Ethics
The knowledge of right and wrong
Law
A rule established to help people live peacefully together and ensure order and safety
Confidentiality
The legal and ethical principle of keeping information private
HIPAA
A federal law that requires health information be kept private and secure and that organizations take special steps to protect this information
PHI
A person’s private health information, which includes name, address, phone number, SSN, email, and medical record number
CMS
A federal agency within the US department of Health and Human Services that’s responsible for Medicare and Medicaid, among many other responsibilities
CLIA waived test
A diagnostic test determined by CLIA to be simple, easy to perform, and involving little risk of error; phlebotomists can often perform these tests
Point-of-care test
Diagnostic test performed near or in the presence of the patient; many are CLIA waived
Criminal law
The branch of law dealing with offenses considered to harm somebody
Civil law
The branch of law dealing with disputes between individuals
Tort
A violation of civil law (ex: negligence)
Negligence
An action, or the failure to act or provide the proper care, that results in unintended injury to a person
Abuse
Purposeful mistreatment that causes physical, mental, or emotional pain or injury to someone
Mandated reporter
A person who’s legally required to report suspected or observed abuse or neglect due to regular contact with vulnerable populations
Consent
In health care, acknowledgement of agreement to treatment or to a procedure
Informed consent
In health care, acknowledgement of agreement to treatment or to a procedure that’s given after receiving information regarding risks and benefits; informed consent must usually be documented before treatment begins
Express consent
Consent that’s actively, consciously acknowledged
Assault
The use of words or actions to cause another person to feel fearful of being harmed
Battery
The intentional touching of another person without permission
Minor
A person less than 18 years old
Cognitive
Related to the ability to think and process information
Implied consent
The assumption that a person agrees to treatment or to a procedure; allows medical treatment to be provided in emergency situations, for example, even if the patient is not able to express consent
AHA
A nonprofit membership organization concerned with providing info to the healthcare industry and the public regarding healthcare issues and trends
Advance directive
A legal document that allows people to decide what kind of medical care they wish to have in the event they’re unable to make those decisions
Living will
A type of advance directive that outlines specific medical care a person wants, or doesn’t want, in case he becomes unable to make those decisions
DNR
A medical order that instructs medical professionals not to perform CPR in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest
Durable power of attorney for healthcare
A signed, dated, and witnessed legal document that appoints someone else to make medical decisions for a person in the event he or she becomes unable to do so
Medical social worker
Employee at a health care facility who deals with patients’ social, emotional, and financial needs
