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Sterile Comp Ch 1-4
Vocab
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| adverse drug effect (ADE) | any negative, unintended, or unexpected consequence of a drug, which may or may not result in harmful consequences to the patient; also known as adverse drug reaction (ADR) or adverse event (AE) |
| alchemist | a skilled compounding artisan |
| apothecary | a shop in which medicines were compounded by skilled artisans using herbs and other natural ingredients; these artisans were themselves often called apothecaries |
| aseptic technique | processes and physical preparation methods used by personnel who prepare sterile compounds; meant to prevent the introduction of pathogenic organisms or other contaminants into a sterile environment or preparation |
| aseptic technique testing kit | a kit that uses a soy-broth medium to test a student's aseptic technique during multiple withdrawals and injections; the completed kit in incubated for a period of time specified by the product's manufacturer |
| best practice | a requirement, practice, procedure, or guideline that meets or exceeds the highest standards, usually those set by ASHP, that are recognized in pharmacy practice |
| beyond-use dating | date or time after which a CSP is no longer sterile, stable, or effective and must not be used; also called the expiration date |
| Boards of Pharmacy | a state entity that creates, oversees, and enforces state and federal laws and regulations governing the practice of pharmacy within that state; provides licensure and registration for pharmacies, pharmacists, and pharmacy technicians |
| break in technique | any incidence of failure to follow aseptic technique procedures and protocols; may be observed, or indicated through media-fill, end- product, process validation, or other testing |
| compounded sterile preparations (CSPs) | the mixing of one or more sterile products using aseptic technique; USP Chapter <797> contains extensive information on the risk levels and appropriate pro- cedures related to their preparation |
| low-risk CSP | compounded entirely within an ISO Class 5 environment using aseptic technique, mixing no more than three commercially manufactured sterile ingredients, and using no more than two injections into any single container |
| medium-risk CSP | compounded entirely within an ISO Class 5 environment using aseptic technique, and involves the mixing of multiple sterile products using complex aseptic manipulations |
| high-risk CSP | compounded in an environment worse than ISO Class 5, compounded by incorrectly garbed or gloved personnel, and/ or compounded with one or more nonsterile ingredients |
| immediate-use CSP | a risk level intended only for CSPs prepared outside of the pharmacy in emergency situations; administration must begin within one hour of preparation; may not be stored for any length of time |
| dextrose 5% in water (D5W) | a sterile solution that con- tains a concentration of 5% dextrose in water |
| dyscrasia | a Greek word meaning “bad mixture”; an abnormal blood chemistry |
| end-product testing | a type of quality assurance testing in which a CSP is assayed to verify the strength or concentration of its ingredients as well as to deter- mine its sterility; guidelines for end-product testing are provided in USP Chapter <797> |
| eucrasia | a Greek word meaning “good mixture,” a state of homeostasis reflecting good health |
| Exam for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians (ExCPT) | an exam offered by the Institute for the Certification of Pharmacy Technicians, a division of Assessment Technologies Institute (ATI); not yet widely accepted as a national certification exam |
| five patient "rights" of correct drug administration | patient, right drug, right dose, right time, and right route; designed to reduce the chance of medication error; every healthcare worker who administers or prepares medications should verify these five rights prior to administering a drug to a patient |
| Food and Drug Administration (FDA) | U.S. gov agency responsible for laws and oversight of regulations related to the development, manufacture, and labeling of medications within the US; protects public by ensuring that food, drugs, and cosmetics are safe, effective, and truthfully labeled |
| humor | a component of a medieval medical theory often credited to Hippocrates that believed optimal health may be attained only when the four elemen- tal body fluids, or humors (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile), were in perfect balance |
| Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) | a non- profit organization that educates the healthcare community and consumers about safe medication practices |
| Intramuscular Route (IM) | the injection of a sterile medication into a large muscle such as the gluteus maximus or the deltoid muscles |
| intrathecal (IT) route | the injection of a sterile medication into the spinal column (between vertebrae) |
| intravenous piggyback | an IV solution attached to the main IV bag that provides additional medication to a patient receiving an infusion |
| intravenous (IV) route | the injection of a sterile medication into a vein |
| laminar airflow workbench | a type of hood, usually with a horizontal airflow, in which sterile products are prepared |
