Taber's Medical Dictionary
board
(bōrd)
1. A long, flat piece of a substance such as wood or firm plastic.
2. A governing or oversight committee, such as one that directs the affairs of a hospital, clinic, company, or other organization.
American Board of Internal Medicine
arm board
1. A board placed under and attached to the arm for stabilization during intravenous administration.
2. A device attached to the sides of a wheelchair to permit support or positioning of the arm, esp. for persons with upper-extremity paralysis.
back board
A stiff board on which an individual with a known or suspected spinal or pelvic injury is secured so that the patient's neuraxis is splinted in-line during transport. The device should be used with a head immobilization device and a cervical collar.
SYN: SEE: spine board
balance board
SEE: Rocker board.
bed board
A firm board placed beneath a mattress to keep it from sagging. It is used to treat some persons with back difficulties. It is also used in cardiopulmonary resuscitation to improve the effectiveness of chest compressions.
communication board
Any device with letters, pictures, or words that lets patients with impaired physical and verbal ability express themselves.
community advisory board
A research oversight and outreach group that helps manage a clinical research project and informs lay people about its results and usefulness.
foot board
A flat piece of material placed at the foot end of a patient's bed. It is angled slightly away from the patient and extends up above the mattress. When used properly, it helps to prevent footdrop. The patient should be positioned in bed so that when the legs are fully extended the soles of the feet just touch the padded board.
board of health
A public body, appointed or elected, concerned with administering the laws pert. to the health of the public.
institutional review board
ABBR: IRB An oversight committee that governs or regulates medical investigations involving human subjects. The purpose of the board is to protect the rights and health of participants in clinical trials.
SEE: informed consent
lap board
A tray or platform that is placed over the lap. When such a device is designed to be attached to a wheelchair in order to support the hands and arms or to permit manual activities, it is known as a wheelchair lap board.
SEE: wheelchair lap board
long back board
A flat or slightly concave board approx. 6 ft long and 2 ft wide, often made of laminated wood or plastic, that is used to immobilize a patient with a mechanism for a potential neck or back injury. This device is used together with a cervical/head immobilization device or blanket roll and a rigid extrication collar.
message board
An Internet-based forum for posts and discussions about, e.g., a specific disease or condition.
National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification, Inc.
SEE: National Athletic Trainers’ Association Board of Certification, Inc.
National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
SEE: National Board for Certification in Occupational Therapy
National Board for Respiratory Care
rocker board
A board with rockers or a partial sphere on the undersurface so that a rocking motion occurs when a person stands on it. It is commonly used in therapy with children having central nervous system deficits to facilitate the development of appropriate equilibrium-related postural reflexes. It is also used in patients/clients of all ages to stimulate lower extremity and trunk proprioception and kinesthetic sense.
SYN: SEE: balance board; SEE: wobble board
short back board
A flat board, approx. 3 ft long and 2 ft wide, often made of laminated wood or plastic, used to immobilize a seated patient with a mechanism for a potential neck or back injury. This device is used together with a cervical/head immobilization device or blanket roll and a rigid extrication collar. The short backboard is used to remove a stable injured patient from a vehicle onto a long backboard. Most ambulance services have moved to a more modern vest-style device such as a Kendrich extrication device.
slider board
A flat slab of metal, plastic, or wood used to transfer a patient horizontally from one surface to another, e.g., from a gurney to a hospital bed. Slider boards or patient transfer boards are used to prevent musculoskeletal injuries sustained while mobilizing patients.
sliding board
SEE: Transfer board.
spine board
spineboardSEE: Back board.
transfer board
A device used to bridge the space between a wheelchair and a bed, toilet, or car seat; used to facilitate independent or assisted transfer of the patient from one of these sites to another.
SYN: SEE: sliding board
TRANSFER BOARD Use of a transfer board to move from bed to chair.
tumor board
A board of health care providers who specialize in the management of cancers. The board discusses treatment options for cancer patients (e.g., conservative management, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, surgery, or multimodal therapies).
wheelchair lap board
SEE: lap board
wobble board
SEE: Rocker board.
