General care: tests, procedures and medicines

Procedures (36)

Adenoidectomy — Adenoidectomía

An adenoidectomy is surgery to remove the adenoids, glands located at the back of the nasal passage above the throat.

Anesthesia — Anestesia

Anesthesia refers to medication used to prevent patients from feeling pain during surgery or other medical procedures.

Annual Wellness Visit — Visita de Bienestar Anual

An annual wellness visit is a preventive healthcare appointment with a primary care provider focused on health maintenance rather than treatment of an existing condition.

Biopsy — Biopsia

A biopsy is a medical procedure in which a small sample of tissue or cells is removed from the body and examined under a microscope by a pathologist to diagnose or rule out disease, most commonly cancer.

Casting — Enyesado

Casting involves applying a rigid protective shell — usually made of plaster or fiberglass — around a broken bone or injured joint to hold it in proper alignment while it heals.

Cataract Surgery — Cirugía de cataratas

Cataract surgery is a procedure to remove a cloudy lens from the eye and replace it with a clear artificial lens called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Chemotherapy — Quimioterapia

Chemotherapy uses powerful drugs to kill or slow the growth of cancer cells throughout the body.

Clinical Trial — Ensayo Clínico

A clinical trial is a research study conducted on human participants to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of medical interventions such as new drugs, devices, or procedures.

Colonoscopy — Colonoscopia

Colonoscopy is a procedure in which a flexible camera is inserted through the rectum to examine the entire large intestine (colon).

DME (Durable Medical Equipment) — Equipo Médico Duradero

Durable Medical Equipment (DME) refers to medical devices prescribed by a physician for repeated use in the home to treat a medical condition.

General Anesthesia — Anestesia general

General anesthesia is a medically induced state of complete unconsciousness used during surgery or major procedures so the patient feels no pain and has no awareness or memory of the operation.

Hemodialysis — Hemodiálisis

Hemodialysis is a treatment for kidney failure that uses a machine to filter waste products, excess fluid, and toxins from your blood when your kidneys can no longer do so.

Home Health Care — Atención Médica Domiciliaria

Home health care refers to skilled medical services provided in a patient's home by licensed professionals, including nurses, physical therapists, occupational therapists, and speech therapists.

Hospice Care — Cuidados Paliativos / Hospicio

Hospice care provides specialized comfort-focused medical care for individuals with a terminal illness and a life expectancy of six months or less, as certified by two physicians.

Immunotherapy — Inmunoterapia

Immunotherapy is a cancer treatment that helps your own immune system recognize and attack cancer cells.

Inpatient Care — Atención Hospitalaria

Inpatient care refers to treatment requiring a formal hospital admission, where the patient stays overnight or for multiple days.

Local Anesthesia — Anestesia local

Local anesthesia is medication injected or applied directly to a small area of the body to numb it and block pain signals during a minor procedure.

Nutritional Counseling — Consejería nutricional

Nutritional counseling is a service provided by a registered dietitian (RD) or registered dietitian nutritionist (RDN) to assess your eating habits, health goals, and medical conditions, and then create a personalized nutrition plan.

Occupational Health Evaluation — Evaluación de salud ocupacional

An occupational health evaluation is a medical assessment performed by an occupational medicine physician or nurse to evaluate a worker's health in relation to their job.

Occupational Therapy — Terapia ocupacional

Occupational therapy helps you regain or improve your ability to perform everyday tasks — such as dressing, cooking, writing, or using a computer — after illness, injury, or disability.

Organ Transplantation — Trasplante de órganos

Organ transplantation is surgery to replace a failing or diseased organ with a healthy one from a donor.

Outpatient Care — Atención Ambulatoria

Outpatient care includes any medical treatment, procedure, or visit where the patient does not require an overnight hospital stay.

Pacemaker Implantation — Implantación de marcapasos

Pacemaker implantation is a surgical procedure in which a small electronic device is placed under the skin near the collarbone to regulate an abnormal heart rhythm.

Pain Management — Manejo del dolor

Pain management is a medical specialty focused on evaluating, diagnosing, and treating chronic or complex pain conditions.

Palliative Care — Cuidados paliativos

Palliative care is specialized medical care focused on providing relief from the symptoms, pain, and stress of a serious illness.

Paracentesis — Paracentesis

Paracentesis is a procedure in which a needle or thin catheter is inserted through the abdominal wall to remove fluid that has accumulated in the abdominal cavity (the peritoneal space).