| media-fill kit | a testing kit used to evaluate the aseptic technique of sterile compounding personnel; also known as an aseptic technique testing kit |
| medication error | “any preventable event that may cause or lead to inappropriate medication use or patient harm while the medication is in the control of the health care professional, patient, or consumer" |
| MedWatch | the FDA’s voluntary system for reporting medication errors |
| microbial contamination | contamination of a CSP by any microbial organism, bacteria, virus, fungi, or other pathogen; may result in infection or other harm to patients receiving the CSP |
| Model Curriculum for Pharmacy Technician Training | a set of standards for the training of pharmacy techni- cians; ASHP’s guide for accredited pharmacy technician training programs |
| normal saline (NS) | a sterile solution containing a concentration of 0.9% sodium chloride in water |
| parenteral route of administration | a route of supplying medication to a patient other than through the digestive tract; includes the intravenous, intramuscular, subcutaneous, and intrathecal routes |
| Pharmacy Technician Certification Exam (PTCE) | a nationally accepted certification exam offered by the PTCB; PTCB-certified pharmacy technicians are designated by the acronym CPhT |
| process validation | evaluation checklist used to observe, critique, and grade a student’s aseptic technique during the training period; also used as part of the annual recertification process for sterile compounding personnel as regulated by USP Chapter <797> |
| quality assurance procedures | methods and tests for ensuring use of proper aseptic technique |
| sterile compounding | the process of diluting, mixing, injecting, or otherwise preparing sterile solutions using aseptic technique |
| sterile compounding personnel | pharmacy personnel who prepare CSPs |
| subcutaneous (Sub-Q) route | injection of a sterile medication into the area just beneath the skin; the formerly accepted abbreviations SC and SQ are now discouraged |
| USP Chapter <797> | a nongovernmental regulatory organization that sets public standards for the preparation and dispensing of prescription and over-the-counter medications as well as other healthcare products |
| United States Pharmacopeia (USP) | Chapter <797> of the United States Pharmacists’ Pharmacopeia, which sets practice standards regarding the preparation of sterile compounds |
| anteroom | a room or area, immediately before the clean room, in which CSP supplies are staged; an area with an ISO class 8 environment or better |
| antineoplastic drug | a type of drug that destroys neoplasms or tumors |
| autoclaving | sterilizing certain medical supplies using pressurized steam heat in a piece of equipment called an autoclave |
| barrier isolator | a device, such as a biological safety cabinet, that provides a physical barrier between the sterile compounder and the medication being compounded |
| biological agent | a type of medicinal product created using biological processes; includes vaccines, allergy treatments, and gene therapy |
| biological safety cabinet (BSC) | a vertical laminar airflow hood designed to protect the sterile com- pounder from exposure to antineoplastic drugs or other chemotherapy preparations |
| chemotherapy | medication used to treat cancer |
| clean room | a room in which the concentration of air- borne particles is minimized by the use of HEPA filtration systems and aseptic technique; an ISO Class 7 environment or better |
| compounding aseptic isolator (CAI) | a type of enclosed isolator hood designed to protect the sterile compounder from exposure to airborne drugs or chemicals |
| compounding aseptic containment isolator (CACI) | a type of isolator hood designed for mixing compounded sterile preparations |
| coring | a small piece of rubber that is torn from the vial top and unintentionally ends up in the sterile solution; coring is caused by incorrect needle insertion into a vial |
| direct compounding area (DCA) | area closest to the hood’s HEPA filter, receives uninterrupted airflow, and is the location where sterile compounding procedures are performed; area between HEPA filter and outer 6-inch zone; may also be called first air |
| filtration sterilization | a sterile compounding procedure in which a nonsterile fluid is passed through a 0.2-micron filter, thereby producing a sterile solution that may be administered intravenously |
| heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) | a ventilation system used in a sterile compounding laboratory |
| heat sterilization | sterilization of a sterile compounding supply item such as an empty evacuated container by heating in an autoclave |
| high-efficiency particulate airflow (HEPA) filter | a type of air filter that removes 99.97% of all contaminants within the DCA |
| incompatibility | a sign that two or more solutions or ingredients within a solution are not suitable for use in combination, evidenced by the presence of precipitates, crystallized particles, flakes, or a darkening or coloring of a compounded solution |
| industrial clean room | a large clean room used in the manufacturing of sensitive equipment such as computer microchips and radar equipment |
