Glossary of Terms
A
Activities/Recreational
Manages all special activities and programs geared towards giving the patient a social atmosphere within or outside of the facility.
Administrative Assistant/Executive Secretary
Organizes administrative office activities, ensures that records are accurate, answers phones, type business forms and letters, etc.
Administrator
See Chief Executive Officer/President/Administrator.
Admissions/Patient Registration
The formal acceptance of inpatients into an institute. He/she acquires patient information. They obtain a medical history from the patient, find out who the guarantor (the person or insurance company that is financially responsible for the patient's bill) is, and they obtain the reason for the patient's visit.
Advertising Manager
Individual responsible for coordinating advertising campaigns, special events, promotions, etc that announce and inform target customers about the company.
Ambulance Services (EMT)
Person in charge of ambulance unit. Often involving EMT department.
Ancillary Services
The person who oversees the departments which support the nursing and medical staff's diagnosis and treatment of patients. Such departments include: radiology, pharmacy, laboratory, anesthesiology, respiratory therapy, and physical therapy/rehabilitative medicine.
Anesthesiology
Manages and inspects the medical study and application of anesthetics (any agent that causes unconsciousness or insensitivity to pain). It involves the administration of local, general, or regional anesthesia before and during surgery. This person can either be a physician or a Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist (CRNA).
Associate/Assistant Pharmacist
Usually works with or assists the Chief or Director of the Pharmacy. Works directly under the head pharmacist.
Audio Visual/Media Services
Carekeeper of audio visual equipment.
Audiology
An individual qualified by education and authorized by law to evaluate and treat patients with impaired hearing, phonation and including the fitting and dispensing of hearing aids.
Auxiliary/Volunteer Services
Coordinates the services of the community volunteer staff. The staff works at the reception desk and in the hospital gift shop, delivers flowers to patients rooms, escorts patients within the hospital, delivers lab work, etc.
B
Billing (includes: Patient Accounts, Reimbursement, Insurance)
This person deals with the patient billing and the handling of insurance forms. The title sometimes given to this person is the director of patient accounts because they are in charge of the collection/payment of the patient's bills.
Biomedical Engineering
Application of the principles and practices of engineering science to biomedical research and health care. Development of devices like cardiac pacemakers, and hearing aids. Responsible for the maintenance of all equipment (i.e. oxygen tanks, dialysis machines, etc.) and apparatus in the laboratory and other departments.
Blood Bank
A medical lab which collects and types blood from donors, then refrigerates the blood until it is needed for transfusion. Ensures the quality and supply of blood needed for surgery. Analyzes blood from donors to determine compatibility.
Business Office Manager
The individual who supervises and coordinates the operations of a health care organization's business office, including the supervision of office functions, such as bookkeeping, clerical services, filing, recordkeeping, preparing reports, and word processing.
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