Peritoneal Dialysis — Diálisis peritoneal

Peritoneal dialysis is a kidney replacement therapy done at home using the lining of your abdomen — the peritoneum — as a natural filter.

Physical Therapy — Fisioterapia

Physical therapy uses exercise, manual techniques, and specialized equipment to help you recover from injury, surgery, or illness that affects your ability to move.

Port-a-Cath — Puerto venoso implantado

A port-a-cath, also called an implanted port or venous access port, is a small device surgically placed under the skin in the chest.

Preventive Care — Atención Preventiva

Preventive care refers to services designed to prevent illness or detect health conditions early before symptoms develop.

Radiation Therapy — Radioterapia

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams — such as X-rays or protons — to destroy cancer cells or shrink tumors.

Sedation — Sedación

Sedation is the use of medication to help a patient relax, feel drowsy, or sleep lightly during a medical procedure without full general anesthesia.

Splinting — Férula

Splinting is the application of a rigid or semi-rigid support — called a splint — to stabilize an injured limb, joint, or bone.

Telehealth — Telesalud

Telehealth refers to healthcare services delivered remotely via phone, video, or secure messaging platforms.

Tracheotomy — Traqueotomía

A tracheotomy is a surgical procedure in which an opening is made in the front of the neck into the windpipe (trachea) to create an airway.

Traction — Tracción

Traction is a non-surgical treatment that applies a gentle pulling force to the spine or an injured limb to relieve pressure, reduce pain, and help restore proper alignment.

Emergency care (30)

911 Emergency Services — Servicios de Emergencia 911

911 is the universal emergency telephone number in the United States, connecting callers to local police, fire, and emergency medical services (EMS/ambulance).

Advance Directive — Directiva anticipada

An advance directive is a legal document that states your wishes for medical treatment if you become unable to speak for yourself.

Body Temperature — Temperatura corporal

Body temperature is measured in Fahrenheit (F) or Celsius (C) in US hospitals.

Central Venous Catheter — Catéter venoso central

A central venous catheter (CVC), also called a central line, is a longer IV catheter inserted into a large vein near the neck, chest, or groin that reaches close to the heart.

Chief Complaint — Motivo principal de consulta

The chief complaint is the main reason a patient seeks medical care, described in the patient's own words.

Discharge Planning — Planificación del alta hospitalaria

Discharge planning is the process of preparing a patient to safely leave the hospital and continue recovering at home or at another facility.

Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) — No reanimar

A Do Not Resuscitate (DNR) order is a medical order placed in your hospital chart that instructs healthcare staff not to perform CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) if your heart stops or you stop breathing.

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) — Servicios médicos de emergencia

Emergency Medical Services (EMS) refers to the organized system of pre-hospital emergency care provided by trained personnel who respond to 911 calls.

Emergency Room — Sala de emergencias

The emergency room (ER), also called the emergency department (ED), is the area of a hospital that treats patients with urgent or life-threatening conditions at any hour of the day or night.

EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) — Técnico en emergencias médicas

An EMT, or Emergency Medical Technician, is a trained first responder who provides emergency care before and during transport to a hospital.

Hospital Admission — Ingreso hospitalario

Hospital admission means you are formally checked in as an inpatient and will stay overnight or longer for medical care.

Hospital Bed — Cama hospitalaria

A hospital bed is a specialized adjustable bed designed to support patient care in a hospital setting.

Hospital Transfer — Traslado hospitalario

A hospital transfer occurs when a patient is moved from one hospital to another for a higher level of care, specialized treatment, or because the current hospital does not have the needed resources.

Intensive Care Unit — Unidad de cuidados intensivos

The intensive care unit (ICU) is a specialized hospital ward for patients who are critically ill and need continuous, close monitoring and advanced life support.

IV Access — Acceso intravenoso

IV access (intravenous access) refers to placing a small plastic catheter (needle) into a vein—usually in the arm, hand, or wrist—to allow healthcare providers to deliver medications, fluids, blood products, or contrast dye directly into the bloodstream.

Mechanical Ventilator — Ventilador mecánico

A mechanical ventilator is a machine that assists or replaces a patient's breathing by pushing air (with or without added oxygen) into the lungs through an endotracheal tube or a mask.

Medical Interpreter — Intérprete médico

A medical interpreter is a trained professional who translates spoken or written communication between patients and healthcare providers who do not share the same language.