| International Organization for Standardization (ISO) | an organization that creates worldwide industrial and commercial standards that often become law |
| ISO Class 5 | an environment appropriate for sterile com- pounding, containing no more than 3520 particles greater than 0.5 micrometers per cubic meter of air; may be called a Class 100 environment |
| laminar airflow workbench (LAFW) | a type of hood, usually with a horizontal airflow, in which sterile products are prepared |
| line of demarcation | a line that is taped or drawn on the floor of the anteroom or area that separates the anteroom from the clean room |
| nonporous material | a type of material having a smooth, nonpermeable surface that is easy to clean and that does not provide cracks, holes, or pores in which contaminants might collect |
| particulate matter | any unwanted solid substance within an IV solution; may be created by incorrect aseptic technique or from precipitates formed when mixing two incompatible solutions |
| pathogenic contaminant | a type of contaminant capable of producing fever, infection, illness, or disease |
| pharmaceutical | a drug manufactured for medicinal use |
| pharmacy clean room | a room of a minimum ISO Class 7 environment in which CSPs are made; the room where PECs are located; may also be called the buf- fer area or clean room |
| precipitate | particulate matter appearing within a com- pounded solution upon completion of the compounding process; may be caused by incompatible additives, such as a solution or an ingredient in a CSP |
| prefilter | the component that filters out debris and large particles of dust from room air so that they do not enter the hood; a filter such as that which is found in a home HVAC unit, which is a primary component of an LAFW; must be changed every 30 days |
| primary engineering control (PEC) | a laminar airflow cabinet, workbench, or hood that provides an ISO Class 5 environment in which sterile compounds are prepared; may also be called a Class 100 environment |
| shadowing | contamination caused by an interruption of airflow from the hood’s HEPA filter to the critical site of any supply item |
| six-inch zone | the outermost edge of the hood, closest to the worker and farthest from airflow origin at the HEPA filter |
| sticky mat | a mat comprising of multiple layers of sticky plastic; adheres to the floor in front of the door and helps to remove dirt and debris from the bottoms of shoes and shoe covers; topmost layer must frequently be removed and discarded |
| total parenteral nutrition (TPN) | an advanced sterile compound that intravenously provides the patient with a 24-hour supply of all the fluid, protein, amino acids, calories, vitamins, minerals, and nutrients needed for life |
| touch contamination | contamination caused when the critical site of a supply item is touched by the preparer’s finger, hand, the hood’s surface, or any nonsterile item; the most common and dangerous form of contamination of CSPs |
| zone of turbulence | the area behind any item (e.g., vial, IV bag, syringe) on the hood where sterile airflow from the HEPA filter is interrupted; the zone or area is thereby contaminated; sterile parenteral products should not be prepared within a zone of turbulence |
| Add-A-Vial | a brand of IVPB in which a specially designed vial and an IVPB either screw or snap together and are activated by the nurse just prior to patient administration |
| additive | a medication or electrolyte that is injected into an LVP or SVP solution for administration to the patient; a drug that is injected into an IV solution |
| ADD-Vantage bag | a brand of IVPB solution for which a specially designed vial and IVPB either screw or snap together and are activated by the nurse just prior to patient administration |
| ampule | a small glass container for sterile liquid or powdered medication |
| barrel | the inner part of the syringe into which fluid is drawn and held |
| bevel | the slanted opening at the tip of the needle |
| bloodletting | a medieval treatment designed to remove excess blood from the body, thereby bringing into balance the four humors |
| calibration mark | a graduation mark on the outside of the barrel to indicate fluid volume |
| clean air zone | the region wherein the sterile air that comes from the HEPA filter proceeds uninterrupted until it reaches the inner edge of the six-inch zone; sometimes called the direct compounding area (DCA); also known as “first air” |
| critical site | part of the supply item that includes any fluid pathway surface or fluid pathway opening that is at risk for contamination by touch or airflow interruption |
| depth filter | a small filter built into a specialty needle that removes particulate matter from a solution |
| diluent | a fluid, typically sterile water or normal saline, that is used to dissolve or reconstitute a drug in powdered form or to dilute a liquid medication to a lesser concentration |
| drip chamber | the small, open space just below the spike adaptor, into which the fluid from the IV bag drips before flowing into the tubing; nurses count the drops falling into this chamber to determine the flow rate of the IV solution |
| dust cover | the outer packaging of a sterile supply item |
