Taber's Medical Dictionary:Care

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> Care (kar)<br /> <br /> <b> I</b>n health care, the application of professional skill, support and concern, to provide health benefits to a person or a community. <br /> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Acute care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Health care delivered to patients who have experienced sudden illness or injury, or who are recovering from a procedure or operation. Acute care generally occurs in the prehospital or hospital setting or in the emergency department and is usually focused on the immediate, critical problems of the patient.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">adult day care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: ADC A licensed agency where the chronically ill, disabled, or cognitively impaired can stay during the day under health care supervision. Most people attending adult day care are older and need some assistance. They are able to participate in structured activities and to walk with or without an assistive device. Most day care centers operate 5 days a week for 8 to 12 hr a day.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">adult foster care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Long-term care for adults who are unable to live alone due to physical, emotional, or developmental impairments. This care is offered in a variety of settings, including a facility that resembles a family residence. Such a facility may have fewer regulations than a nursing home.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">best supportive care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Ideal patient care, e.g., health care that meets the patient's nutritional, psychological, physical, medical, surgical, and social needs.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">charity care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Care provided to patients who are not expected to be able to pay for the services they receive. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: bad debt</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">cluster care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A system of home care for older adults that allows the needs of many clients who live in proximity to be met by a team of workers.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">concierge care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: Concierge medicine.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">culturally competent care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The provision of health care with understanding of and respect for people of all ages, nationalities, races, beliefs, and customs.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">day care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The supervision of dependents during working hours. The goals of day care are to provide adequate, affordable care for young children or dependent adults, esp. while the primary caregivers are at work.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">developmentally appropriate care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Care that suits the patient's stage of life by meeting his or her cognitive, emotional, and social needs.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">due care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">1. The kind of care that a competent, responsible, and interested provider will give to an individual in need. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">2. Care that meets generally accepted community standards.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">emergency cardiac care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: ECC The basic and advanced life support assessment and treatment necessary to manage sudden and often life-threatening events affecting cardiovascular and pulmonary systems. ECC includes identifying the nature of the problem, monitoring the patient closely, providing basic and advanced life support as quickly as possible, preventing complications, reassuring the patient, and transporting him or her to the most appropriate facility for definitive cardiac care.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: advanced cardiac life support; SEE: basic life support; SEE: cardiopulmonary resuscitation</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">end-of-life care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: EOLC Supportive, compassionate care for the dying, their families, and caregivers. EOLC includes addressing the physical, psychological, and spiritual needs of the dying person and focuses on providing comfort, managing symptoms, and respecting the decisions made by the dying person and his or her family. EOLC can be provided wherever the client is living, whether at home, in a hospice, an assisted living residence, or a residential care facility. Services are designed to preserve an individual's comfort and dignity as his or her needs change and to offer continuing support to family, friends, and caregivers. Services also include coordination of care and consultations, community nursing services, rehabilitative services, home support, respite and hospice care. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: hospice</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">evidence-based health care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: Evidence-based medicine</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">family-centered care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The integration and collaboration of family members with the patient care team, esp. in the care of dependent infants, children, or adults with complex or continuing health care needs. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">PATIENT CARE</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Family and friends are increasingly needed to provide patient care. Although researchers have identified the “typical caregiver” as a 46-year-old female with some college education, in actuality anyone in the patient’s circle may be called upon to provide care. The care provided may vary from helping with driving or shopping; managing treatment and medications; providing assistance with activities of daily living, such as bathing, feeding, toileting; and transferring the patient; or helping the patient make health care decisions and choices. The health care professional should identify the primary caregiver(s), recognize the level of stress occurring in the relationship, and develop a partnership to reduce the burden of care and prevent caregiver exhaustion and burnout. In addition to psychosocial support, the family caregiver may benefit from practical instruction about how to perform caregiving activities. Health care professionals should be available to step in when situational demands exceed the family caregiver’s capabilities, and to step back when the family’s support is what is needed most. Caregivers need to seek their own support from family, friends, community agencies, support groups, or/or their religious or spiritual community.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">foster care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The care of individuals who cannot live independently (such as children, homeless families, or frail elderly people) in a group or private home.