Annual Report - Acronyms and Glossary

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Table of contents

Part 3: Management Arrangements

Part 4: Accountability Reporting

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Acronyms

AGHS

Australian Government Health Service

AHMAC

Australian Health Ministers’ Advisory Council

AHMC

Australian Health Ministers’ Conference

AIDS

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome

APEC

Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation

AusAID

Australian Agency for International Development

COAG

Council of Australian Governments

FIFA

Federation Internationale de Football Association

FM

Frequency Modulation

GP

General Practice or General Practitioner

GST

Goods and Services Tax

HIV

Human Immunodeficiency Virus

HPV

Human Papillomavirus

OECD

Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development

PBS

Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme

STI

Sexually Transmitted Infection

WHO

World Health Organization
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Glossary

Acute Care

Short-term medical treatment, usually in a hospital, for patients with an acute illness or injury, or recovering from surgery. Acute illness/injury is one that is severe in its effect or approaching crisis point, for example acute appendicitis.

Allied Health Care

A group of medically-prescribed health care services, such as occupational therapy, speech pathology and physical therapy, provided by licensed professionals.

Antenatal

The period prior to birth.

Anthroposophic

A medicine formulated according to the anthroposophic understanding of man and nature; which applies a holistic approach to medicine, through the use of therapies such as modified homeopathic medicines, massage, meditation, art and music.

Antimicrobial

Destroying or inhibiting the multiplication and growth of micro-organisms such as bacteria or fungi.

Antiretroviral

Inhibiting the action of a retrovirus. Different antiretroviral treatments target differing stages of the life cycle of a retrovirus; inhibiting transcription, incorporation into the host cell’s DNA, or subsequent multiplication.

Audiologist

An allied health professional specialising in the science of hearing, who provides services that include: evaluation of hearing function to detect hearing impairment; determination of the anatomical site and cause of hearing impairment; and selection of appropriate treatment and rehabilitation.
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Audiometrist

An allied health professional specialising in the measurement of the clarity of hearing through generation of tones of known frequencies and amplitudes.

Bioequivalence

Two preparations of the same drug, in the same dosage, having similar availability and effect on the target tissue.

Biological

A medicine made from living organisms and their products, such as a serum or a vaccine.

Bio-statistics

The application of statistics to biology, medicine, nursing, and other health related professions.

Blood Borne Viruses

Viruses that are transmitted through contact between infected blood and uninfected blood.

Blood Glucose

The amount of glucose present in the blood. The metabolism of glucose is the chief source of energy for the cells of the body, and the rate of metabolism is controlled by insulin.

Cardiac Pacemaker

An instrument implanted beneath the skin to control the rate of the heartbeat.

Cardiopulmonary Disease

Any disease of the heart (cardio) or lungs (pulmonary). Includes heart attack, stroke, and high blood pressure.

Chemotherapy

The treatment of disease by chemical agents, for example the use of drugs to destroy cancer cells.

Chronic Bronchitis

A type of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in which there is inflammation of the membrane lining the bronchial tube with increased secretions for at least three months, two years in a row. The most common cause is long term inhalation of irritant substances.

Chronic Disease

The term applied to a diverse group of diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and arthritis (to name a few), that tend to be long-lasting and persistent in their symptoms or development. Although these features also apply to some communicable diseases (infections), the general term chronic diseases is usually confined to non-communicable diseases.

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Long term lung diseases marked by worsening shortness of breath that is not reversible, and an abnormal inflammatory response to noxious particles or gases. For example, emphysema and chronic bronchitis.

Cochlear Implant

A device consisting of a microphone, signal processor, external transmitter, and implanted receiver; the receiver is surgically implanted under the skin above and behind the ear. The implant allows new sound information to be transmitted to the brain and restores a limited sense of hearing.

Computed Tomography Scanning

An imaging method that uses computer processing to generate an image of tissue density in a ‘slice’ through the body. The images are spaced at 5 to 10 mm intervals allowing an anatomical cross-section of the body to be constructed.