Nasogastric Tube — Sonda nasogástrica

A nasogastric (NG) tube is a thin, flexible tube passed through the nose, down the throat, and into the stomach.

Nurse Call Button — Botón de llamada de enfermería

The nurse call button is a device located near your hospital bed—usually attached to the bed rail or a cord—that allows you to alert nursing staff when you need assistance.

Operating Room — Quirófano

The operating room (OR) is a sterile room in a hospital where surgeries are performed by surgeons, anesthesiologists, nurses, and surgical technicians.

Paramedic — Paramédico

A paramedic is an advanced pre-hospital healthcare provider with higher training than an EMT.

Pulse Rate — Frecuencia del pulso

Pulse rate, also called heart rate, is the number of times the heart beats per minute.

Rapid Response Team — Equipo de respuesta rápida

A rapid response team (RRT) is a group of experienced hospital clinicians—usually including a critical care nurse, a respiratory therapist, and sometimes a physician—who respond quickly to early signs of deterioration in a hospitalized patient before a full emergency such as cardiac arrest occurs.

Respiratory Rate — Frecuencia respiratoria

Respiratory rate is the number of breaths a person takes per minute.

Telemetry Unit — Unidad de telemetría

A telemetry unit is a hospital ward that continuously monitors patients' heart rhythms and vital signs using wireless sensors or leads attached to the body.

Trauma Center — Centro de traumatología

A trauma center is a hospital equipped and staffed to treat severe physical injuries such as those caused by car accidents, falls, gunshot wounds, or industrial accidents.

Trauma Team — Equipo de trauma

A trauma team is a group of highly trained healthcare professionals assembled immediately when a seriously injured patient arrives at a trauma center or emergency department.

Triage — Triaje

Triage is the process of quickly assessing patients when they arrive at the emergency room to determine the urgency of their medical needs.

Urinary Catheter — Catéter urinario

A urinary catheter is a thin, flexible tube inserted through the urethra into the bladder to drain urine.

Vital Signs — Signos vitales

Vital signs are basic measurements that indicate how well the body is functioning.

Medications (30)

Adverse Drug Reaction (ADR) — Reacción adversa a medicamentos

An adverse drug reaction, or ADR, is any unwanted, harmful, or unexpected response to a medication taken at a normal therapeutic dose.

Analgesic — Analgésico

Analgesics are pain-relieving medications.

Antibiotic — Antibiótico

Antibiotics are medicines that kill or stop the growth of bacteria.

Antidiarrheal — Antidiarreico

Antidiarrheal medications slow down bowel movements and reduce the frequency of loose stools.

Biosimilar — Biosimilar

A biosimilar is a medication that is highly similar to an already approved biological drug, called the reference product, with no clinically meaningful differences in safety or effectiveness.

Black-Box Warning — Advertencia de recuadro negro

A black-box warning, also called a boxed warning, is the FDA's strongest safety alert for a prescription drug.

Corticosteroid — Corticosteroide

Corticosteroids are powerful anti-inflammatory medications that mimic hormones produced by the adrenal glands.

DEA Schedule — Clasificación DEA

The DEA Schedule is a classification system the Drug Enforcement Administration uses to group controlled substances into five categories based on their accepted medical use and potential for abuse.

Decongestant — Descongestionante

Decongestants are medications that relieve nasal and sinus congestion by narrowing blood vessels in the nasal passages, which reduces swelling and mucus.

Dosage — Dosis

Dosage refers to the specific amount of medication you take and how often you take it, as directed on your prescription or by your healthcare provider.

Drug Allergy — Alergia a medicamentos

A drug allergy is an immune system reaction to a medication in which your body mistakenly identifies the drug as harmful and mounts a defensive response.

Drug Copay — Copago del medicamento

A drug copay is the fixed dollar amount you pay out of pocket for a prescription medication each time you pick it up, after your insurance plan covers its share of the cost.

Drug Interaction — Interacción medicamentosa

A drug interaction occurs when one medication changes the way another medication works in your body.

Drug Recall — Retiro del medicamento del mercado

A drug recall is an action by a manufacturer, typically requested or ordered by the FDA, to remove a medication from the market or from patients' possession because it poses an unacceptable safety risk.

Formulary Tier — Nivel del formulario

A formulary tier is your health insurance plan's way of grouping covered drugs by how much you pay out of pocket.

