index case n.— «A man whom doctors call the “index case”—the first patient they knew about—got sick in December 2006 and was hospitalized at the Mayo Clinic for about two weeks.» —“A Medical Mystery Unfolds in...
drunkalog n.— «During my stay in rehab at Castle Medical Center, we had to attend AA or Narcotics Anonymous meetings every day. One of the regular weekly meetings was held at Castle. That’s where I first got to hear Kevin “share...
haunter n.— «It started out innocently, as these things often do, with a few strings of pumpkin lights. Then I discovered the secondary market in anatomical displays. Medical-school skeletons with misaligned femurs don’t get sent to the...
shorty n.— «Andrew returned to Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C., to be fitted for his first prostheses. These “stubbies” or “shorties,” as they are called, are only about a foot in length and are...
splitter n.— «Schaffler estimates that Armstrong has helped as many as 600 patients. Armstrong is what’s known as a splitter, meaning each time he donates his platelets can serve up to three people.» —“Platelet donor gives gift of...
flag strategy n.— «Another method, called the “flag strategy,” allowed employees to get their inoculation at the time of their choosing—but only when the line had fewer than a set number of people. With a queue maximum of...