Author: Glossary

Any receptor on an antigen-presenting cell of the immune system that recognizes molecular sequences found on disease-causing organisms but not host cells. Pattern recognition receptors detect the presence of pathogen-associated chemicals such as lipopolysaccharides, mannans, and teichoic acids.  

A test for arthritis of the hip. The thigh and knee of the supine patient are flexed, and the external malleolus of the ankle is placed over the patella of the opposite leg. The test result is positive if depression of the knee produces pain. This test is also called the fabere test. “FABERE” is…

Murder of one’s father or another close relative.  

A patient experience of 1 year’s duration, e.g., on a waiting list, in a treatment program, under observation, or suffering an illness. One patient-year is equal to, for example, the experience of two patients for 6 months, or 12 patients for 1 month each.  

The complex link between a patient’s neurologically mediated control of breathing (and the elasticity and resistance of his or her airways) and the pressures and volumes of gases injected into the patient by a mechanical ventilator. Failure of these two systems to work harmoniously is called patient-ventilator dyssynchrony.  

Someone who conveys patients from one health care location to another.  

Those culturally and legally specified rights, claims, powers, privileges, and remedies due to a person receiving health care services.  

In electrosurgery, an electrode that collects the current used to operate on the patient and returns it to a current generator.  

A description of pause the interaction, from intake to discharge, between the patient and the health care team. It includes communication, empathy, examination, evaluation, diagnosis, prognosis, and intervention. The last element, intervention (or treatment), depends on the others.  

A complaint or grievance raised by a patient (or a personal representative of a patient) about care rendered to him or her.