| empty evacuated container | an empty sterile vial whose slight negative pressure allows an easy transfer of solutions from a bulk container; often used for special preparations wherein both the base solution and additive are made from scratch |
| filter needle | a needle that has an interior filter for filter- ing out large particles or glass from a solution |
| flat knob | the flat end of the piston plunger that, when pulled out, allows fluid to fill the barrel and, when pushed in, allows fluid to be expelled from the barrel |
| hang loop | the small, plastic loop at the top (most dis- tant from the injection port) of an IV or IVPB bag that is used to suspend the IV bag on an IV pole or hood hang bar |
| heel | the rounded part of the bevel opposite the needle tip |
| humors | a medieval medical theory, often credited to Hippocrates, that believed optimal health may be attained only when the four elemental body fluids (blood, phlegm, black bile, and yellow bile) were in perfect balance |
| hydration | fluid that is administered to the patient, often intravenously, to prevent or treat dehydration and restore electrolyte balance in the body |
| hydrostatics | a branch of physics that deals with the characteristics of fluids at rest and the pressure they exert |
| hypodermic | under or beneath the skin |
| injection port | the area on an IV bag, IVPB bag, or vial into which a needle may be inserted to inject or withdraw fluids; the injection port is self-sealing to prevent post-injection leakage |
| inner shaft | the inner surface of the syringe barrel, which comes in direct contact with fluid and into and out of which the rubber piston plunger moves |
| intravenous piggyback (IVPB) solution | a small-volume parenteral solution (25 mL, 50 mL, 100 mL, 150 mL, or 250 mL) containing medications to be adminis- tered intravenously on an intermittent basis |
| intravenous (IV) push | a sterile, injectable medication that is administered by direct injection through IV tubing into the patient’s vein without further diluting the medication in an SVP or LVP solution |
| irrigation | a form of parenteral administration in which a wound, tube, or catheter is flushed or rinsed with a sterile solution; irrigation solutions with additives (such as antibiotics) must be compounded in a laminar airflow hood |
| IVA seal | a small, foil-backed adhesive seal that is applied to the injection port of an IV or IVPB bag or to the top of a vial after injection; it provides, if broken by unauthorized personnel, evidence of tampering |
| large-volume parenteral (LVP) | any sterile solution of 250 mL or larger that is administered by the paren- teral route of administration; an IV base solution (D5W, NS, D5 1⁄2 NS, etc.) with or without additives that is administered intravenously |
| Luer-lock syringe | a type of syringe onto whose tip the needle screws |
| Luer-to-Leur connector | a needleless system that allows for the easy transfer of fluid from one syringe into another syringe |
| lumen | the hollow, inner core of a needle |
| membrane filter | a filter that attaches to the tip of a syringe that sterilizes fluid as it passes through its membrane; also known as a 0.2-micron filter or a sterilizing filter |
| MINI-BAG Plus | a brand of IVPB bag in which a specially designed vial and an IVPB either screw or snap together and are activated by the nurse just prior to patient administration |
| mixed | a pharmacy term meaning that an additive or a diluent has been added |
| Mix-O-Vial | a small, hourglass-shaped container in which a diluent is separated from a powder by a rubber stopper; medication is activated when an IV technician presses on the rubber top, mixing the liquid and powder in preparation for patient administration |
| morphine | a strong opiate analgesic classified as a CII narcotic |
| multiple-dose vial (MDV) | a container of medication that can be used multiple times due to the presence of a preservative to inhibit bacterial growth; medication may be reused for up to 28 days based on manufacturers’ recommendations |
| needle adaptor | the end of the IV tubing that is farthest from the universal spike adaptor, and to which the needle is attached |
| needle gauge | the diameter size of the lumen, or hollow space inside the needle; the lower the gauge number, the larger the hole |
| needle hub | the part of the needle that attaches to the syringe tip |
| needle length | the length of the needle from the needle hub to needle tip; needles used in sterile com- pounding typically range from 1⁄2" to 11⁄2" |
| needle shaft | the part of the needle that provides length |
| needle tip | the razor-sharp end of the needle that is inserted into the patient; also known as bevel tip |
| neonate | a newborn baby, generally less than 28 days old |
| neuralgia | a condition of extreme pain (usually in the body’s extremities) that travels along the path of a nerve or bundle of nerves |
| nosocomial infection | an infection that originates in a hospital or healthcare facility; an infection transmitted to patients from healthcare workers |
| outer six-inch zone | the contaminated area that runs along the entire outer six-inch edge of the hood; should not be used as an area for compounding sterile preparations; also known as the zone of turbulence |
| Pascal's Law | law of physics stating that when pressure increases at any point in a confined fluid, an equal pressure increase takes place at every other point in the container |
