Glossary
Simple Healthcare Language to Help You Make Informed Decisions
Healthcare Technology
Telemedicine:
Remote consultation with doctors over phone or video.
Electronic Health Records (EHR):
Digital versions of your medical history.
Patient Portal:
Website or app where you can view your health info and communicate with providers.
MRI:
Magnetic imaging to see detailed pictures inside your body.
CT Scan:
A series of X-rays create a 3D image of the inside of your body.
Wearable Devices:
Gadgets like fitness bands that track health data.
Remote Monitoring:
Doctors watching your health from afar using technology.
Digital Therapeutics:
Technology used to treat medical conditions, like apps for mental health.
Robotic Surgery:
Robots assist surgeons for precision operations.
Clinical Decision Support:
Software tools that help doctors make clinical decisions.
Healthcare Facilities
Hospital:
Large facility providing extensive medical care.
Clinic:
Smaller, outpatient healthcare center.
Urgent Care:
Walk-in center for immediate but not emergency care.
ICU:
Intensive Care Unit for very sick patients needing constant monitoring.
Rehabilitation Center:
Facility for recovery after major illness or injury.
Diagnostic Center:
Place with equipment like X-rays and labs for tests.
Nursing Home:
Long-term care for elderly or disabled people.
Blood Bank:
Facility storing blood donations for patients who need transfusions.
Pharmacy:
Place to get prescription and over-the-counter medicines.
Mental Health Facility:
Clinic or hospital specializing in psychiatric care.
Chronic Conditions
Diabetes:
A condition where blood sugar is too high.
Hypertension:
High blood pressure.
Asthma:
Airways become inflamed causing difficulty breathing.
Arthritis:
Joint inflammation causing pain and stiffness.
Heart Disease:
Conditions affecting the heart and blood vessels.
Stroke:
Disruption of blood flow in the brain causing damage.
Chronic Kidney Disease:
Long-term kidney impairment.
Depression:
A common mental health condition causing prolonged sadness.
Cancer:
Diseases where abnormal cells grow uncontrollably.
Obesity:
Excessive body weight affecting health.
Medical Procedures
Biopsy:
Taking a small tissue sample to check for disease.
Blood Test:
Examining blood for signs of illness.
Endoscopy:
Using a small camera inside the body to inspect organs.
Surgery:
Operation to treat or diagnose medical conditions.
Chemotherapy:
Using drugs to kill cancer cells.
Radiation Therapy:
Using high-energy rays to treat cancer.
Dialysis:
Machine-based blood filtering to replace kidney function.
Vaccination:
Injection to protect against diseases.
Ultrasound:
Using sound waves to create images of organs.
Physical Therapy:
Exercises and treatments to restore movement.
Healthcare Services
Primary Care:
Basic health care, usually from your family doctor.
Specialist Care:
Care from doctors who focus on specific diseases or organs.
Emergency Care:
Immediate treatment for serious or life-threatening conditions.
Preventive Care:
Health checks and vaccines to prevent illness.
Mental Health Services:
Counseling and treatment for emotional well-being.
Home Healthcare:
Medical care provided in your home.
Rehabilitation:
Support to regain ability after injury or illness.
Telehealth:
Health services provided remotely via digital tools.
Nutritional Counseling:
Guidance on healthy eating.
Substance Abuse Treatment:
Help for patients battling addictions.
Healthcare Access
Health Insurance:
A plan that helps pay for medical expenses.
Copayment:
A small fee you pay when you visit a doctor or get drugs.
Deductible:
The amount you pay before insurance starts covering.
Out-of-Pocket Costs:
Expenses you pay without insurance help.
Network Providers:
Doctors and hospitals linked with your insurance.
Referral:
A note from your doctor to see a specialist.
Emergency Services:
Care you receive during sudden serious illness or injury.
Sliding Scale Fees:
Reduced charges based on income.
Patient Assistance Program:
Help programs for medicine or treatment costs.
Telemedicine Services:
Accessing health professionals remotely.
Patient Rights
Informed Consent:
Your right to understand treatments before agreeing.
Privacy:
Keeping your medical information confidential.
Second Opinion:
Getting advice from another doctor before treatment.
Right to Refuse Treatment:
You can say no to treatments you don't want.
Access to Records:
Your right to see your health information.
Advance Directive:
A plan you make for medical care if you can't decide.
Complaints:
Your right to report problems with care.
Safety:
Expectation of safe, error-free treatment.
