Glossary

Disclaimer - This glossary explains terms in the Medicare program, but it is not a legal document. The official Medicare program provisions are found in the relevant laws, regulations, and rulings.

Definitions:
  • Abuse (Personal)
  • Access
  • Accessibility of services
  • Admitting Physician
  • Advance Directive (Health Care)
  • Ancillary Services
  • Care Plan
  • Case Manager
  • Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)
  • Cognitive Impairment
  • Discharge Planning
  • Gatekeeper
  • Hospice
  • Living Wills
  • Medicaid
  • Medicare
  • Occupational Therapy
  • Ombudsman
  • Physical Therapy
  • Plan of Care
  • Power of Attorney
  • Respiratory Services
  • Speech Language Pathologist
    • Abbreviations:
  • ADL’s
  • ADON
  • CNA
  • COTA
  • DON
  • LTC
  • OT
  • PT
  • PTA
  • ROM
  • RT
  • SLP
  • SNF
    • Abuse (Personal):
    When another person does something on purpose that causes you mental or physical harm or pain.

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    Access:
    Your ability to get needed medical care and services.

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    Accessibility of services:
    Your ability to get medical care and services when you need them.

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    Admitting Physician:
    The doctor responsible for admitting a patient to a hospital or other inpatient health facility.

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    Advance Directive (Health Care):
    Written ahead of time, a health care advance directive is a written document that says how you want medical decisions to be made if you lose the ability to make decisions for yourself. A health care advance directive may include a Living Will and a Durable Power of Attorney for health care.

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    Ancillary Services:
    Professional services by a hospital or other inpatient health program. These may include x-ray, drug, laboratory, or other services.

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    Care Plan:
    A written plan for your care. It tells what services you will get to reach and keep your best physical, mental, and social well being.

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    Case Manager:
    A nurse, doctor, or social worker who arranges all services that are needed to give proper health care to a patient or group of patients.

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    Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS):
    The federal agency that runs the Medicare program. In addition, CMS works with the States to run the Medicaid program. CMS works to make sure that the beneficiaries in these programs are able to get high quality health care.

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    Cognitive Impairment:
    A breakdown in a person's mental state that may affect a person's moods, fears, anxieties, and ability to think clearly.

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    Discharge Planning:
    A process used to decide what a patient needs for a smooth move from one level of care to another. This is done by a social worker or other health care professional. It includes moves from a hospital to a nursing home or to home care. Discharge planning may also include the services of home health agencies to help with the patient's home care.

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    Gatekeeper:
    In a managed care plan, this is another name for the primary care doctor. This doctor gives you basic medical services and coordinates proper medical care and referrals.

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    Hospice:
    Hospice is a special way of caring for people who are terminally ill, and for their family. This care includes physical care and counseling. Hospice care is covered under Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance).

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    Living Wills:
    A legal document also known as a medical directive or advance directive. It states your wishes regarding life-support or other medical treatment in certain circumstances, usually when death is imminent.

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    Medicaid:
    A federal and state program providing health care assistance for qualified individuals.

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    Medicare:
    A federal program providing health care insurance/coverage for qualified individuals 65 years old and/or qualified applicants. The program is divided into Part A and Part B coverage with each covering specific services.

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    Occupational Therapy:
    Occupational Therapy is a rehabilitation specialty that is provided by a licensed individual. The Occupational Therapist works with individuals with varying disabilities. Some of the areas the therapist may help the individual regain function are self feeding, oral hygiene, upper body strengthening, dressing/bathing skills, visual/perceptual coordination, splinting and adaptive equipment.

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    Ombudsman:
    The Ombudsman visits the nursing home on a regular basis. It is their job to mediate disputes, investigate complaints and be an advocate for residents.

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    Physical Therapy:
    Physical Therapy is a rehabilitation specialty that is provided by a licensed individual. The Physical Therapist may work with a individual depending upon the diagnosis to help them regain functional abilities in walking, getting in/out of bed, strength, balance, gross motor skills, endurance and improve safety skills.

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    Plan of Care:
    Your doctor's written plan saying what kind of services and care you need for your health problem.

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    Power of Attorney:
    A medical power of attorney is a document that lets you appoint someone you trust to make decisions about your medical care. This type of advance directive also may be called a health care proxy, appointment of health care agent or a durable power of attorney for health care.

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    Respiratory Services:
    Respiratory Services are services provided to an individual who might have breathing disorders or breathing difficulties. Some of the areas Respiratory Services are provided are aerosol therapy, delivering oxygen therapy and exercises in breathing retraining.

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    Speech Language Pathologist:
    Speech Language Pathologist is a rehabilitation specialty that is provided by a licensed individual. The Speech Language Pathologist assist individuals with varying disabilities. Some of the areas they assist individuals who have difficulties in are chewing, swallowing, speech, comprehension, communications and memory loss.

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    Abbreviations

    ADL’s:
    Activities of Daily Living

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    ADON:
    Assistant Director of Nursing

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    CNA:
    Certified Nursing Assistant

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    COTA:
    Certified Occupational Therapist

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    DON:
    Director of Nursing

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    LTC:
    Long Term Care Facility

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    OT:
    Occupational Therapist

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    PT:
    Physical Therapist

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    PTA:
    Physical Therapy Assistant

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    ROM:
    Range of Motion

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    RT:
    Respiratory Therapist

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    SLP:
    Speech Language Pathologist

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    SNF:
    Skilled Nursing Facility

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