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Glossary

Allopathic medicine: Thetreatmentofdiseaseusingconventionalevidence-basedmedicaltherapies.

Alternative medicine: Anon-Westernformofmedi-calpractice,suchastheuseofbotanicalstotreatdisease.

Analgesic: Anagentusedtosuppresspain.

Anti-inflammatory drugs: Drugsthatreduceinflam-mation.

Antiemetic drugs:Drugsthatpreventnauseaandvomiting.

Antipyretic drugs:Drugsthatpreventorreducefeverbyloweringbodytemperature.

Bioavailability: Theextenttowhichamedicationornutrientcanbeusedbythebody.

Bioequivalence: Theconditioninwhichdifferentformulationsofthesamedrugorchemicalareab-sorbedequallybythebody.

Complementary medicine: Atypeofmedicalprac-ticethatmaybeperformedalongwithtraditionalWesternmedicinepractices,suchasmusictherapy,whileundergoingsurgery.

Diabetes: Ametabolicdisorderinwhichthebodyceasestoeitheruseormakeinsulinefficiently.

Efficacy: Thetherapeuticeffectofagivenintervention.

Endocrinology: Thebranchofmedicinedealingwiththeendocrineglandsandtheirsecretions.

Fee-for-service insurance: Ahealthinsuranceplaninwhichtheconsumerpaysamonthlypremium.Afterspendingapredeterminedamountonmedicalcareeachyear,theconsumerthenpaysapercentageofexpensesincurred,whiletheplanpaystheremainder.

Generic: Anon-brandedproduct.

Health maintenance organizations:Healthinsuranceplansinwhich,inexchangeforamonthlypremium,consumerscanselectmedicaltreatmentfromalistofphysiciansandpayonlyaco-paymentateachvisit.

Homeopathy: Themethodoftreatingsymptomsusingdrugs,giveninminutedosesthatinahealthypersonwouldproducesymptomssimilartothoseofthedisease.

Malpractice: Failureofaprofessionaltorenderproperservicesthroughreprehensibleignoranceornegligenceorthroughcriminalintent,especiallywheninjuryorlossresults.

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Medicaid: Government-sponsoredhealthcaresys-temfortheindigentanddisabled.

Medicare: Government-sponsoredhealthcaresys-temforthoseover65yearsofage.

Meditation: Thoughtpracticethatresultsinrelax-ationandstressreduction.

Naturopathy: Asystemormethodoftreatingdis-easethatemploysnosurgeryorsyntheticdrugs,insteadusingdiets,herbs,vitamins,andmassagetoassistthenaturalhealingprocesses.

Nurse practitioner/physicians assistant (PA): Areg-isterednursewhohasreceivedspecialtrainingandcanperformmanyofthedutiesofaphysician.

Oncology: Thebranchofmedicinedealingwithtumors,includingcanceroustumors.

Ophthalmologists: Licensedphysiciansspecializinginthemedicalcareandsurgeryoftheeyes.

Optician: Atechnicianwhomakesandfitseyeglass-esbasedonprescriptions.

Optometrist: Atrainedandlicensedindividualwhocanprescribeandfiteyeglasses.

Pharmaceuticals: Prescriptiondrugsandover-thecounterdrugs.

Pilates: Amethodofphysicalandmentalexerciseinvolvingstretchingandbreathingthatfocusonstrengtheningtheabdominalcore.

Preferred provider organizations: Acombinationofafee-for-serviceplanwithanHMO.

Primary care physician (PCP):Aphysicianwhopro-videsthefirstcontactforapersonwithanundiag-nosedhealthconcern,aswellascontinuingcareforavarietyofmedicalconditions.PCPsgenerallydonothaveamedicalspecialtyorperformsurgery.

Qi: AtermusedinChineseculturethatissaidtobepartofeverylivingthing,andisseenasalifeforceorspiritualenergy.

Radiologists: PhysicianswhoarespeciallytrainedtointerpretmedicalX-rays.

Secondary care:Careprovidedtoapatientwhohasbeenreferredtothespecialistbyaprimarycarephysician.

Therapeutic value:Thevalueofaprocedureorprod-uctrelativetoitsabilitytotreatorcureadiseaseorcondition.