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">futile care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In clinical practice, esp. in the care of patients at the end of life, any intervention that will not improve a patient's health, well-being, comfort, or prognosis. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: advance directive; SEE: hospice</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">health care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">All of the services made available by medical professionals to promote, maintain, or preserve life and well-being. Its major objectives are to relieve pain; treat injury, illness, and disability; and provide comfort and hope.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">guided care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Complex patient care provided by family members with direction and support from health care professionals.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">home health care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The provision of equipment and services to patients in their homes to restore and maintain their maximal levels of comfort, function, and health.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">hospital-at-home care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A form of community-based treatment in which acute medical problems are actively addressed in the patient's home by trained health care specialists in place of similar care provided in-hospital. It has been used to treat both medical issues (such as congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, or end-of-life care) and also postoperative recuperation. Although hospital-at-home care has been proposed as a low-cost alternative to inpatient care, its cost structure is not clearly more favorable than inpatient treatment.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">informal care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">1. Care provided to the very young, the very old, the weak, the poor, and the sick by family, friends, neighbors, and concerned citizens, rather than by trained, licensed, or certified health care professionals. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">2. Health care advice that is given by trained, licensed, and certified health care professionals without a thorough examination. Such care is rarely documented.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">intensive care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">1. Care of critically ill patients by continuous monitoring of various body functions. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">2. An intensive care unit.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">kangaroo care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The placing of a newborn directly onto the mother's skin to enhance bonding, regulate body temperature, improve the infant's oxygenation, or increase the mother's production of milk. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SYN: SEE: kangaroo mothering</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">long-term care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: LTC A range of continuous health care or social services for those with chronic physical or mental impairments, or both. LTC provides for basic needs and promotes optimal functioning. It includes care in assisted living facilities, the home, hospice, and nursing homes. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: Nursing Diagnoses Appendix</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: nursing home</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">low-value care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Health care services that are unlikely to benefit individual patients or the community at large.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">managed care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Any of the methods of financing and organizing the delivery of health care in which costs are contained by controlling the provision of benefits and services. Physicians, hospitals, and other health care agencies contract with the system to accept a predetermined monthly payment for providing services to patients who are enrolled in a managed care plan. Enrollee access to care may be limited to the physicians and other health care providers who are affiliated with the plan. In general, managed care agencies attempt to control costs by overseeing and altering the behavior of their providers. Clinical decision making is influenced by a variety of administrative incentives and constraints. Incentives affect the health care provider's financial return for professional services. Constraints include specific rules, regulations, practice guidelines, diagnostic and treatment protocols, or algorithms. Care is overseen by quality assurance procedures and utilization reviews.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: cost awareness; SEE: cost-effectiveness; SEE: gatekeeper; SEE: Health Maintenance Organization; SEE: managed competition; SEE: resource-based relative value scale</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">medical care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The use of medical skills to benefit a patient.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">monitored anesthesia care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: MAC Repeated careful evaluation of a patient's airway, breathing, blood pressure, and organ perfusion during deep sedation or general anesthesia.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">mouth care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Personal and bedside care of the oral cavity including the gingivae, teeth, lips, epithelial covering of the mucosa, pharynx, and tongue. People who are normally able to provide their own oral hygiene may require help in maintaining a healthy oral environment when they are ill. The intensity and frequency of care is dictated by the patient's comfort; the severity of the illness; potential or existing irritation or inflammation secondary to trauma or therapy; and the patient's state of consciousness, level of cooperation, and ability for self-care.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: stomatitis</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">preference-sensitive care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Optional or elective care that a patient chooses from a list of alternatives, esp. when one alternative is not definitively known to be superior to the others. In preference-sensitive care, the values of the patient in making the choice are paramount.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">nurse-led care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Health care managed by and provided primarily by advanced practitioner nurses. Many community health centers are led by advanced practitioner nurses.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">personal care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: Self-care (2).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">prehospital care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The care a patient receives from an emergency medical service before arriving at the hospital. This is usually done by emergency medical technicians and paramedics.