Glossary of Patient Relations Terms
Advance Directives: a (legal) document that allows a patient to appoint another individual to make health care decisions for the patient in the event of incapacitation; the patient specifies in the document the course of treatment he or she would like followed in the event of incapacitation. (compare with: POLST)
Beneficence: doing or producing good; performing acts of a charitable nature; acting with kindness
Cultural Competence: the recognition and understanding of differences in perception and belief based on culture; and the implementation of advocacy standards that incorporate the allowance for cultural differences.
DNI: Do Not Intubate; an acronym used on POLST and other forms directing a care provider to not establish an artificial airway upon respiratory arrest.
DNR: Do Not Resuscitate; an acronym used on POLST and other forms directing a care provider to stop all life support upon clinical death.
Justice: the determination of patient rights in accordance with the rules of law.
Non-denominational: lacking association with a particular religion or creed.
Non-maleficence: within the context of patient advocacy, acting to avoid the infliction of additional harm on the patient.
Ombudsman: an individual empowered to investigate patient complaints, with the authority to work to resolve complaints in a fair and principled manner.
Palliative Care: the provision of relief from suffering (to a terminally-ill patient) through symptom and pain management, with the objective being to provide comfort and maintain the highest quality of life until the patient expires.
Patient Autonomy: the allowance for patients to be self-governing and morally independent.
POLST: Physician's Orders for Life–Sustaining Treatment; completed by a physician after learning of your end-of-life wishes. The form acts as executable orders which will be followed by personnel involved in your care. (compare with: Advance Directives)
Spiritual Comfort: the provision of comfort measures that address the patient's personal beliefs.
Beneficence: doing or producing good; performing acts of a charitable nature; acting with kindness
Cultural Competence: the recognition and understanding of differences in perception and belief based on culture; and the implementation of advocacy standards that incorporate the allowance for cultural differences.
DNI: Do Not Intubate; an acronym used on POLST and other forms directing a care provider to not establish an artificial airway upon respiratory arrest.
DNR: Do Not Resuscitate; an acronym used on POLST and other forms directing a care provider to stop all life support upon clinical death.
Justice: the determination of patient rights in accordance with the rules of law.
Non-denominational: lacking association with a particular religion or creed.
Non-maleficence: within the context of patient advocacy, acting to avoid the infliction of additional harm on the patient.
Ombudsman: an individual empowered to investigate patient complaints, with the authority to work to resolve complaints in a fair and principled manner.
Palliative Care: the provision of relief from suffering (to a terminally-ill patient) through symptom and pain management, with the objective being to provide comfort and maintain the highest quality of life until the patient expires.
Patient Autonomy: the allowance for patients to be self-governing and morally independent.
POLST: Physician's Orders for Life–Sustaining Treatment; completed by a physician after learning of your end-of-life wishes. The form acts as executable orders which will be followed by personnel involved in your care. (compare with: Advance Directives)
Spiritual Comfort: the provision of comfort measures that address the patient's personal beliefs.