| piston plunger | the stopper at the bottom, interior part of the syringe; holds fluid in the barrel; moves up and down inside the barrel as fluid is drawn into or expelled from the syringe |
| prefilled syringe | a manufacturer-provided parenteral medication packaged as an individual dose for IV push use; contains appropriate drug strength and amount in a two-part form for assembly and immediate admin- istration into IV tubing or IV bag |
| primary IV tubing | tubing used to administer IV fluids from an LVP to a patient |
| reconstitute | the process of injecting sterile water, or other diluent, into a vial or an ampule that contains a powdered medication; solution is then drawn up into a syringe and injected into an IV or IVPB bag |
| regular needle | a needle other than a specialty needle (such as a filter needle, transfer needle, or vented needle) that is commonly used in sterile compounding |
| repeater pump | a pump used to rapidly and accurately make multiple fluid transfers from a bulk container to a vial or syringe |
| roll clamp | a hard plastic device that provides compres- sion on the tubing, thereby controlling the flow rate of the IV solution |
| scoop recapping method | placing the tip of the needle into the cap that is lying on an IPA swab; the unit is then used to scoop the cap onto the needle, preventing accidental needle stick but increasing the potential for contamination of the needle-and-syringe unit |
| secondary IV tubing | tubing that may be used to pig- gyback IVPB medications into a hydration solution for patient administration or to transfer fluid from one container into another container |
| sharps container | a hard plastic container, usually red in color, into which sharp or hazardous waste (such as needles, syringes, ampules, broken glass, spikes, blood products) is discarded |
| shelf-stable product | a premade IV product, such as an LVP or IVPB solution, that is supplied by the manu- facturer with the medication or electrolyte pre- mixed into a parenteral solution; generally stable for several months without refrigeration |
| single-dose vial (SDV) | a container of medication that lacks a preservative and therefore is intended for one-time use only |
| slip-tip syringe | a type of syringe constructed so that the needle slips or pops onto the syringe tip |
| sphygmomanometer | a device used to determine blood pressure that consists of an inflatable cuff that tightens to restrict blood flow and a manometer, an instrument that measures the pressure |
| stable | refers to the beyond-use date of a product once it is opened, reconstituted, or mixed |
| standard recapping method | a method of recapping a needle that requires an IV technician to hold the filled syringe like a dart and then recap the needle with the cap in the nondominant hand, being careful to avoid an inadvertent needle stick |
| sterile isopropyl alcohol (IPA) swab | a small, cotton pad that is presaturated with 70% sterile IPA and is used to clean the critical sites of various supply items |
| straight draw | the process of drawing fluid into a syringe using a regular needle |
| syringe cap | a sterile, plastic cap that is temporarily attached to the tip of a syringe; the cap is removed and a sterile needle attached prior to patient administration |
| syringe tip | the end of the syringe where the needle is attached; also called the syringe hub |
| touch contamination | common form of product con- tamination caused by touching the critical site of any supply item or by introducing any contaminant into the ISO Class 5 compounding area |
| transfer needle | a needle used to transfer fluid from one vial to another |
| tubing port | a rubber-capped opening at the bottom of the IV or IVPB bag into which a tubing spike is inserted prior to patient administration |
| universal spike adaptor | the sharp spike at the end of IV tubing; inserted into the tubing port of an IV bag |
| vented dispensing pin | a needleless system that allows direct withdrawal from a vial into a syringe while simultaneously venting air pressure |
| vented needle | a needle used to dilute powders that simultaneously vents air pressure out of the vial while injecting diluent into the vial |
| vial | a container for sterile liquid or powdered medication |
| viscous | any thick or sticky substance or medication used in sterile compounding |
| wholesale supplier | a vendor who delivers large volumes of medications, IV solutions, and supplies to the pharmacy on a regular basis |
| zone of turbulence | the area directly behind a supply item within the clean air zone, as well as the contaminated area that runs along the entire outer six-inch edge of the hood |
| abbreviations | characters, acronyms, or symbols used by healthcare professionals to communicate medical information |
| additive | a medication, electrolyte, or other ingredient that is injected into a parenteral solution |
| addressograph | a machine in the institutional healthcare setting that stamps the patient’s name, identification number, hospital room number, date of birth, and other information onto a medication order |
| administration time | the length of time (usually prescribed in mL per hour) over which a parenteral medication is to be administered to a patient |
