Author: Glossary

An organizational form for health care delivery in which the financial risk (health care) is assumed by the organization, rather than by individuals.  

As commonly used, any institution dealing with health. Some definitions state that an institution, to qualify for this term, must have an organized professional staff. However, there are no regulations, such as standards for the licensure or registry of institutions, which currently restrict the use of this term.    

A term without specific definition, referring to all the facilities and services, along with methods for financing them, through which health care is provided.  

A person who holds herself or himself out as an independent contractor to provide professional advice and services to hospitals, often concerning management matters and planning. The American Association of Healthcare Consultants (AAHC) recognizes consultants in several specialties: Strategic Planning and Marketing; Organization and Management; Human Resource Management; Facilities Programming and Planning; Finance; Operations and…

An organization working on broad health care concerns, ordinarily including hospital and health care costs, and typically with provider, business, and consumer participation. Often there is government participation as well.  

An organization which was proposed in the health care reform legislation to be established in the managed competition approach to health care reform to serve as a “sponsor” for populations which would otherwise have no intermediary between their beneficiaries and organizations which provide care. Its basic functions are to bargain with and purchase health insurance…

An allied health field which originated as “patient advocacy,” that is, efforts to help resolve patients’ complaints in relation to medical care and hospital and other health care services and with the protection of their rights. Thus health advocacy was originally the field of the patient advocate or patient representative, also known as an “ombudsperson.”…

Waste materials which are dangerous to living things, and so require special precautions for disposal. Hazardous waste includes radioactive materials, toxic chemicals, and biological waste (blood, tissue, etc.) which can transmit disease (also called “infectious waste”). In health care, items disposed of regularly include used hypodermic needles, surgical sponges, and other products containing blood and…

Substances, such as radioactive or chemical materials, which are dangerous to humans and other living things. Many hospitals have “hazardous materials plans” which are similar to (and sometimes incorporated within) their disaster preparedness plans and which deal specifically with handling emergencies involving hazardous materials. In the event of a nuclear or toxic chemical accident, the…

The health care reform plan instituted in Hawaii in 1974 with passage of a law which required all employers to provide health insurance for all employees working 20 hours a week or more. For the indigent and Medicaid, the insurance is subsidized by the government. Over 95% of Hawaiians are covered by health insurance vs.…