health system
Organized medical care
A health system is the organized network of institutions, personnel, and resources that deliver medical care to a population.
This includes hospitals, clinics, insurance structures, and public health agencies working together: The country's health system was overwhelmed during the pandemic.
In American usage, health system often refers specifically to a corporate entity operating multiple hospitals and facilities under unified management.
Insurance for entire population
- MedicareFederal senior health program
- MedicaidPublic health coverage for poor
- single-payerOne funder for healthcare
- regulationOfficial rules governing conduct
legislation · reform · mandate · subsidies · governance · accountability · transparency · appropriations
Medical treatment facility
- clinicOutpatient treatment facility
- pharmacyMedicinal dispensary
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
- emergency roomHospital crisis department
urgent care · primary care · outpatient · inpatient · ambulance · medical center · electronic records · telemedicine
Licensed medical doctor
- nurseHealthcare provider, bedside
- surgeonPhysician who operates
- specialistExpert in one field
- pharmacistMedicine dispensing professional
technician · paramedic · midwife · therapist · general practitioner · resident · consultant · nursing staff
Identification of illness
- treatmentCare for an ailment
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
- continuityUninterrupted progression or coherence
care pathway · coordination · discharge · follow-up · case management · multidisciplinary · patient-centered · evidence-based
Extent of inclusion
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- affordabilityState of being purchasable
- availabilityState of being obtainable
- waiting timesDuration before service
geographic barriers · underserved · uninsured · transportation · referral · gatekeeping · queue · catchment area
Supplying monetary resources
- budgetPlan for spending
- expenditureMoney paid out
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
- cost-effectivenessValue relative to expenditure
resource allocation · capitation · fee-for-service · out-of-pocket · insurance pool · claims · billing · value-based
Final results achieved
- metricsStandards for assessment
- accreditationOfficial quality approval
- safetyFreedom from harm
- infection controlPreventing pathogen transmission
medical error · patient satisfaction · benchmarking · audit · mortality rate · morbidity · readmission · standards
universal coverage
Insurance for entire population
- MedicareFederal senior health program
- MedicaidPublic health coverage for poor
- single-payerOne funder for healthcare
regulation · legislation · reform · mandate · subsidies · governance · accountability · transparency · appropriations · entitlements
hospital
Medical treatment facility
- clinicOutpatient treatment facility
- pharmacyMedicinal dispensary
- laboratoryFacility for scientific investigation
emergency room · urgent care · primary care · outpatient · inpatient · ambulance · medical center · electronic records · telemedicine · polyclinic
physician
Licensed medical doctor
- nurseHealthcare provider, bedside
- surgeonPhysician who operates
- specialistExpert in one field
pharmacist · technician · paramedic · midwife · therapist · general practitioner · resident · consultant · nursing staff · medical assistant
diagnosis
Identification of illness
- treatmentCare for an ailment
- prescriptionMedical dispensing authorization
- triageSeverity-based prioritization
care pathway · continuity · coordination · discharge · follow-up · case management · multidisciplinary · patient-centered · evidence-based · protocol
coverage
Extent of inclusion
- equityImpartial treatment or ownership value
- affordabilityState of being purchasable
- availabilityState of being obtainable
waiting times · geographic barriers · underserved · uninsured · transportation · referral · gatekeeping · queue · catchment area · enrollment
funding
Supplying monetary resources
- budgetPlan for spending
- expenditureMoney paid out
- reimbursementPayment for incurred expenses
cost-effectiveness · resource allocation · capitation · fee-for-service · out-of-pocket · insurance pool · claims · billing · value-based
outcomes
Final results achieved
- metricsStandards for assessment
- accreditationOfficial quality approval
- safetyFreedom from harm
infection control · medical error · patient satisfaction · benchmarking · audit · mortality rate · morbidity · readmission · standards · continuous improvement
- healthcare partnershipsmedical group, referral network
- healthcaredoctors, nurses, hospitals, hospital, clinic
- hospitalshospital, ER, emergency room, ICU, operating room
- platformersMario, jump, Sonic, platformer, platforms
- military medicinecombat medics, combat medic, field hospitals, army surgeon, combat medicine
- RwandaKigali, Hutu, Tutsi, Rwandan Genocide, 1994
health systemsolo practitioner
Lawyer working alone
self-care · home remedies · folk medicine · traditional healer
health, healthy, system, unhealthy, hale, healthful, healthcare, healthiness, unhealthful