Author: Glossary

An agreement between a seller and buyer, for the seller to sell only to the buyer (or the buyer to buy only from the seller). When such an arrangement unfavorably affects competition, it may violate the federal antitrust laws.  

Assessment of the degree to which care measures up to accepted standards.  

An ad hoc health care “think tank” with William F. Bridgers, MD, as Head. Bridgers is founding Dean of the School of Public Health of the University of Alabama. The Eutaw Group contends that the health care universe is one comprised of “haves” and “havenots,” and that this distinction is more important than the usual…

Fairness. This is one great impetus to health care reform; inequities among regions of the country, between rural and urban settings, among ethnic groups, and among socioeconomic groups, in access to and quality of both preventive and curative services, are widely reported.  

A continuous course of care by a hospital or physician for a specific medical problem or condition. Often the term has a specific definition under a federal or state statute.  

A technique used in planning in which influences and events external to the organization which are felt likely to present either problems or opportunities are listed. An attempt is then made to predict the effects of these factors on the organization, and to suggest the appropriate responses. It is to be contrasted with “environmental impact,”…

The set of management activities directed at maintaining quality and enthusiasm in the performance of established activities and duties which are not in need of change. Entropy is a term taken from physics for the tendency of any system (process) to lose energy, to “run down,” if no additional energy is provided. An appreciable amount…

A person who organizes a new venture and assumes the risk. This is in contrast with the new term “intrapreneur,” meaning a person within an organization who creates a new venture or “product” for the organization.    

As used in health insurance and with prepayment plans, a person who is covered (receives benefits) under a contract for care. Sometimes called “member” or “covered person”.  

Employment of an individual without a personal or union contract Notwithstanding the lack of an employment contract, however, termination of such an employee under certain circumstances may subject an employer to liability for “wrongful discharge.” Such circumstances include a discharge violating an implied contract, not carried out in “good faith and fair dealing,” or against…