Glossary Flashcards
account number
The number assigned to a patient to reference the care of that patient for the current visit. The account number is sometimes referred to as an encounter number, accession number, or registration number in different information systems.
active directory (AD)
The Microsoft database managed by the domain controller that system administrators use to control access to the Windows domain. Active directory contains information about users, groups of users, computers on the domain, organizational units, and configuration data.
active server pages (ASP or ASP.NET)
A server-side, HTML-embedded scripting language used to create dynamic web pages. ASP is provided by Microsoft.
acuity
The level of severity of an affliction.
acute care
Care that is given short term and for severe afflictions. For example, a patient experiencing a heart attack goes to an acute care facility.
ad hoc
A network that is wireless, decentralized, temporary, and a peer-to-peer connection.
Adobe Flash
A plug-in or add-on to a browser used to add multimedia graphics to web pages.
adult day care facility
A facility that offers medical and nursing supervision of adults. Patients cannot be at one of these facilities for longer than 12 hours in one day.
advanced encryption standard (AES)
An encryption cipher that uses a block length of 128 bits. The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) adopted AES as an encryption standard.
ambulatory care facility
A facility used for outpatient services. Basically, if patient care takes less than 24 hours, the patient goes to an ambulatory care facility rather than a hospital.
ambulatory surgery center
A facility used for surgical procedures in outpatient services.
anesthesiologist
A physician who is trained in anesthesia and perioperative medicine. Anesthesia means to block sensation to prevent a patient from feeling pain; for example, during a surgery.
antispyware
A program designed to prevent spyware from being installed on a computer
application program interface (API)
A segment of programming code that can be used by many programs. An API can be a routine, protocol, or tool used to build a software application.
application service provider (ASP)
A vendor that offers an IS provided remotely.
assisted living residence
A facility that offers an apartment-style living situation for patients or residents who need assistance in daily activities. Most assisted living residences have different levels of assistance. A resident might live independently where help is available only if needed, or a resident lives in an apartment, but almost everything is done for the resident.
audit trail
A record of activity in an IS. Audit trails typically record the activity along with a time and date stamp and the username performing the activity.
automated dispensing cabinet (ADC)
An electronic cabinet with drawers containing medications that are placed throughout the hospital for convenient access by healthcare providers to quickly administer medicines.
badge
A card with a magnetic strip or chip that identifies the person assigned to the card.
billing and coding software
Software that receives data from a patient’s EHR/EMR, converts the data into billable items, and submits the bill to the insurance company for reimbursement.
biometric scanner
A device used to identify a person based on biological data.
birth center
A facility that offers services for prenatal and labor and delivery low-risk patients. This can be a department of a hospital or a separate facility.
blood pressure cuff
A device used to measure blood pressure. Also called BP cuff, vitals cuff, or sphygmomanometer.
blood work
Examination of a blood sample to test for certain diseases, medications, or other data.