Liquid Medication — Medicamento líquido

A liquid medication is a drug in fluid form, such as a syrup, solution, suspension, or elixir, that is swallowed or administered through a feeding tube.

Loading Dose — Dosis de carga

A loading dose is a larger-than-usual initial dose given at the start of treatment to quickly bring a drug to a therapeutic level in your body.

Mail-Order Pharmacy — Farmacia por correo

A mail-order pharmacy is a licensed pharmacy that ships your medications directly to your home or another address, eliminating the need to visit a physical store.

Medication Guide — Guía del medicamento

A medication guide, sometimes called a MedGuide, is an FDA-required written document that pharmacies must give patients when dispensing certain prescription drugs that carry serious risks.

Medication Reconciliation — Conciliación de medicamentos

Medication reconciliation is the process of carefully comparing the complete list of medications a patient is currently taking against new medication orders or records created during care transitions, such as hospital admission, discharge, or transfer between facilities.

NSAID (Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug) — AINE (Antiinflamatorio No Esteroideo)

NSAIDs are a class of medications that relieve pain, reduce fever, and decrease inflammation.

OTC Medication (Over-the-Counter) — Medicamento de venta libre

OTC, or over-the-counter, medications are drugs you can purchase at a pharmacy or retail store without a doctor's prescription.

Pharmacist — Farmacéutico

A pharmacist is a licensed healthcare professional with doctoral-level training who specializes in medications and their safe, effective use.

Prescription-Only (Rx) — Solo con receta médica

Prescription-only medications, also labeled Rx, require a written or electronic order from a licensed healthcare provider such as a doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant before a pharmacy can legally dispense them.

PRN Medication (As Needed) — Medicamento según sea necesario (PRN)

PRN is a Latin abbreviation for pro re nata, meaning as needed.

Proton Pump Inhibitor (PPI) — Inhibidor de la Bomba de Protones (IBP)

Proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) reduce the amount of acid the stomach produces.

Refill — Reposición de receta

A refill is when your pharmacy dispenses an additional supply of a medication after your original prescription supply is used up.

Statin — Estatina

Statins are medications that lower LDL (bad) cholesterol by reducing the amount of cholesterol the liver makes.

Titration — Titulación

Titration is the process of gradually adjusting your medication dose up or down to find the amount that is most effective for you with the fewest side effects.

Transdermal Patch — Parche transdérmico

A transdermal patch is a medicated adhesive patch placed on the skin that releases a controlled amount of medication into your bloodstream through the skin over hours or days.

Tests (28)

Ambulatory Blood Pressure Monitoring (ABPM) — Monitoreo Ambulatorio de Presión Arterial (MAPA)

Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring records your blood pressure at regular intervals throughout a 24-hour period while you go about your normal day and sleep at night.

Biopsy — Biopsia

A biopsy is a procedure in which a doctor removes a small piece of tissue or cells from your body so a pathologist can examine it under a microscope.

Blood Culture — Hemocultivo

A blood culture is a test that detects bacteria, fungi, or other organisms in your bloodstream — a condition called bacteremia or sepsis when the infection is serious.

Blood Type and Crossmatch — Grupo sanguíneo y prueba cruzada

Blood typing identifies whether your blood group is A, B, AB, or O and whether you are Rh-positive or Rh-negative.

Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) — Nitrógeno ureico en sangre

The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) test measures the amount of urea nitrogen in your blood.

Bone Scan — Gammagrafía Ósea

A bone scan is a nuclear medicine imaging test that detects areas of abnormal bone activity, such as cancer spread, fractures, infections, or arthritis.

Bronchoscopy — Broncoscopía

A bronchoscopy allows a doctor to look directly inside the airways of your lungs using a thin, flexible tube with a light and camera called a bronchoscope.

Creatinine Test — Prueba de creatinina

A creatinine test measures the level of creatinine — a waste product made when your muscles break down a substance called creatine — in your blood or urine.

CT Angiography (CTA) — Angiografía por Tomografía Computarizada (Angio-TC)

CT angiography uses a CT scanner and an intravenous contrast dye to produce detailed images of blood vessels and evaluate for blockages, aneurysms, or structural problems.

CT Scan (Computed Tomography) — Tomografía Computarizada (TC)

A CT scan uses X-rays taken from many angles around your body to create detailed cross-sectional images.

