Health IT infrastructure

Health IT infrastructure comprises the hardware, software and networking components responsible for health data storage, retrieval and exchange. Understand why a comprehensive infrastructure of servers, cloud storage, EHR systems and interoperability applications is essential for secure, efficient data management and communication among healthcare providers.

Definition 15 Feb 2024

picture archiving and communication system (PACS)

Picture archiving and communication system (PACS) is a medical imaging technology used primarily in healthcare organizations to securely store and digitally transmit electronic images and clinically relevant reports. Continue Reading
Definition 08 Feb 2024

ICD-10-PCS (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System)

The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision, Procedure Coding System (ICD-10-PCS) is an American adaptation of the World Health Organization's ICD-10 system, tailored for procedural coding in inpatient and hospital settings. Continue Reading
Definition 08 Feb 2024

clinical decision support system (CDSS)

A clinical decision support system (CDSS) is an application that analyzes data to help healthcare providers make decisions and improve patient care. Continue Reading
Definition 05 Feb 2024

ICD-10 (International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision)

The International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10), is a global standard for classifying and coding mortality and morbidity data. Continue Reading
Definition 05 Feb 2024

personal health record (PHR)

A personal health record (PHR) is an electronic summary of health information that a patient maintains control of themselves, as opposed to their healthcare provider. Continue Reading
Definition 17 Jan 2024

SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine -- Clinical Terms)

SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine -- Clinical Terms) is a standardized, multilingual vocabulary of clinical terminology that is used by physicians and other health care providers for the electronic exchange of health information. Continue Reading
Definition 15 Sep 2023

What is machine learning and how does it work? In-depth guide

Machine learning (ML) is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) focused on building computer systems that learn from data. The broad range of techniques ML encompasses enables software applications to improve their performance over time. Continue Reading
Definition 01 Jun 2023

Chief Medical Information Officer (CMIO)

A Chief Medical Information Officer, or CMIO, essentially serves as the bridge between medical and IT departments at a healthcare organization. Continue Reading
Definition 24 Feb 2023

telehealth (telemedicine)

Telehealth, also referred to as telemedicine or e-medicine, is the remote delivery of healthcare services over the telecommunications infrastructure. Continue Reading
Definition 12 Apr 2022

problem list

A problem list is a document that states the most important health problems facing a patient such as nontransitive illnesses or diseases, injuries suffered by the patient, and anything else that has affected the patient or is currently ongoing with the patient. Continue Reading
Definition 16 Mar 2022

medical transcription (MT)

Medical transcription (MT) is the manual processing of voice reports dictated by physicians and other healthcare professionals into text format. Continue Reading
Definition 07 May 2019

Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO)

A Regional Health Information Organization (RHIO) is a group of organizations within a specific area that share healthcare-related information electronically according to accepted healthcare information technology (HIT) standards. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Apr 2019

remote patient monitoring (RPM)

Remote patient monitoring (RPM) is a subcategory of homecare telehealth that allows patients to use mobile medical devices or technology to gather patient-generated health data (PGHD) and send it to healthcare professionals. Continue Reading
Definition 24 Jan 2019

point of care (POC) testing

Point of care (POC) testing is medical testing that is performed outside of a laboratory setting. Common examples of POC test tools include blood glucose monitors, thermometers, home pregnancy tests and rapid strep tests. Continue Reading
Definition 31 Dec 2018

HIMSS (Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society)

The Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) is a nonprofit organization whose goal is to promote the best use of IT and management systems in the healthcare industry. Continue Reading
Definition 29 Nov 2018

mHealth (mobile health)

mHealth (mobile health) is a general term for the use of mobile phones and other wireless technology in medical care. Continue Reading
Definition 26 Oct 2018

computerized physician order entry (CPOE)

Computerized physician order entry (CPOE), also known as computerized provider order entry or computerized practitioner order entry, refers to the process of a medical professional entering and sending medication orders and treatment instructions electronically via a computer application instead of on paper charts. Continue Reading
Definition 22 Jun 2018

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine) is a standard protocol for the management and transmission of medical images and related data and is used in many healthcare facilities. Continue Reading
Definition 05 Jun 2018

fee-for-service (FFS)

Fee-for-service (FFS) is a payment model in which doctors, hospitals, and medical practices charge separately for each service they perform. Continue Reading
Definition 31 May 2018

biomedical informatics

Biomedical informatics is the branch of health informatics that uses data to help clinicians, researchers and scientists improve human health and provide healthcare. Continue Reading
Definition 30 May 2018

Health Information Exchange (HIE)