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: out-of-hospital.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">prenatal care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The regular monitoring and management of the health status of the pregnant woman and her fetus during gestation. Comprehensive care is based on a thorough review of the woman's medical, surgical, obstetrical and gynecological, nutritional, and social history, and that of the family for indications of genetic or other risk factors. Laboratory analyses provide important data describing the woman's current health status and indications for treatment and anticipatory guidance. Periodic gynecological visits are scheduled to evaluate changes in blood pressure, weight, fundal height, fetal heart rate, and fetal activity, and to assess for any signs of emerging health problems. To enable the patient's active participation in care and to facilitate early diagnosis and prompt treatment of emerging problems, emphasis is placed on anticipatory guidance and patient teaching. The health care professional describes and discusses nutrition and diet (including the importance of folate supplementation), self-management of common minor complaints, alerts the patient to signs to report promptly to the primary caregiver; helps patients gain access to resources available for preparation for childbirth, breastfeeding, newborn care, and parenting; and provides support and counseling.SEE: pregnancy; SEE: prenatal diagnosis; SEE TABLE: Common Tests Performed Prenatally</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Common Tests Performed Prenatally</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-7b0tswBpGN7QAXKLGjhXFMErZ6t3YT9QxNbh9ExDmMuWeviDq8qgJb8W-o5e0TnMvO8LONwn4y5VzC2u1cL-zOyfqdFfivga6IT8ScBGrSwH7FhpBOO280nff7K5HF0JCmBkhuVB7gp/s1600/rxc.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2-7b0tswBpGN7QAXKLGjhXFMErZ6t3YT9QxNbh9ExDmMuWeviDq8qgJb8W-o5e0TnMvO8LONwn4y5VzC2u1cL-zOyfqdFfivga6IT8ScBGrSwH7FhpBOO280nff7K5HF0JCmBkhuVB7gp/s640/rxc.PNG" width="622" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">prepaid care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Managed care in which a patient or group contracts for all its health care services in advance instead of paying for each service when it is delivered.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">primary care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Integrated, accessible, basic health care provided where the patient first seeks medical assistance by clinicians responsible for most of the patient's personal health care, including health maintenance, therapy during illnesses, and consultation with specialists.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">relationship-centered care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Health care that explicitly recognizes the importance of patients, their supporters, their community, their providers, and their health care administrators as they jointly affect the experience of health, disease prevention, and treatment.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">residential care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Care provided in a live-in facility other than the patient's home. The very young, the very old, and those with physical infirmities or behavioral or substance abuse problems are often treated in residential care centers.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">respiratory care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The evaluation, treatment, and rehabilitation of patients with cardiopulmonary disease by respiratory therapy professionals working under a physician's supervision.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">respite care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Provision of short-term care to the elderly, disabled, or chronically ill of a community to allow caregivers temporary relief from their responsibilities. The care may be provided either in the patient's home, church, community center, nursing home, or caregiver's home.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">restorative care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: Rehabilitation (1).</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">secondary medical care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Medical care of a patient by a physician acting as a consultant. The provider of primary medical care usually refers the patient for expert or specialty consultation or for a second opinion.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">secondary nursing care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Nursing care aimed at early recognition and treatment of disease. It includes general nursing intervention and teaching of early signs of disease so that prompt medical care by a physician, nurse practitioner, speech therapist, or other appropriate provider can be obtained. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: preventive nursing</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">simultaneous care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">In patients with potentially terminal illnesses, the combined or alternating use of palliative and curative therapies.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">skilled care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Medical care provided by licensed professionals working under the direction of a physician.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">stepped care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Treatment that follows a predetermined or algorithmic sequence. The simplest, most affordable, or most broadly effective treatment regimen is used first. If that fails or causes side effects, other options are employed until an endpoint is reached.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">supply-sensitive care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Healthcare services that are more likely to be provided where the capacity to provide them exists and less likely to be used where the services to provide them are scarce. A small city that has a neurosurgeon working at its hospital is much more likely to receive patients referred for neurosurgery than another town in which brain surgery is not regionally accessible. More than half of all spending on Medicare is thought to be supply-sensitive.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">survivorship care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A plan for patient follow-up that links the treatments a patient has received from an oncologist with his or her needs after intensive cancer treatments have been completed. With about 10 million cancer survivors and the numbers rising in the U.S., and survivors are living longer and receiving more fragmented care. A follow-up care plan helps communicate to the patient and his or her future health care providers details of cancer staging, treatment, and disease surveillance that may otherwise be misunderstood or overlooked. According to the Institute of Medicine, such a plan should include the following elements: 1. a clear, concisely written statement of the patient's diagnosis, the methods used in treatment (such as what specific chemotherapeutic drugs and what doses of radiation), and the expected or potential effects of that treatment; 2. detailed information about the need for specific follow-up services and a timetable specifying when such services should be delivered; 3. information about secondary disease prevention (including the detection of cancer recurrence and the need for monitoring for secondary cancers); 4. information about the availability of support services and agencies in the patient's community; 5. information for the patient about legal protection after diagnosis, including regarding employment and insurance.