| admission order | the first medication order written by a physician; often occurs while a patient is in the emergency department or just after she or he has been admitted to a hospital room |
| appropriate medication dosage | a dose of medication that is appropriate for the treatment of a patient’s medical condition, based on the manufacturer’s dosing recommendation; may be determined based on the patient’s body weight, age, gender, liver and kidney functions, etc |
| auxiliary label | a small label affixed to a primary CSP label; this label provides additional information or special instructions relating to the administration or storage of the CSP |
| ayurvedic medicine | a form of East Indian medicine that involves spiritual and whole body well-being and employs changes in diet and lifestyle in its treatment modalities |
| Bower Manuscript | an ancient manuscript written by East Indian shaman Sushruta that listed 1,120 illnesses and the herbal medicines for treating them; manuscript that laid the foundation for ayurvedic medicine |
| central pharmacy | the main or primary pharmacy that serves the needs of an entire hospital and provides backup support for the facility’s satellite or decentralized pharmacies |
| combined form | the form of a medical word element that is created when a root word is linked to a combining vowel |
| combining vowel | a vowel (typically an o, but sometimes an i or e) added to the end of a root word that aids the pronunciation of the root word and its connection to a suffix |
| computerized physician order entry | medication orders entered directly into the pharmacy-networked computer system by the physician; also called CPOE |
| concentration | the strength of a medication; may be defined as percent strength (%), or units/mL, mg/mL, mEq/mL, etc. |
| contraindication | a medical condition or symptom that makes a particular line of treatment inadvisable; a condition for which treatment with a specific drug is not recommended |
| cross-sensitivity | a sensitivity to one substance that predis- poses an individual to having the same reaction to other analogous substances; this type of allergic reaction can be seen with similar classes of antibiotics |
| cuneiform | an ancient form of writing composed of a series of pictographs or symbols impressed into a wet clay tablet |
| daily order | new or changed medication order written by a physician after every patient examination |
| dosing intervals | the time intervals between the admin- istration of medication dosages, such as b.i.d., t.i.d., q.i.d., q8h, etc.; also known as dosage intervals or dosing schedule |
| drug-drug interaction | an unintended and adverse modification in a drug’s strength or action when combined with a drug with which it is physically incompatible |
| drug-food interaction | an adverse modification in the effect or strength of a drug when it is administered with a food with which it is physically incompatible |
| duplicate therapy | unintended administration of two or more drugs with the same or similar pharmacological action |
| Ebers Papyrus | a well-known ancient Egyptian docu- ment, written on papyrus, that contains more than 700 prescriptions for ailments that beset early Egyptian cultures |
| eMAR | an abbreviation for electronic medication administration record; a computerized patient medical record or chart |
| expiration date | the date beyond which a parenteral preparation, medication, or ingredient is no longer suitable for patient use |
| Handbook on Injectable Drugs | a comprehensive reference manual that provides pharmacy and other healthcare professionals with compatibility, stability, and administration information about parenteral drugs |
| home medications | a medication order while the patient is hospitalized that indicates the physi- cian wishes to continue the same medications and doses the patient was taking at home; a list of medications the patient was taking prior to admission to the hospital |
| humors | the four body fluids—blood, phlegm, yellow bile, and black bile—whose relative proportions were thought to determine an individual’s general health and disposition |
| identification (ID) number | a unique number, usually computer-generated, that a healthcare facility relies on for identifying and tracking a patient |
| infusion rate | the length of time (usually prescribed in mL/hour) over which a parenteral medication is to be administered to a patient |
| medical abbreviations | abbreviations, acronyms, or symbols used by healthcare professionals to communicate medical information |
| medical chart | a patient healthcare record that includes diagnostic and treatment procedures, medication orders, medical administration records, and other instructions; commonly called the patient’s chart or, simply, the chart |
| medical terminology | vocabulary used by medical pro- fessionals to describe the human body and associ- ated conditions, diseases, and treatments; often consists of a prefix/root word/suffix combination |
| medication order | a type of order form generated by a physician to prescribe medications, diagnostic tests, and other treatments for a patient in an institutional or hospital setting; may be called the medication administration record or medical order |