Crohn Disease

A chronic, relapsing inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract that produces bouts of diarrhoea, cramping of the abdomen, and fever.
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Defibrillator

An apparatus used to stop irregular contractions of the heart by application of brief electroshock, either directly on the heart or through electrodes placed on the chest wall.

Dementia

A general and worsening loss of brain power such as memory, understanding and reasoning.

Diabetes

Refers to a group of syndromes caused by a malfunction in the production and release of insulin by the pancreas leading to a disturbance in blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes is characterised by the abrupt onset of symptoms, usually during childhood; and inadequate production of insulin requiring regular injections to regulate insulin levels. Type 2 diabetes is characterised by gradual onset commonly between 50 and 60 years old; and is usually able to be regulated through dietary control.

Dose Administration Aid

A device developed to assist patients in better managing their medicines by arranging their medicines into individual doses according to the prescribed dose schedule throughout the day.

Ecstasy

A synthetic hallucinogenic and euphoric drug, used illicitly as a stimulant.

Elaprase®

A drug used for the treatment of Hunter syndrome by replacing the absent or deficient enzyme, iduronate-2-sulfatase. Elaprase® is a purified form of the human enzyme, produced by recombinant DNA technology.

Electrocardiogram Machine

A device used to produce an image representing a record of the heart’s electrical action.

Emphysema

A slow developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease characterised by loss of elasticity of the lung tissues and abnormal stretching of the lung with air, causing severe restriction of respiratory function.

Epidemiology

The study of the determinants (risk factors) and distribution of disease among populations.

Faecal occult blood test

A test that detects tiny amounts of blood, often released from bowel cancers or their precursors (polyps or adenomas) into the bowel motion.

Generic

When referring to a drug, ‘generic’ means not covered by a trademark; where a drug is marketed under its chemical name without advertising.

Herceptin®

A drug used in the late stages of breast cancer.
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Homeopathic Medicine

A medicine administered in minute doses that, when administered to a healthy person in a large dose, will cause similar symptoms, syndromes or conditions as those being treated.

Individual Health Identifiers

The information technology services that will enable the unique identification of each individual consumer of health care in Australia to: increase the integrity of identification of electronic health information records and communications; and enable accurate retrieval, discovery and recording of health information.

Intraocular lens

A prosthetic lens implanted within the eye.

In Vitro Diagnostic Devices

The test kits and instrumentation used to carry out testing on human samples, where the results are intended to assist in clinical diagnosis, or in making decisions concerning clinical management.
Ionising Radiation Electromagnetic radiation that has enough energy to knock electrons out of atoms and create ions.

Islet

Structures of endocrine cells found in the pancreas. They include the insulin-producing beta cells, whose degeneration is one of the causes of diabetes.

Kava

A drug made from the ground roots of the plant Piper methysticum (a member of the pepper family that also includes the black pepper). Kava is consumed as a drink or supplement. The crushed, ground or powdered root is added to water and drunk like tea.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging

A non-invasive nuclear medicine technology that uses strong magnetic fields and radio frequency pulses to generate sectional images of the body. It is especially useful for imaging tissues of high fat and water content that cannot be seen using other diagnostic imaging techniques. The image gives information about the chemical makeup of the tissues, allowing, for example, normal and cancerous tissues to be distinguished.
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Mammographic screening

An X-ray of the breast. May be used to assess a breast lump or as a screening test in women with no evidence of cancer.

Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome

Also known as Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VI. See Mucopolysaccharidosis.

Mastectomy

The surgical removal of breast tissue.

Melanoma

A tumour arising from the skin, consisting of dark masses of cells with a tendency to metastasis. It is the most aggressive form of skin cancer.

Methamphetamines

A drug that stimulates the central nervous system.

Mucopolysaccharidosis

A group of genetic disorders causing a defect in metabolism of mucopolysaccharides, marked by skeletal changes, mental retardation, and corneal clouding.

Type II: Caused by deficiency of Iduronate-2-Sulfatase (an enzyme). It has slow progression and less severity of symptoms; as well as lack of corneal clouding. Also known as Hunter Syndrome.