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Survivor care plans are often drawn up and given to patients by oncologists or advanced practice nurses. They should address concerns about nutrition, physical activity, exercise, and mobility; elimination; cognition and perception; pain and discomfort; sleep and rest; self-perception; relationships with spouse, parents, children, other family members, and friends; and sexuality and reproductive issues.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">tactical combat casualty care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: TCCC Treatment provided to military personnel while engaged in battle.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">tender loving care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: TLC Administration of medical and nursing care and attention to a patient in a kindly, compassionate, and humane manner.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">tertiary medical care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">A level of medical care in a facility staffed and equipped to administer comprehensive care. This care is usually provided in a large hospital to which the patient has been referred or transferred. It includes techniques and methods of therapy and diagnosis involving equipment and personnel that are not economically feasible in a smaller institution because of underutilization.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">tracheostomy care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Management of the tracheostomy wound and the airway device. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">PATIENT CARE</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">The patient should be suctioned as often as necessary to remove secretions. Sterile technique is maintained throughout the procedure. Before suctioning, the patient should be aerated well, which can be accomplished by using an Ambu bag attached to a source of oxygen. The patency of the suction catheter is tested by aspirating sterile normal saline through it. The catheter is inserted without applying suction, until the patient coughs. Suction is then applied intermittently and the catheter withdrawn in a rotating motion. The lungs are auscultated by assessing the airway, and the suctioning procedure is repeated until the airway is clear. Each suctioning episode should take no longer than 15 sec, and the patient should be allowed to rest and breathe between suctioning episodes. The suction catheter is cleansed with sterile normal saline solution, as is the oral cavity if necessary. The inner cannula should be cleansed or replaced after each aspiration. Metal cannulas should be cleansed with sterile water.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">An emergency tracheotomy kit is kept at the bedside at all times. A Kelly clamp is also kept at the bedside to hold open the tracheostomy site in an emergency. Unless ordered otherwise, cuffed tracheostomy tubes must be inflated if the patient is receiving positive-pressure ventilation. In other cases, the cuff is kept deflated if the patient has problems with aspiration. The dressing and tape are changed every 8 hr, using aseptic technique. Skin breakdown is prevented by covering tracheostomies with an oval dressing between the airway device and the skin. To apply neck tapes, two lengths of twill tape approx. 10 in (25 cm) long are obtained; the end of each is folded and a slit is made 0.5 in (1.3 cm) long about 1 in (2.5 cm) from the fold. The slit end is slipped under the neck plate and the other end of the tape pulled through the slit. This is repeated for the other side. The tape is wrapped around the neck and secured with a square knot on the side. Neck tapes should be left in place until new tapes are attached. Tracheal secretions are cultured as ordered; their color, viscosity, amount, and abnormal odor, if any, are observed. The site is inspected daily for bleeding, hematoma formation, subcutaneous emphysema, and signs of infection. Appropriate skin care is provided. The medical care team should help alleviate the patient's anxiety and apprehension and communicate openly with the patient. The patient's response is documented.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Video for Suctioning: Tracheostomy, Portable Open System </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/8DcVjjybKQI/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8DcVjjybKQI?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">transitional care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Health care services provided to patients after hospitalization in an acute care facility before they are ready to return to their homes. Transitional care shortens acute hospital stays, decreases health care costs, and provides a period for recuperation for patients still unable to thrive independently. Facilities used in transitional care include rehabilitation units, long-term care hospitals, subacute care facilities, hospice services, and some home care services.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">uncompensated care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Health care provided to those who are uninsured and unable to pay for the services they receive. In the U.S., most uncompensated care is provided for in a relatively small number of urban hospitals.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">unscheduled care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Acute care for which patients seek timely access to health care providers. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SYN: SEE: urgent care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">urgent care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">SEE: Unscheduled care.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">wound care</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">Any technique that enhances the healing of skin abrasions, blisters, cracks, craters, infections, lacerations, necrosis, and/or ulcers. Wound care involves 1. local care to the skin, with débridement and dressings; 2. careful positioning of the affected body part to avoid excessive pressure on the wound; 3. application of compression or medicated bandages; 4. treatment of edema or lymphedema; 5. treatment of infection; 6. optimization of nutrition and of blood glucose levels; 7. the use of supports and cushions; and 8. maximization of blood flow and oxygen. Website: Association for the Advancement of Wound Care: www.aawcone.org/patientresources.shtml</span></div> </div>

Care (kar)  I n health care, the application of professional skill, support and concern, to provide health benefits to a person or a comm...

