Key Terms
- active listening
- a communication technique in which the listener intentionally places all their attention on the person speaking; this can include multiple forms of verbal (not interrupting, asking pertinent questions) and nonverbal communication (facing the person, eye contact)
- acuity
- the severity and complexity of patient illness
- acute care
- a type of inpatient medical care for patients who require monitoring and medical assistance from professionally trained healthcare providers
- against medical advice (AMA)
- when a patient under inpatient medical care voluntarily leaves the hospital even though the medical team does not recommend it; also the name of the documentation form that is placed in the patient chart if the patient insists on leaving the facility
- ambulatory care
- patient care given in outpatient settings, which includes doctor’s offices, clinics, and outpatient surgery centers
- designated learner
- the patient or family member who accepts the discharge teaching and instructions given to the patient upon discharge
- home health agency (HHA)
- a service that provides medical care in a patient’s place of residence
- intensive care unit (ICU)
- an inpatient hospital unit for patients who are critically ill and require very close monitoring
- interfacility transfer
- the transfer of patient care between medical facilities; this can include from one acute care hospital to another, or from an LTAC or LTC facility to an acute care inpatient unit
- long-term acute care (LTAC) facility
- a type of care for patients with long-term acute care needs
- long-term care (LTC) facility (also, nursing home)
- a type of permanent medical facility that provides subacute care
- medical-surgical unit
- an inpatient hospital unit for patients with medical needs that cannot be addressed in an ambulatory setting but are not severe enough to warrant critical care admission
- nonverbal communication
- the use of gestures and facial expressions to convey meaning
- nursing home
- a long-term care facility that provides permanent residence and medical assistance to its residents
- percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) tube
- a tube that is inserted into a patient’s abdomen to enable them to receive tube feedings; typically needed when a patient is unable to swallow food safely
- power of attorney (POA)
- a legally binding agreement that documents that an individual gives authority to manage personal matters (such as medical care, financial business, or property) to a chosen representative, often a significant other or close family member
- primary team
- the team that admits the patient and leads the discharge discussion
- rounds
- a daily routine in the inpatient setting that involves a recap of the patient’s hospital course from admission to the most recent update on their condition
- SBAR
- the Joint Commission’s best practice standard, an evidence-based communication tool that stands for Situation, Background, Assessment, Recommendation
- step-down unit
- a transitional inpatient unit, usually when the patient is well enough to leave the intensive care unit but still requires more monitoring than a patient on the medical-surgical unit
- sundowning
- a phenomenon where adults (often older) become confused when the sun sets
- triage
- a method of evaluating patients according to the severity of their complaints and ensuring that patients with the most serious and potentially life-threatening symptoms that can be helped are seen first
- verbal communication
- the use of words and language to convey meaning
- voluntary consent
- documented consent from a patient that they agree to treatment