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Dictionary of Evidence-based Medicine.pdf

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<strong>Dictionary</strong> <strong>of</strong> <strong>Evidence</strong>-<strong>based</strong> <strong>Medicine</strong> 99<br />

Medicaid<br />

A health care programme introduced in the USA in 1965 to reduce financial<br />

barriers to health care for certain low-income groups, with funding<br />

being provided jointly by the state and federal governments. The programme<br />

is administered independently by the individual states within<br />

broad federal guidelines (see also Oregon plan, an attempt by Oregon State<br />

to use cost benefit analysis to reform its programme).<br />

Medical informatics<br />

Medical informatics is the use and study <strong>of</strong> information science and<br />

technology in the delivery <strong>of</strong> health care. It calls upon other disciplines<br />

including mathematics, statistics, psychology, linguistics and philosophy.<br />

There is growing realization that to practise evidence-<strong>based</strong> medicine,<br />

practitioners need to acquire the ability to identify gaps in their knowledge<br />

and the means and skills to bridge those gaps. Given the explosion <strong>of</strong> medical<br />

information, the use <strong>of</strong> the best information science and technology to<br />

access the data efficiently is deemed to be essential by an increasing number<br />

<strong>of</strong> educationalists and policy makers.<br />

Medical review criteria<br />

Medical review criteria are systematically developed statements that<br />

can be used to assess the appropriateness <strong>of</strong> specific health care decisions,<br />

services and outcomes (Field MJ, Lohr KN (eds) (1990) Clinical<br />

practice guidelines. Directions for a new program. National Academy Press,<br />

Washington DC).<br />

Medicare<br />

A US federal government health insurance program introduced in 1965 to<br />

cater for individuals aged 65 and over and some groups <strong>of</strong> people with<br />

disabilities, notably patients requiring renal dialysis. As the US population<br />

ages, more resources are being consumed by this component <strong>of</strong> the health<br />

care system.<br />

Medicinal product<br />

A medicinal product is defined as (i) any substance or combination <strong>of</strong><br />

substances presented for treating or preventing disease in human beings<br />

or animals or (ii) any substance or combination <strong>of</strong> substances which<br />

may be administered to human beings or animals with a view to making a

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