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Taber's Medical Dictionary:How to use Inhaler

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: blue; font-size: large;"><b>Inhaler</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">(ĭn-hāl′ĕr)</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">1. A device for administering medicines by inhalation. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">2. One who inhales.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: purple; font-size: large;"><b>Metered-dose inhaler:</b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;">ABBR: MDI A device used for self-administration of aerosolized drugs. </span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;">PATIENT CARE</span><span style="color: #4c1130;">:</span></b></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">When used correctly, a metered-dose inhaler can deliver accurate doses of medication to the respiratory tract. The MDI is a drug canister in an L-shaped mouthpiece, which can be used alone or with a “spacer” (a holding chamber designed to aerosolize medication so it can reach the lower respiratory tract). The health care professional teaching the patient proper MDI technique should gather the drug canister and mouthpiece, the package insert, and the spacer (if one is to be used). The MDI should be sprayed once or twice prior to initiating use, and the spacer inspected for foreign objects. The patient should wash his/her hands thoroughly, and may either sit or stand. If a peak flow meter is being used, the patient should take a reading prior to using the MDI. The patient should then clear the throat and nasal passages. The patient should hold the inhaler upright and shake it as directed, then remove the cap and hold the inhaler with the canister on top and the mouthpiece facing the patient's open mouth at the bottom. Tilting the head back slightly, the patient should breathe out slowly and completely. (When using an MDI with a spacer, the inhaler cap is removed and the mouthpiece is firmly inserted into the spacer, then the spacer and inhaler are held together upright and vigorously shaken 5 or 6 times. The space cap is then removed, the head tilted back, and the breath let out slowly and completely.) The inhaler mouthpiece may be positioned in one of two ways: 1 to 2 inches (2.5 to 5 cm) in front of the open mouth, mouth open; or with the mouthpiece in the mouth and lips sealed around it. However, this latter technique is less efficient in delivering medication and should never be used for steroids. While breathing in slowly, evenly, and deeply though the mouth, the patient should press once on the canister and continue inhaling for 3 to 5 sec. The breath should then be held for 10 sec (or as long as possible), allowing the medication to settle in the lungs. The inhaler should be removed from the mouth prior to exhaling. If a spacer is used, the patient should place the spacer mouthpiece in the mouth and seal the lips around it, then press on the canister to spray a puff of medication into the spacer and begin inhaling slowly through the mouth for 3 to 5 sec. The breath should then be held for 10 sec (or as long as possible). The spacer should be removed from the mouth prior to exhaling. If more than one puff is prescribed, the patient should wait 1 to 2 min between puffs to help the second puff to better penetrate the lungs. The patient should be taught to remember “B before C” when using an inhaled bronchodilator and corticosteroid; first inhaling the bronchodilator, waiting about 5 min, and then inhaling the corticosteroid. This helps to open the air passages for maximum absorption of the steroid. After inhaling a corticosteroid, the patient should rinse the mouth with water and expectorate it.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="color: magenta; font-size: large;">The spacer and the L-shaped mouthpiece and cap should be rinsed with warm, running water at least once each day, and washed with warm soapy water, then rinsed at least once each week. The equipment should always be allowed to air-dry. The patient can calculate how long a drug canister will last by reading the total number of doses on the label, counting the number of puffs used each day, and dividing the total doses by the number of daily puffs. (Thus if a canister contains 200 doses and the patient takes 8 to 10 each day, a new canister will be required in a month). The health care educator should provide the patient with written instructions and illustrations for proper MDI use. The patient also should be taught about (and provided with) information on the desired effects of each medication and the possible adverse reactions. The teaching session, the patient's demonstration of the method, and any questions raised should be documented in the patient's record.</span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6h0tg40AMwuWPKAFQ2-HVcg-4enYkuyxz1xQ1y2OFeqbQwcAbfahhoqfGBJJdPYsU-g1et7lRG64s-vFMtiwsaw0a5nGSe6mCWwbssrLe6bxFjQMrpEHtULT7dBHdCbJVaYffkuTdIWw/s1600/repview+58.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW6h0tg40AMwuWPKAFQ2-HVcg-4enYkuyxz1xQ1y2OFeqbQwcAbfahhoqfGBJJdPYsU-g1et7lRG64s-vFMtiwsaw0a5nGSe6mCWwbssrLe6bxFjQMrpEHtULT7dBHdCbJVaYffkuTdIWw/s1600/repview+58.jpg" /></a></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <iframe width="854" height="480" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/EFohTGeAb9U" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBmMndSuh29pkIM8KTwVsRqwLWnTFnzTW5buGUm7qTUCFvzCSyei8_2MQEhvVoIjojNjH-V3Nk62KELjp3kbKIkWH2fZfXernF-t9QvtSToq2gSGiNaio5gNNJb09ION8rT6JALZCetuK/s1600/repview+214.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidBmMndSuh29pkIM8KTwVsRqwLWnTFnzTW5buGUm7qTUCFvzCSyei8_2MQEhvVoIjojNjH-V3Nk62KELjp3kbKIkWH2fZfXernF-t9QvtSToq2gSGiNaio5gNNJb09ION8rT6JALZCetuK/s640/repview+214.jpg" width="282" /></a></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></div> </div>

Inhaler (ĭn-hāl′ĕr) 1. A device for administering medicines by inhalation.  2. One who inhales. Metered-dose inhaler: ABBR: MD...

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