Respect:
You deserve dignity and kindness from healthcare workers.
Interpreter Services:
Help with language if you don't speak the local tongue.
Insurance & Billing
Premium:
What you pay monthly or yearly for insurance.
Claim:
Request you make to insurance for payment.
Coinsurance:
Your share of the cost after deductible is met.
Explanation of Benefits (EOB):
Summary from insurer about what was paid.
Preauthorization:
Insurance approval before certain tests or treatments.
Out-of-Network:
Providers not covered or only partially covered by your insurance.
Balance Billing:
Billing you pay if insurance doesn't cover full amount.
Formulary:
List of drugs covered by your insurance.
Coverage Limit:
Max amount insurance will pay.
Grace Period:
Extra days insurance still covers if payment missed.
General Surgery
Laparoscopy:
A minimally invasive surgery using small cuts and a tiny camera to see inside the abdomen.
Appendectomy:
Surgical removal of the appendix, usually due to infection.
Hernia Repair:
Surgery to fix protrusions of organ tissue through a weakness in abdominal muscles.
Gallbladder Surgery:
Removal of the gallbladder, often due to stones or infection.
Bypass Surgery:
A procedure to improve blood flow around clogged arteries, often in the heart.
Thyroidectomy:
Removal of all or part of the thyroid gland in the neck.
C-section (Cesarean):
A surgical delivery of a baby through an incision in the abdomen.
Tumor Removal:
Surgery to take out cancerous or benign growths.
Elective Surgery:
Optional surgery scheduled in advance, not urgent.
Emergency Surgery:
Urgent surgery needed immediately due to serious condition.
De-Addiction & Mental Health
Psychiatrist:
Doctor specializing in mental health disorders like depression or anxiety.
Psychologist:
Professional providing therapy without prescribing medicine.
Addiction:
Dependence on substances like alcohol, drugs, or nicotine.
Rehabilitation:
Program helping patients recover from addiction or injury.
Counseling:
Talking therapy for emotional or psychological issues.
Detox:
Medical process to rid the body of toxic substances.
Withdrawal:
Symptoms when stopping addictive substances.
Mental Health Disorder:
Conditions like depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT):
Structured therapy to change negative thought patterns.
Stress Management:
Techniques to reduce stress, anxiety, and improve mental well-being.
Skin, Hair & Cosmetic
Dermatologist:
Doctor specializing in skin care, acne, eczema, psoriasis.
Hair Transplant:
Surgical repositioning of hair follicles to restore hair.
Lipoplasty / Liposuction:
Surgical removal of fat from body parts.
Rhinoplasty:
Nose reshaping surgery.
Facelift:
Surgical tightening of facial skin to reduce aging signs.
Botox:
Injections to reduce wrinkles temporarily.
Laser Skin Treatment:
Laser used to remove scars, pigmentation, or wrinkles.
Cryotherapy:
Freezing cancerous or abnormal skin lesions.
Skin Grafting:
Transferring skin to cover wounds or burns.
Plastic Surgery:
Reconstructive or cosmetic procedures to change body features.
Eye & Vision Care
Lasik:
Laser surgery to correct vision problems like nearsightedness.
Cataract Surgery:
Removing clouded lenses and replacing with artificial lenses.
Retina Surgery:
Procedures to repair detachment or other retina issues.
Glaucoma Treatment:
Care for pressure build-up in the eye.
Corneal Transplant:
Replacing damaged or diseased cornea.
Squint Surgery:
Correcting misalignment of the eyes.
Ophthalmologist:
Eye specialist doctor.
Vision Therapy:
Exercises and treatments to improve eye function.
Eyeglasses / Contact Lenses:
Corrective devices for vision correction.
Intraocular Lens Implant:
Artificial lens inserted during cataract surgery.
Women's Health
Pap Smear:
Test to check for cervical cancer or abnormal cells.
Hysterectomy:
Surgical removal of the uterus.
IVF (In Vitro Fertilization):
Assisted reproductive technique for pregnancy.
Pregnancy Ultrasound:
Imaging to check fetal development.
Menopause Treatment:
Care for menopause symptoms like hot flashes.
Ovarian Cyst Removal:
Surgery for cysts on ovaries.
Contraception:
Methods like pills, IUDs, or sterilization.
Endometriosis:
Growth of uterine lining outside uterus causing pain.
Pelvic Floor Surgery:
Procedures to strengthen pelvic muscles.
Infertility Treatment:
Medical help to conceive.
