Glossary
ACE Inhibitors or ACEI. ACE stands for “angiotensin converting enzyme.” ACE inhibitors are medicines that are used to treat heart failure and high blood pressure. These medicines block an enzyme in the body that is responsible for causing the blood vessels to narrow. If the blood vessels are relaxed, blood pressure is lowered and more oxygen-rich blood can reach the heart. ACE inhibitors also lower the amount of salt and water in the body, which helps to lower blood pressure.
AMI – Acute Myocardial Infarction. The medical term for "heart attack.” Acute myocardial infarction results from a blockage in one or more of the blood vessels leading to the heart. Damage to the heart muscle results, due to the lack of blood flow.
Antibiotic timing. The length of time from arrival at the hospital until antibiotics are given. Antibiotics are generally given as soon as possible to pneumonia patients to speed their recovery.
ARB. ARB stands for “angiotensin receptor blocker.” An ARB is a medicine taken by mouth that reduces blood pressure and strengthens the heart beat. ARBs are useful in the treatment of cardiac diseases such as heart attack and heart failure.
At Arrival. The time period lasting from 24 hours before to 24 hours after a patient arrives at a hospital.
At Discharge. The time during which a patient is preparing to leave the hospital. At discharge, patients often receive information and advice about medicines, diet, activities and signs to watch for to prevent further hospitalization.
Beta blocker. This type of medicine blocks the action of certain hormones on the heart. By blocking these hormones, beta blockers help to reduce the heart rate and blood pressure, thereby reducing the amount of oxygen needed by the heart.
Blood cultures. Blood tests that look for bacteria in the blood. These tests are given to pneumonia patients before antibiotics are administered.
CABG. CABG stands for coronary artery bypass graft surgery – an operation in which a section of vein or artery is used to bypass a blockage in a coronary artery, allowing enough blood to flow to deliver oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscles. CABG is performed to prevent myocardial infarction (heart attack) and to relieve angina.
Composite measure. A measure that combines the results of all process measures within a set into a single rating.
Fibrinolytic therapy. Medication that dissolves blood clots. Breaking up blood clots increases blood flow to the heart. If blood flow is returned to the heart muscle quickly during a heart attack, the risk of death is decreased.
Heart failure. A condition characterized by signs and symptoms resulting from disturbances in cardiac output or from increased venous pressure, including fatigue, shortness of breath, or leg swelling.
LVAD. LVAD stands for Left Ventricular Assist Device – a device that is used to aid the pumping action of a weakened heart ventricle.
LVF assessment. An in-depth evaluation of heart muscle function that helps determine the correct treatment for heart failure. LVF stands for “left ventricular function.” An LVF assessment evaluates how well the left ventricle – the heart’s main pumping chamber – is functioning. Left ventricular diastolic dysfunction results when the heart chamber is not pumping all the blood out before it refills for the next heart beat. This results in high pressure within the heart and can produce heart failure.
Joint Commission National Patient Safety Goals. A series of specified actions that accredited organizations are expected to take in order to prevent medical errors.
National Quality Improvement Goals. Standardized performance measures that can be applied across accredited hospitals.
Oxygenation assessment. A test measuring the amount of oxygen in a patient’s bloodstream.
PCI therapy. PCI stands for “percutaneous coronary interventions.” PCI therapy is a coronary angioplasty procedure performed by a doctor who threads a small device into a clogged artery to open it, thereby improving blood flow to the heart. A lack of blood supply to the heart muscle can cause lasting heart damage. PCI therapy is used as an alternative treatment to coronary artery bypass surgery (CABG).
Pneumonia. An acute infection of lung tissue that is associated with at least some symptoms of acute infection, such as altered or abnormal breathing sounds.
Pneumococcal screening and vaccination. A vaccination and a series of tests that help to prevent pneumonia.
Surgical Care Improvement Project (SCIP). The goal of this project is to reduce the incidence of surgical complications with a focus on appropriate use of: antibiotics to prevent infection; beta-blockers to prevent cardiovascular complications; and prophylaxis to prevent venous thrombolembolism (VTE).
Surgical Infection Prevention Care. The use of indicated antibiotics to prevent infection during surgery. Infection is lowest when patients receive antibiotics to prevent infection within one hour before the skin is surgically cut and when antibiotics are stopped within 24 hours after surgery.
References
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