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incidence — In epidemiology, the number of cases of disease, infection, or some other event having their onset during a prescribed period of time in relation to the unit of population in which they occur. Incidence measures morbidity or other events as they happen over a period of time. Examples include the number of accidents occurring in a manufacturing plant during a year in relation to the number of employees in the plant, or the number of cases of mumps occurring in a school during a month in relation to the number of pupils enrolled in the school. It usually refers only to the number of new cases, particularly of chronic diseases.
indemnity — Health insurance benefits provided in the form of cash payments rather than services. An indemnity insurance contract usually defines the maximum amounts which will be paid for covered services.
indigent care — Health services provided to the poor or those unable to pay. Since many indigent patients are not eligible for federal or state programs, the costs which are covered by Medicaid are generally recorded separately from indigent care costs.
inpatient — A person who has been admitted at least overnight to a hospital or other health facility (which is therefore responsible for his/her room and board) for the purpose of receiving diagnostic treatment or other health services.
Institutional change — A process that has been described extensively over the years, often as a model outlining the stages of organization change to promote the success of students of color in the health professions.
institutional health services — Health services delivered on an inpatient basis in hospitals, nursing homes, or other inpatient institutions. The term may also refer to services delivered on an outpatient basis by departments or other organizational units of, or sponsored by, such institutions.
Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (IADL) — An index or scale which measures a patient's degree of independence in aspects of cognitive and social functioning including shopping, cooking, doing housework, managing money, and using the telephone.
Integrated Services Network (ISN) — A network of organizations usually including hospitals and physician groups, that provides or arranges to provide a coordinated continuum of services to a defined population and is held both clinically and fiscally accountable for the outcomes of the populations served.
Intermediate Care Facility (ICF) — An institution which is licensed under State law to provide on a regular basis, health-related care and services to individuals who do not require the degree of care or treatment which a hospital or skilled nursing facility is designed to provide. Public institutions for care of the mentally retarded or people with related conditions are also included in the definition. The distinction between "health-related care and services" and "room and board" has often proven difficult to make but is important because ICFs are subject to quite different regulations and coverage requirements than institutions which do not provide health-related care and services.
International Medical Graduate (IMG) — A physician who graduated from a medical school outside of the United States, usually Canada. U.S. citizens who go to medical school abroad are classified as international medical graduates just as are foreign-born persons who are not trained in a medical school in this country. U.S. citizens represent only a small portion of the IMG group.
intervention strategy — A generic term used in public health to describe a program or policy designed to have an impact on an illness or disease. Hence a mandatory seat belt law is an intervention designed to reduce automobile-related fatalities.
Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations (JCAHO) — A national private, nonprofit organization whose purpose is to encourage the attainment of uniformly high standards of institutional medical care. Establishes guidelines for the operation of hospitals and other health facilities and conducts survey and accreditation programs.
Katie Beckett children — Disabled children who qualify for home care coverage under a special provision of Medicaid, named after a girl who remained institutionalized solely to continue Medicaid coverage.
license/licensure — A permission granted to an individual or organization by a competent authority, usually public, to engage lawfully in a practice, occupation, or activity. Licensure is the process by which the license is granted. It is usually granted on the basis of examination and/or proof of education rather than on measures of performance. A license is usually permanent but may be conditioned on annual payment of a fee, proof of continuing education, or proof of competence.
limited service hospital — A hospital, often located in rural areas, that provides a limited set of medical and surgical services.
long-term Care — In the context of this grantmaking program, long-term care refers to nursing home or institutional care.
