Often works closely with schools and employers as well as with
family members of the injured person.
Neurosurgeon – A physician who specializes in surgery of the
nervous system and its surrounding structures. Neurosurgeons
operate on the brain, skull, scalp and spinal column.
Nursing Home – A residential facility for the patient who
requires supervision in all activities, including assistance with
medication, meal preparation, bathing, dressing, and moving
about; the patient may also require special nursing care and/or
ongoing therapy. There are nursing homes that provide minimal
to maximum care; also called extended care facilities.
Occupational Therapy – Occupational Therapy is the therapeutic
use of self-care, work and play activities to increase independent
function, enhance development and prevent disability; may
include the adaptation of a task or the environment to achieve
maximum independence and to enhance the quality of life.
The term occupation, as used in occupational therapy, refers to
any activity engaged in for evaluating, specifying and treating
problems interfering with functional performance.
Outpatient – The patient residing outside the hospital but
returning on a regular basis for one or more therapeutic services.
Paraplegia – Paralysis of the legs (from the waist down).
Parietal Lobe – One of the two parietal lobes of the brain located
behind the frontal lobe at the top of the brain.
Parietal Lobe, Right – Damage to this area can cause visualspatial
deficits (e.g., the patient may have difficulty finding their
way around new, or even familiar, places).
Parietal Lobe, Left – Damage to this area may disrupt a patient’s
ability to understand spoken and/or written language.
Pathology – Interruption or interference of normal bodily
processes or structures.
Perception – The ability to make sense of what one sees, hears,
feels, tastes or smells. Perceptual losses are often very subtle, and
the patient and/or family may be unaware of them.
Physical Therapist – The physical therapist evaluates components
of movement, including: muscle strength, muscle tone, posture,
coordination, endurance, and general mobility. The physical
therapist also evaluates the potential for functional movement,
such as ability to move in bed, transfers and walking and then
proceeds to establish an individualized treatment program to help
the patient achieve functional independence.
Plateau – A temporary or permanent leveling off in the recovery
process.
Post Traumatic Amnesia (PTA) – A period of hours, weeks, days
or months after the injury when the patient exhibits a loss of dayto
day memory. The patient is unable to store new information
and therefore has a decreased ability to learn. Memory of the PTA
period is never stored, therefore things that happened during
that period cannot be recalled. May also be called Anterograde
Amnesia.
Prognosis – The prospect as to recovery from a disease or injury
as indicated by the nature and symptoms of the case.
Psychologist – A professional specializing in counseling,
including adjustment to disability. Psychologists use tests to
identify personality and cognitive functioning. This information
is shared with team members to assure consistency in approaches.
The psychologist may provide individual or group psychotherapy
for the purpose of cognitive retraining, management of behavior
and the development of coping skills by the patient/client and
members of the family.
Rehabilitation – Comprehensive program to reduce/overcome
deficits following injury or illness, and to assist the individual to
attain the optimal level of mental and physical ability.
Rehabilitation Counselor – Also called Vocational Counselor.
A specialist in social and vocational issues who helps the patient
develop the skills and aptitudes necessary for return to productive
activity and to the community.
Rehabilitation Facility – Agency of multiple, coordinated
services designed to minimize for the individual the disabling
effects of one’s physical, mental, social, and/or vocational
difficulties and to help realize individual potential.
Rehabilitation Team – An organized group of health care
specialists, who focus on providing a logical, practical and
complete rehabilitation plan for the patient. Upon admission
to the rehabilitation hospital, the patient is evaluated by each
team member who defines both short-term and long-term goals
for the patient’s rehabilitation. Meetings of the rehabilitation
team (sometimes called “rounds”) are held regularly to discuss
the patient’s progress and, if necessary, to redefine the goals.
Additional family conferences may also be scheduled.
Respirator/Ventilator – A machine that does the breathing
work for the unresponsive patient. It serves to deliver air in the
appropriate percentage of oxygen and at the appropriate rate. The
air is also humidified by the ventilator. Although these two terms
are often used interchangeably, a respirator is a device used in
workplaces to filter out particles whereas a ventilator is used for
assistance with breathing.
Respite Care – A means of taking over the care of a patient
temporarily (a few hours up to a few days) to provide a period of
relief for the primary caregiver.
2020-2022 BIAK Resource Journal 55