Cystoscopy — Cistoscopía

A cystoscopy is a procedure that allows your doctor to look inside your bladder and urethra using a thin, flexible tube with a camera called a cystoscope.

DEXA Scan (Bone Density Scan) — Densitometría Ósea (DEXA)

A DEXA scan measures the density of your bones to check for osteoporosis or low bone mass.

Endoscopy (Upper GI Endoscopy / EGD) — Endoscopía (Endoscopía Digestiva Alta / EGD)

An upper GI endoscopy is a procedure in which a doctor inserts a thin, flexible tube with a camera through your mouth and down into the esophagus, stomach, and upper small intestine to look for ulcers, inflammation, tumors, or bleeding.

Glucose Tolerance Test (GTT) — Prueba de Tolerancia a la Glucosa (PTG)

A glucose tolerance test measures how your body processes sugar and is used to diagnose diabetes or gestational diabetes.

High-Sensitivity CRP Test (hs-CRP) — Prueba de PCR de alta sensibilidad

The high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) test measures very small amounts of C-reactive protein to assess chronic low-grade inflammation that standard CRP tests cannot detect.

Liver Function Tests (LFTs) — Pruebas de función hepática

Liver function tests (LFTs) are a group of blood tests that measure proteins and enzymes made by the liver or released when liver cells are damaged.

MRA (Magnetic Resonance Angiography) — Angiografía por Resonancia Magnética (ARM)

An MRA uses magnetic resonance imaging technology to produce detailed pictures of blood vessels throughout the body without using X-ray radiation.

MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) — Resonancia Magnética (RM)

An MRI uses powerful magnets and radio waves — not radiation — to create detailed images of soft tissues, organs, and the nervous system.

Nerve Conduction Study (NCS) — Estudio de Conducción Nerviosa (ECN)

A nerve conduction study measures how fast and how strongly electrical signals travel through your nerves.

Nuclear Medicine Scan — Gammagrafía (Medicina Nuclear)

A nuclear medicine scan uses small amounts of radioactive material called radiotracers to evaluate organ function and detect disease.

PET Scan (Positron Emission Tomography) — Tomografía por Emisión de Positrones (PET)

A PET scan shows how your organs and tissues are functioning by detecting a small amount of radioactive tracer injected into your bloodstream.

Skin Biopsy — Biopsia de piel

A skin biopsy removes a small sample of skin tissue so a pathologist can examine it under a microscope.

Stool Culture — Cultivo de heces

A stool culture is a laboratory test that grows and identifies bacteria, parasites, or other pathogens in a sample of your bowel movements.

Sweat Test (Sweat Chloride Test) — Prueba del sudor

The sweat test, also called the sweat chloride test, is the primary test used to diagnose cystic fibrosis (CF).

Urinalysis (UA) — Análisis de orina

A urinalysis (UA) is a physical, chemical, and microscopic examination of your urine.

Urine Culture — Cultivo de orina

A urine culture is a laboratory test that grows any bacteria or yeast present in your urine on a special dish, then identifies exactly which organism is causing an infection.

Vitamin D Level (25-OH Vitamin D) — Nivel de vitamina D

The vitamin D blood test measures 25-hydroxyvitamin D, the form your liver makes after you absorb vitamin D from sunlight or food.

X-Ray — Radiografía

An X-ray is a quick imaging test that uses a small dose of radiation to take pictures of structures inside your body, especially bones and lungs.

Clinical terms (22)

Adverse Event — Evento Adverso

An adverse event is any unexpected or harmful medical occurrence that happens during or after a medical treatment, drug therapy, or clinical trial—whether or not it is caused by the treatment itself.

Clinical Trial Sponsor — Patrocinador del Ensayo Clínico

A clinical trial sponsor is the organization that takes legal and financial responsibility for designing, conducting, and overseeing a clinical trial.

Crisis Respite Center — Centro de Respiro en Crisis

A crisis respite center is a short-term, community-based residential facility that provides a safe, calming environment for individuals who are experiencing a mental health or psychiatric crisis but do not need the level of care provided in a hospital emergency room or inpatient psychiatric unit.

Crisis Stabilization Unit — Unidad de Estabilización de Crisis

A crisis stabilization unit (CSU) is a short-term, 24-hour residential facility that provides intensive psychiatric observation, evaluation, and treatment for individuals experiencing an acute mental health emergency.

Distant Site — Sitio Distante

In telehealth, the distant site is the physical location where the licensed healthcare provider is situated when delivering care remotely.

