnosis
single-specialty group practice
a physician practice of two or more physicians in which all providers have the same specialty, such as primary care or urology
stakeholder
individual with an interest in the success of an organization, such as an investor in a business or a nurse in a hospital
state and local government healthcare institutions
healthcare organizations funded entirely or in part with public money (collected taxes) and charitable donations and controlled by the state/local government in which they are built
state and local health departments
critical public health institutions providing a range of services including immunizations, monitoring of communicable diseases, and provision of health education classes
taxes
money paid to the local, state, or federal government for property and the purchase of goods
tertiary care provider
the specialist of the specialists with advanced training in procedures, diagnostics, and treatments
tertiary health care
level of care focused on treatment of critically ill patients, those with rare or complicated diseases or injuries, or patients requiring advanced tools, diagnostics, or procedures
urologist
secondary provider who specializes in conditions related to the urinary tract
vital records
birth, marriage, divorce, and death certificates
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