| medici | ancient Roman healthcare practitioner; Italian word meaning “medical doctor or medic” |
| Micromedex | an Internet-based reference resource widely consulted in hospital pharmacy settings to gain real-time access to drug information and clinical pharmacy knowledge |
| morpheme | a root word, prefix, or suffix |
| nephrologist | a doctor who specializes in the treatment of kidney disease or dysfunction |
| nonstandard | an abbreviation or acronym that is not well known or commonly used among healthcare facilities |
| nursing station | the central area on the nursing unit or department that acts as the unit’s command center; the place on the nursing unit where supply items and equipment are stored |
| order entry | a term describing the process of data entry of medication orders into a pharmacy computer system |
| original copy | the top copy of a multi-layered, carbon- copy medication order form |
| papyrus | an ancient form of paper made from the spongy tissue of a papyrus, a marshy plant native to the Nile River |
| Performance Standards for Healthcare Accreditation | the minimum standards that a healthcare facil- ity must uphold in order to achieve and maintain accreditation with the Joint Commission |
| pharmaceutically elegant | a method of preparing and applying pharmacy labels that ensures the label information is legible, uniform, and orderly in appearance; pharmacy labels must be free from era- sures and strike-throughs and should be prepared using an easy-to-read font |
| pharmacopeia | an official compendium that lists medications and their uses |
| pneumatic tube system | a system for transporting medi- cation orders, as well as certain medications and supply items, between the pharmacy and the nursing unit; a series of containers that carry items through an air-driven system of interconnecting tubes |
| prefix | a word element that, when attached to the beginning of a root word, changes the meaning of the term |
| prescription | an order written by a physician or other qualified healthcare practitioner for a medication or medical device; a type of medication order within the community pharmacy setting |
| protected health information (PHI) | any individually identifiable health information including diagno- sis, treatment, prescription information, etc., as defined by the 1996 Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) |
| root word | the foundational element of the medical term that provides the term’s meaning; may or may not be attached to a prefix and/or suffix; also known as a word root |
| route of administration | the way a drug is introduced into the body; examples include oral, topical, intra- venous, intramuscular, sublingual, etc. |
| routine order | a medication order written by the physician on a daily or regular basis; a standard medication order |
| Rx symbol | a symbol having varied possible origins and referring to either a pharmacy, a prescription, or a medication |
| satellite pharmacy | a small, secondary pharmacy that serves a specific unit or department within a hospital |
| sentinel event | a term used by the Joint Commission to identify an event that has an unexpected and unin- tended outcome leading to serious harm or death of a patient; a medical or medication error that causes death or serious harm to a patient |
| signa | the physician’s instructions for use or administration of a prescribed medication; a form of communica- tion composed of a combination of abbreviations, acronyms, and symbols to communicate medical information among healthcare professionals |
| stability | a period of time a parenteral preparation, medi- cation, or ingredient maintains its full efficacy and is therefore suitable for patient administration |
| standing order | a type of medication order in which the same set of medications and treatments applies for each patient who receives a similar treatment or surgery; a preprinted set of orders and treatments used for each patient |
| storage requirements | the conditions under which a CSP or an ingredient must be maintained prior to administration; the temperature at which a CSP must be stored in order to maintain its stability |
| stylus | a sharp-ended reed that produces wedge-shaped impressions onto a wet clay tablet |
| suffix | a medical word element that, when attached to the end of a root word, changes the meaning of the medical term |
| The Official "Do Not Use" List of Abbreviations | a list of medical abbreviations that the Joint Commission has deemed unsafe to use due to their high potential for error |
| traditional Eastern medicine | medical treatment based on ancient East Indian or Asian philosophies that blend various healing modalities in order to bring balance and harmony to the body; may be prescribed, prepared, and administered by practitioners other than medical doctors |
| traditional Western medicine | medical treatment by a licensed professional, usually a medical doctor; treatment with various natural and synthetic medicinal products or drugs |
| warning flag | a computer-generated warning or alert screen that automatically appears during medication order entry in cases where the physician-ordered medication may be inappropriate due to patient allergy, drug interac- tion, or unsuitable dosage |
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xanther09