Federally Qualified Health Center — Centro de Salud Federalmente Calificado

A federally qualified health center (FQHC) is a community health clinic that meets federal requirements and receives grant funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.

Institutional Review Board — Junta de Revisión Institucional

An Institutional Review Board (IRB) is a committee required by federal law to review, approve, and monitor research involving human subjects—including clinical trials—to ensure participant safety and ethical standards are upheld.

Long-Term Care — Atención a Largo Plazo

Long-term care (LTC) refers to services that help people with chronic illness, disability, or cognitive decline—such as Alzheimer's disease—perform daily activities like bathing, dressing, and eating over months or years.

Medical Screening Examination — Examen Médico de Clasificación

A Medical Screening Examination (MSE) is the required assessment that hospital emergency departments must perform for every person who presents seeking care, regardless of ability to pay, insurance status, citizenship, or identification.

Mobile Crisis Team — Equipo Móvil de Crisis

A Mobile Crisis Team is a community-based mental health service that dispatches trained clinicians—social workers, counselors, or peer support specialists—directly to a person experiencing a mental health or substance use crisis, often as an alternative or complement to law enforcement response.

NCT Number — Número NCT

An NCT Number (National Clinical Trial number) is the unique identifier assigned by ClinicalTrials.gov—the U.S. federal registry of clinical studies—to every registered clinical trial.

Originating Site — Sitio de Origen

In Medicare telehealth billing, the originating site is the physical location where the patient receives a telehealth service.

Peer Support Specialist — Especialista en Apoyo entre Pares

A peer support specialist is a certified professional with personal lived experience of a mental health condition, substance use disorder, or serious illness who uses that experience to help others navigate recovery.

Principal Investigator — Investigador Principal

A principal investigator (PI) is the lead scientist or physician responsible for designing and overseeing a clinical trial or research study.

Protocol — Protocolo

In clinical research, a protocol is the detailed written plan governing how a study is designed and conducted.

Randomized Controlled Trial — Ensayo Controlado Aleatorizado

A randomized controlled trial (RCT) is the gold-standard method for testing whether a new treatment works.

Research Costs — Costos de Investigación

Research costs are expenses unique to a clinical trial that the study sponsor—typically a pharmaceutical or device company—is expected to pay.

Routine Care Costs — Costos de Atención de Rutina

Routine care costs are the ordinary medical expenses a clinical trial participant would incur even without participating in the trial—such as doctor visit fees, standard lab work, imaging, and hospital stays required for their condition.

Rural Health Clinic — Clínica de Salud Rural

A rural health clinic (RHC) is a federally certified outpatient clinic in a rural, medically underserved area that receives enhanced Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement to improve access to care.

Skilled Nursing Facility — Instalación de Enfermería Especializada

A skilled nursing facility (SNF) is a licensed residential care facility providing around-the-clock nursing care and rehabilitative services—including physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy—for patients who need more care than can be provided at home but do not require acute hospitalization.

Stabilization — Estabilización

Under the federal EMTALA law, stabilization is the required medical treatment a hospital emergency department must provide to prevent an emergency medical condition from materially deteriorating before or during a patient transfer.

Trial Phase — Fase del Ensayo

Clinical trials are conducted in four sequential phases.

Pharmacy (10)

90-Day Supply — Suministro de 90 Días

A 90-day supply is a prescription quantity providing three months of a maintenance medication in a single fill.

Biologic — Biológico

A biologic is a type of prescription medication made from or derived from living cells—such as proteins, antibodies, genes, or tissues—rather than synthesized chemically.

Copay Assistance Card — Tarjeta de Asistencia de Copago

A copay assistance card—also called a manufacturer coupon, copay card, or savings card—is a benefit offered by pharmaceutical companies to help commercially insured patients afford the out-of-pocket costs of a specific brand-name or specialty drug.

Coverage Gap — Brecha de Cobertura

The coverage gap—informally known as the 'donut hole'—is a phase of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage where you temporarily face higher drug costs.

Formulary Exception — Excepción al Formulario

A formulary exception is a formal request you or your doctor sends to your health insurance plan asking it to cover a prescription drug not on the plan's approved drug list, or to cover it at a lower cost-sharing tier.

