Glossary of Childhood Onset Heart Disease
Based upon the needs and requests of our readers, we have created this glossary to provide accurate and concise information for families and individuals. The following represents a "work in progress". Please contact us to submit items you would like to see included on this page.
Medical Personnel / Services
Anesthesiologist
A physician specializing in the practice of anesthesiology and the use of anesthetic medicines. These medications result in a loss of sensation, memory, pain, and loss of consciousness, and are used in all surgical cases.
Attending (physician)
A more senior, supervising physician whose responsibilities include the care of a particular patient or special group of patients. Within teaching hospitals, the "attending" is typically a faculty member with teaching responsibilities.
Case Management
The task of overseeing an individual patient’s medical and social needs, assuring that any and all necessary services are obtained.
Child Life Therapist
A person with specialty education and experience in structuring, coordinating, and implementing services and activities for the hospitalized child (e.g. -"medical play therapy") that will help to create the least stressful, most normal environment.
Clinical Nurse Specialist (CNS)
An advanced practice nurse who has a master's degree in nursing, and specializes in a particular field. A Clinical Nurse Specialist has special expertise in patient care, family education, and staff support.
Clinical Pathways
A process by which "routine" postoperative orders are placed into a standard protocol, minimizing variability in the ordering of tests by staff. Clinical pathways are especially useful in "straightforward" postoperative management and have been shown to reduce hospital charges and length of stay by as much as 20%.
Family Resource Center
A unit of organized and compiled resources made available to the family and patient. Typically, they offer disease-specific library materials, and contact information for various organizations and assisting programs.
Fellow
A physician who has already completed medical school and preliminary specialty training in pediatrics, medicine, surgery, anesthesiology, etc., and is eligible for board certification in that specialty. Subspecialty training then takes place (for example, cardiothoracic surgery, pediatric cardiology) during which time, the physician is called a "fellow". Fellowships may last from 1-5 years after medical school (4 years) and primary specialty training (3-7 years).
Home-Based Healthcare
In-home care for ongoing medical conditions, usually by visiting nurses. This might include intravenous antibiotics, daily weight checks and physical assessment, etc.
Intensivist
A physician with special training to work with critically ill patients. Neonatologists, pediatric critical care physicians, and cardiac anesthesiologists traditionally fill this role. There are a growing numbers of pediatric cardiologists with special training in intensive care that work with these other specialists to provide pre and postoperative care.
Intern
A term used for the first year training following medical school. The first year of a residency is typically called an internship.
Neonatologist
A physician who has completed specialty training in pediatrics and subspecialty training ("fellowship") in the care of newborns.
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner (PNP)
An advanced practice nurse with special training and an advanced degree in nursing. PNP’s may perform examinations, order medications and diagnostic procedures, educate staff and families, and provide continuity of care between inpatient and outpatient settings.
Pain Management
The use of analgesics, narcotics, and sedation in the postoperative period or during other painful procedures.
Perfusionist
A specially trained individual who manages the heart/lung machine.
Pre-op Play Therapy
Techniques used prior to surgery in age-appropriate children to prepare them for the postoperative period and alleviate their anxiety.
Pre-operative Tour
The opportunity for a patient and family to visit the inpatient ward, intensive care unit, and catheterization laboratorprior to the procedure, so that questions may be answered and anxieties partially relieved.
Resident
A Physician completing preliminary training in a primary specialty (e.g., pediatrics, surgery, internal medicine, obstetrics/gynecology, etc.) following medical school.
Social Worker
Within the hospital setting, a person specially trained to counsel and assist in the emotional, social, environmental and financial needs of the cardiac patient and family. This person often times interacts as a liaison of need, working closely with medical staff and the family, both during and after hospitalization.
Transitional Care
A "step-down" unit with less ill patients than an intensive care unit, but a higher nurse-patient ratio than a general inpatient ward. Also referred to as "Intermediate" or "Moderate" care.
Transplant Coordinator
An advanced practice nurse who coordinates the medical and social needs of transplant patients. The transplant coordinator is typically responsible for screening potential donors and works closely with the medical team, transport services, etc.
- Other Articles in This Section
- Associated Conditions
- Cath Lab Procedures
- Imaging Techniques
- Medical Personnel /Services
- New Strategies / Techniques
- Surgical Complications
- Surgical Procedures
Your feedback is very important! Please e-mail us with any questions or comments about this article.
Return to Resource Room.
|
