tertiary prevention

tertiary prevention,

a level of preventive medicine that deals with the rehabilitation and return of a patient to a status of maximum usefulness with a minimum risk of recurrence of a physical or mental disorder.

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prevention [pre-ven´shun]

the keeping of something (such as an illness or injury) from happening.

fall prevention in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as instituting special precautions with the patient at risk for injury from falling.

pressure ulcer prevention in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the prevention of pressure ulcers for a patient at high risk for developing them.

primary prevention the first level of health care, designed to prevent the occurrence of disease and promote health.

religious addiction prevention in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as prevention of a self-imposed controlling religious lifestyle. See also addiction.

secondary prevention the second level of health care, based on the earliest possible identification of disease so that it can be more readily treated or managed and adverse sequelae can be prevented.

shock prevention in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as detecting and treating a patient at risk for impending shock.

sports-injury prevention: youth in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as reducing the risk of sport-related injury in young athletes.

substance use prevention in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as the prevention of an alcoholic or drug use lifestyle. See also substance abuse.

suicide prevention in the nursing interventions classification, a nursing intervention defined as reducing risk of self-inflicted harm with intent to end life. See also suicide.

tertiary prevention the third phase or level of health care, concerned with promotion of independent function and prevention of further disease-related deterioration.

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tertiary prevention

Medtalk Treatment that alters the course of clinical disease--eg, with CABG or PCTA. See Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty Psychiatry Measures to reduce impairment or disability following a disorder–eg, through rehabilitation.