CORE MEASURES (CLINICAL PROCESS OF CARE MEASURES)

Evidence-based clinical treatments that are considered to be best practices. CMS requires health care organizations to measure and report the number of patients that meet and do not meet each of the care measures for specific medical conditions, such as pneumonia.

COPD (CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE)

A progressive disease that makes it hard to breathe. “Progressive” means the disease gets worse over time. COPD can cause coughing that produces large amounts of mucus (a slimy substance).

CONDITION A/CONDITION C (CARDIAC ARREST/PRE-ARREST CONDITION CRITICAL)

An emergency call for help to enact the rapid response team who can immediately come to a patient’s bedside to provide urgent medical care.

CO-MORBIDITY

The simultaneous presence of two chronic diseases or conditions in a patient. Example: Diabetes and Hypertension.

 

CMS (CENTER MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES)

A federal agency within the United States Department of Health and Human Services that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid.

CLABSI (CENTRAL LINE ACQUIRED BLOODSTREAM INFECTIONS)

A bloodstream infection that has developed in a patient who has had a central line (a large IV in a centralized vessel feeding into the heart) within 48 hours of the onset of symptoms.

CGCAHPS (CLINICIAN GROUPS CONSUMER ASSESSMENT OF HEALTHCARE PROVIDER AND SERVICES)

A standardized patient satisfaction survey tool that is designed and regulated by CMS to measure patient’s perception of care provided in an office setting.

CRNP (CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE PRACTITIONER)

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with additional education and certification to manage acute and chronic medical conditions and are qualified to diagnose medical problems, order treatments, prescribe medications and make referrals for a wide range of acute and chronic medical conditions.

CT (COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY)

Computer-processed combinations of many X-ray images taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional (tomographic) images as “virtual slices” of specific areas of a scanned object, allowing the user to see inside the object without cutting.

CRNA (CERTIFIED REGISTERED NURSE ANESTHETISTS)

Advanced practice registered nurses (APRNs) with additional education and certification to deliver and manage anesthesia and anesthesia-related care to patients.