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General Medical Terms
Explanations of general healthcare terms relevant to chest heart and stroke illness. Words with capital letters are listed individually to allow further understanding. You can search this page using Ctrl + F.
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A&E—Accident and Emergency
Receiving department of a hospital where people needing urgent medical attention are brought.
ADL—Activities Of Daily Living
The daily tasks we do in normal life
AED—Automatic External Defibrillator
Machine used to deliver an electric shock to the Heart to correct abnormal Heart Rhythm. Designed to be safely used by the public.
AFC—Agenda For Change
The 2004 process of restructuring the pay of all healthcare professionals (except doctors)
ALS—Advanced Life Support
Treatment given in hospital during a life threatening emergency
Artery
Blood Vessel which carries Blood away from the Heart around the body
ARU—Acute Receiving Unit
Ward into which patients are admitted for assessment
BLS—Basic Life Support
Emergency treatment to sustain breathing and Blood Flow
Benign
A condition which has no serious effects
Blood
Liquid substance which travels in Vessels and supplies Oxygen and nutrients to all areas of the body
BMI—Body Mass Index
A number which judges whether you are the correct weight for your height
BNF—British National Formulary
A reference book for all health professionals which contains information about medicines
BP—Blood Pressure
A measurement of the pressure at which Blood is being pumped around the body by the Heart
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Capillary
Tiny Vessels which branch off from Veins and Arteries to deliver Blood to all areas of the body
Consent Form
Documented permission from a patient for a treatment
CPD—Continuing Professional Development
Study which healthcare professionals are required to undertake throughout their career
CT/ CAT—Computerised Actualisation Tomography
A test which looks at a part of the body using X-rays to create a picture of any problems
DGH—District General Hospital
Hospital not based in a city dealing with local healthcare needs
Diagnosis
Medical term describing presence of an illness
DNA—Did Not Attend
Used to describe a patient who did not turn up to a booked appointment
DNR—Do Not Resuscitate
Decision not to actively treat a life threatening illness
DVT—Deep Vein Thrombosis
A Blood clot in a leg Vessel
EBM—Evidence Based Medicine
Medical practice based on research results
Generic
The accepted general name for a medication
GMS—General Medical Services
Primary Care healthcare professionals
HDL—Health Department Letter
An official statement from the Scottish Executive Health Department (SEHD)
Hypertension
High Blood Pressure
Hypotension
Low Blood Pressure
ICP—Integrated Care Pathway
A hospital document used by all health professionals to record your stay in hospital.
IM&T—Information Management & Technology
A term for work concerned with data and computers.
ITU/ ICU—Intensive Therapy Unit/ Intensive Care Unit
Area of the hospital where seriously ill people are looked after.
IV—Intravenous
Within/ into the Veins
(J) HIP—Joint Health Improvement Plan
Local authority commitment to improving health.
MEL—Management Executive Letter
An official statement from the NHS Management Executive (part of the Scottish Executive (SE)).
MRI—Magnetic Resonance Imaging
A test which uses a magnet to create a picture of potential problems inside the body
NFR—Not For Resuscitation
Decision not to actively treat a life threatening illness.
NOK—Next Of Kin
The family member/ friend who is the first point of contact for a patient.
OPD—Out Patient Department
The area of a hospital where people come from home to be seen in clinics.
PDP—Personal Development Plan
The personal aims and objectives of a healthcare professional agreed with their manager.
PE—Pulmonary Embolus
Blood clot restricting blood flow to the lungs.
POM—Prescription Only Medicine
Medicine you cannot buy over the counter
PREP—Post Registration Experience Portfolio
Outdated term for Continual Professional Development (CPD).
Primary Care
Healthcare provided in the community.
Prognosis
Expected outcome for a patient.
RCT—Randomised Controlled Trial
A method used in medical research, regarded as the most reliable gold standard.
REC—Research Ethics Committee
Group of people who examine research proposals.
SAS—Scottish Ambulance Service
The emergency service used to transport people to hospital.
SCI—Scottish Care Information
A national initiative which aims to provide standard national information on Coronary Heart Disease split into three levels Bronze, Silver & Gold.
Secondary Care
Healthcare which is provided in a hospital.
Syndrome
A collection of signs and symptoms known to occur at once.
Vein
Blood vessel which carries blood back to the heart from the body.
Ventilation
To do with breathing
Vessel
Term for Veins, Arteries and Capillaries.
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