Interchangeable Biosimilar — Biosimilar Intercambiable

An interchangeable biosimilar is a biologic medication the FDA has determined can be substituted for its reference brand-name biologic at the pharmacy without the prescriber's intervention—similar to how generic drugs substitute for brand-name pills.

Maintenance Drug — Medicamento de Mantenimiento

A maintenance drug is a prescription medication taken regularly on a long-term basis to manage a chronic condition such as diabetes, hypertension, asthma, or depression.

Patient Assistance Program — Programa de Asistencia al Paciente

A patient assistance program (PAP) is a manufacturer-run program that provides free or heavily discounted brand-name prescription medications to qualifying patients who have low income, lack insurance, or have inadequate drug coverage.

Reference Product — Producto de Referencia

A reference product is the original FDA-approved biologic drug against which a biosimilar is evaluated for approval.

Step Therapy Exception — Excepción a la Terapia Escalonada

A step therapy exception is a formal request asking your insurance plan to skip the step therapy requirement and approve the specific medication your doctor originally prescribed.

Symptoms (8)

Bad Breath — Mal aliento

Bad breath, or halitosis, is an unpleasant odor coming from the mouth that can be persistent or occasional.

Blood in Urine (Hematuria) — Sangre en la orina

Blood in the urine, medically called hematuria, can make urine appear pink, red, or cola-colored.

Discharge — Secreción

Discharge refers to fluid or secretions coming from a body opening or wound that differ from what is normal.

Fatigue — Fatiga

Fatigue is a persistent feeling of tiredness or lack of energy that is not relieved by rest.

Fever — Fiebre

Fever is a rise in body temperature above 100.4°F (38°C).

Flushing — Rubor

Flushing is sudden redness of the face, neck, or chest, often accompanied by a feeling of warmth.

Muscle Pain — Dolor muscular

Muscle pain, medically called myalgia, is soreness, aching, or tenderness in one or more muscles.

Nail Changes — Cambios en las uñas

Nail changes include any unusual alteration in the color, texture, shape, or thickness of the fingernails or toenails.

Medicines (6)

Brand-Name Drug — Medicamento de Marca

A brand-name drug is a medication sold under a proprietary trade name by the pharmaceutical company that developed it and holds the patent.

Compounding Pharmacy — Farmacia de Preparados

A compounding pharmacy prepares customized medications to meet the specific needs of individual patients when commercially available drugs do not fit their requirements.

Drug Formulary — Formulario de Medicamentos

A drug formulary is a list of prescription medications covered by a health insurance plan.

Generic Drug — Medicamento Genérico

A generic drug is a medication that contains the same active ingredient, dosage form, strength, and route of administration as a brand-name drug, but is marketed under its chemical name after the brand's patent expires.

Off-Label Drug Use — Uso de Medicamentos Fuera de Indicación

Off-label drug use refers to prescribing an FDA-approved medication for a purpose, patient population, dosage, or route of administration not included in the FDA-approved labeling.

Placebo — Placebo

A placebo is an inactive substance, device, or procedure used in clinical trials as a comparison to the experimental treatment.

Departments (4)

FQHC (Federally Qualified Health Center) — Centro de Salud Federalmente Calificado

A Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) is a community-based health clinic that receives federal grant funding under Section 330 of the Public Health Service Act.

Hospitalist — Hospitalista

A hospitalist is a physician who specializes in the care of patients during a hospital admission.

Primary Care Provider (PCP) — Médico de Atención Primaria

A Primary Care Provider (PCP) is a physician, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who serves as a patient's main healthcare contact for routine and preventive care.

Specialist — Especialista

A specialist is a physician with advanced training and board certification in a specific area of medicine, such as cardiology, oncology, orthopedics, or dermatology.

Guides that use these terms

• Emergency Number and Ambulance Use in Japan
• Japan National Health Insurance for Foreign Residents
• Pharmacies and Prescriptions in Japan
• Bringing Medication into Japan

Other areas of the glossary

• Heart and circulation — Corazón y circulación
• Lungs and breathing — Pulmones y respiración
• Digestive system — Sistema digestivo
• Brain and nerves — Cerebro y nervios
• Mental health — Salud mental
• Reproductive health and pregnancy — Salud reproductiva y embarazo
• Bones, joints and muscles — Huesos, articulaciones y músculos
• Blood and immune system — Sangre y sistema inmunitario
• Hormones, diabetes and metabolism — Hormonas, diabetes y metabolismo
• Skin, hair and nails — Piel, cabello y uñas