Bones & Joints
Arthroscopy:
Minimally invasive joint surgery with a camera.
Hip Replacement:
Replacing the hip joint with artificial parts.
Knee Arthroplasty:
Knee joint replacement surgery.
Fracture Fixation:
Setting broken bones with plates, pins, screws.
Discectomy:
Removing a herniated disc from the spine.
Spinal Fusion:
Joining two or more vertebrae.
Osteoarthritis:
Degeneration of joint cartilage causing pain.
Rheumatoid Arthritis:
Autoimmune joint disease.
Cartilage Repair:
Surgery to restore joint cartilage.
Ligament Repair:
Fixing torn ligaments (ACL, MCL).
Cancer Care
Chemotherapy:
Drugs to kill or slow cancer growth.
Radiation Therapy:
High-energy rays targeting cancer cells.
Surgery:
Removing cancerous tissue.
Immunotherapy:
Boosting the immune system to fight cancer.
Biopsy:
Sample tissue for cancer diagnosis.
Stem Cell Transplant:
Replacing damaged blood cells from cancer treatment.
Palliative Care:
Relief from symptoms for serious illness.
Targeted Therapy:
Drugs targeting specific cancer markers.
Oncology:
Medical specialty for cancer.
Remission:
Cancer signs disappear after treatment.
Children & Newborn Care
Neonatology:
Care for newborns with health issues.
Pediatric Surgery:
Child-specific surgical procedures.
Vaccinations:
Injections to prevent disease.
Child Growth Monitoring:
Tracking developmental milestones.
Developmental Delays:
Assessing children with delays in milestones.
Adolescent Medicine:
Health needs of teenagers.
Pediatric ICU:
Critical care for seriously ill children.
Congenital Disorders:
Birth defects treated early.
Child Psychology:
Mental health and behavioral issues.
Breastfeeding Support:
Assistance for new mothers.
Ear, Nose & Throat
Tonsillectomy:
Removing tonsils.
Sinus Surgery:
Treating sinus blockages.
Hearing Loss Treatment:
Using hearing aids or surgery.
Sleep Apnea Surgery:
Addressing breathing issues during sleep.
Thyroidectomy:
Removing thyroid gland lumps or tumors.
Laryngoscopy:
Examining throat and voice box.
Ear Tube Surgery:
Treatment for persistent ear infections.
Nasal Septoplasty:
Correcting crooked nose.
Voice Box Surgery:
For voice or swallowing issues.
Head & Neck Tumor Surgery:
Removing tumors in these areas.
Brain & Spine Care
Brain Tumor Removal:
Surgical excision of brain tumors.
Spinal Cord Surgery:
Fixing injuries or deformities.
Aneurysm Clipping:
Securing bleeding blood vessels.
Hydrocephalus Treatment:
Relieving excess fluid in the brain.
Trauma Surgery:
Emergency procedures for brain/spinal injuries.
Deep Brain Stimulation:
Treating Parkinson's and tremors.
Disc Replacement:
Spinal disc surgeries.
Chiari Malformation Repair:
Treating brain tissue herniation.
Epilepsy Surgery:
Removing seizure focus.
Ventriculostomy:
Draining excess brain fluid.
Heart & Cardiac Care
Angioplasty:
Open blocked arteries.
Coronary Bypass Surgery:
Bypass blocked heart blood vessels.
Pacemaker Implant:
Device to regulate heartbeat.
Valve Repair/Replacement:
Fixing or replacing heart valves.
Heart Transplant:
Replacing a failing heart.
Defibrillator Implant:
Device to shock irregular heartbeats.
Cardiac Catheterization:
Mapping blood vessels of the heart.
Electrophysiology:
Study heart electrical activity.
Stress Test:
Assess heart's response to exertion.
Heart Failure Management:
Treating weakened heart muscles.
ICU Beds & Organ Transplant
ICU Bed:
Special hospital bed for critical patients.
Organ Transplant:
Surgery to replace damaged organs like kidney, liver, heart.
Blood Transfusion:
Adding blood or blood components to patient.
Dialysis:
Filtering blood for kidney failure.
Liver Transplant:
Replacing a diseased liver.
Kidney Transplant:
Replacing a diseased kidney.
Lung Transplant:
Replacing damaged lungs.
Stem Cell Therapy:
Using stem cells for regeneration.
Immunosuppressants:
Drugs to prevent organ rejection.
Post-op Care:
Care after transplant or major surgery.