Type IV: Caused by deficiency of arylsulfatase B (an enzyme). It is characterised by symptoms of varying severity, with normal intelligence. Also known as Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome.

Naglazyme®

A drug used for the treatment of Maroteaux-Lamy Syndrome by replacing the absent or deficient enzyme. Elaprase® is a purified form of the human enzyme, produced by recombinant DNA technology.

Nanomaterial

Materials with features smaller than one tenth of a micrometre.

Oncology

The study, knowledge and treatment of cancer and tumours.

Otitis media

Inflammation of the middle ear.
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Outcomes

Outcomes, as used in the Australian Government’s Outcomes and Outputs Framework, are the intended or proposed results, consequences or impacts of government actions on the Australian community.

Outputs

The goods or services produced by individual Australian Government
agencies for other persons, agencies or organisations.

Palliative Care

Care provided to achieve the best possible quality of life for patients with a progressive and far-advanced disease, with little or no prospect of cure.

Pandemic

An epidemic affecting a wide geographic area.

Papillomavirus

A DNA-based virus that infects the skin and mucous membranes of humans and a variety of animals.

Pathology Services

The study and diagnosis of disease through the examination of organs, tissues, cells and bodily fluids. Pathology services provide a range of important diagnostic support services to help hospital staff and general practitioners diagnose and treat diseases and other medical conditions.

Perfluorinated Chemical

An inert chemical substance with a high oxygen carrying capacity that has been emulsified with surfactants and transfused to temporarily transport oxygen in the blood.

Performance Indicators

Indicators which are used to measure agency effectiveness in achieving the Government’s objectives.

Perinatal

The period shortly before and after birth. The term ‘perinatal’ generally describes the period between the 20th week of gestation and one to four weeks after birth.
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Pneumococcal Meningitis

A potentially fatal type of bacterial inflammation of the membranes covering the brain and spinal cord, seen most often in young children and the elderly.

Portfolio Additional Estimates Statements

Statements prepared by portfolios to explain the Additional Estimates Budget appropriations in terms of outcomes and outputs.

Portfolio Budget Statements

Statements prepared by portfolios to explain the Budget appropriations in terms of outcomes and outputs.

Positron Emission Tomography

A nuclear medicine technology that uses short-lived radioisotopes to enable the non-invasive imaging of metabolic functions within the body. The technology’s main application is in the staging of various cancers and the monitoring of cancer therapies.

Primary Care

Provides the patient with a broad spectrum of care, both preventive and curative, over a period of time and coordinates all of the care the person receives.

Psycho-geriatric

A term describing either age-related or life-long mental health illnesses, and diseases of the brain which tend to predominantly affect older people, such as Alzheimer’s or Dementia.

Radiation Oncology (Radiotherapy)

The study and discipline of treating malignant disease with radiation. The treatment is referred to as radiotherapy or radiation therapy.
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Remote

The term ‘Remote’ is used to indicate those Australians living in areas that lie within either the ‘Very Remote Australia’ or ‘Remote Australia’ categories of the Australian Standard Geographical Classification Remoteness
structure.

Rural

Rural localities and towns with a total population of under 1,000 people.

In terms of Rural, Remote, Metropolitan Areas Classifications: Rural includes small rural centres (urban centre population between 10,000 and 24,999), large rural centres (urban centre population between 25,000 and 99,000), and other rural centres (urban centre population less than 10,000), with each having an index of remoteness less than 10.5.

Stent

A device or mould of a suitable material used to provide support for a tubular structure within the body, such as arteries, oesophagus, or urinary tract.

Stoma

Artificial body opening in the abdominal region, for the purpose of waste removal.

Triclosan

An antibacterial product which is effective against most bacteria and exhibits slight activity against yeasts and fungi, which is used in personal care and cosmetic products such as surgical scrubs, soaps and deodorants.

Tumour

An abnormal growth of tissue in which cell multiplication is uncontrolled and occurs faster than normal tissue growth.

Tykerb®

A drug used for the treatment of late stage breast cancer, in women whose tumours are positive for the human epidermal growth factor receptor 2, when the disease has progressed after treatment using Herceptin®.
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