Health information exchange (HIE) is the electronic transmission of healthcare-related data among medical facilities, health information organizations -- companies that oversee and govern the exchange of this data -- and government agencies according to national standards. Continue Reading
Definition 22 May 2018

clinical informatics

Clinical informatics, also known as health informatics, is the study of how technology and data analytics can be used to improve patient care plans. Continue Reading
Definition 30 Apr 2018

value-based healthcare

Value-based healthcare, also known as value-based care, is a payment model that rewards healthcare providers for providing quality care to patients. Continue Reading
Definition 30 Apr 2018

health informatics

Health informatics is the practice of acquiring, studying and managing health data and applying medical concepts in conjunction with health information technology systems to help clinicians provide better healthcare. Continue Reading
Definition 26 Apr 2018

clinical trial

A clinical trial, also known as a clinical research study, is a protocol to evaluate the effects and efficacy of experimental medical treatments or behavioral interventions on health outcomes. Continue Reading
Definition 23 Feb 2018

vendor neutral archive (VNA)

A vendor neutral archive (VNA) is a technology that stores medical images in a standard format and interface, making them accessible to healthcare professionals regardless of what proprietary system created the images. Continue Reading
Definition 30 Oct 2017

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)

Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) is an interoperability standard for electronic exchange of healthcare information. Continue Reading
Definition 02 Oct 2017

precision medicine (PM)

Precision medicine (PM) is a rapidly evolving development in healthcare in which physicians and other caregivers consider differences in genes, socioeconomic status and lifestyles when devising treatment regimens for patients. Continue Reading
Definition 28 Sep 2017

genomics

Genomics is the study of human genes and chromosomes. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Aug 2017

enterprise master patient index (EMPI)

An enterprise master patient index (EMPI) is a database that is used to maintain consistent and accurate information about each patient registered by a healthcare organization. Continue Reading
Definition 23 Jun 2017

population health management (PHM)

Population health management (PHM) is a discipline within the healthcare industry that studies and facilitates care delivery across the general population or a group of individuals. Continue Reading
Definition 27 Feb 2017

national provider identifier (NPI)

A national provider identifier (NPI) is a unique ten-digit identification number required by HIPAA for covered healthcare providers in the United States. Continue Reading
Definition 24 Jan 2017

athenahealth Inc.

athenahealth Inc. is a developer of cloud-based practice management, point-of-care mobile applications and electronic health record (EHR) systems for small to medium-sized (SMB) physician practices and hospitals. Continue Reading
Definition 14 Oct 2016

eClinicalWorks

eClinicalWorks is a Massachusetts-based company that sells electronic medical record (EMR), practice management (PM) and personal health record (PHR) software and services to reportedly more than 115,000 physicians and 70,000 facilities in the United States. Continue Reading
Definition 27 Sep 2016

FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration)

The FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) regulates the production and sale of food, medicine, health technology and cosmetic products. The FDA, also called the USFDA, approves drugs and medical devices for sale and recalls unsafe products. Continue Reading
Definition 17 Dec 2015

McKesson Corp.

McKesson Corp. is a provider of medicines, pharmaceutical supplies and health information technology including nursing automation, practice management, clinical decision support systems, secure online healthcare communication and electronic health records systems. Based in San Francisco, it is one of the largest providers of these services in the United States and has more than 32,000 employees. Continue Reading
Definition 21 Jul 2015

computer assisted coding system (CACS)

A computer assisted coding system (CACS) is medical software that reviews healthcare forms, including electronic health records, and assigns appropriate medical codes to its findings. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Jul 2015

Joint Commission

The Joint Commission is an independent group that presently accredits 20,500 healthcare facilities in the United States by performing onsite evaluations. Continue Reading
Definition 30 Jun 2015

Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA)

Bar Coded Medication Administration (BCMA) is a hospital inventory control system that uses barcodes in the distribution of prescription medications with the goal of ensuring the patient is receiving the correct medication. Continue Reading
Definition 25 Jun 2015

laboratory information system

A laboratory information system (LIS) is software that collects, stores and produces reports from medical test data. Continue Reading
Definition 22 Jun 2015

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code

Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes are a uniform medical code set maintained and copyrighted by the American Medical Association and used to describe medical, surgical and diagnostic services. Continue Reading
Definition 11 Jun 2015

Clinical Document Architecture (CDA)

Clinical Document Architecture (CDA) is a markup standard created by Health Level 7 International (HL7) that defines the structure of discharge summaries, progress notes and other medical records. Continue Reading
Definition 20 May 2015

Healthcare CIO (healthcare chief information officer)

A healthcare CIO is a healthcare executive with an influence over technology purchasing and other IT business decisions. Continue Reading
Definition 16 Mar 2015

American Medical Association (AMA)

The American Medical Association (AMA) is a physician group that works for healthcare reform and publishes a collection of medical journals. Continue Reading
Definition 10 Sep 2014

clinical documentation (healthcare)

Clinical documentation (CD) is the creation of a digital or analog record detailing a medical treatment, medical trial or clinical test. Continue Reading