Glossary of Healthcare IT Terms -

Healthcare IT

Glossary of Healthcare IT Terms

ADT (Admission, Discharge, and Transfer)

A system that tracks patient movements within a healthcare facility. Example: A patient is admitted to the hospital, moved to ICU, and later discharged; all these events are recorded in the ADT system.

API (Application Programming Interface)

A set of rules that allow different software systems to communicate. Example: An API enables an EHR system to connect with a third-party telemedicine platform.

BMDI (Bedside Medical Device Interface)

A system that connects medical devices to an EHR to capture patient data automatically. Example: Monitors tracking respiratory rate, blood pressure, and heart rate send real-time data to the patient’s electronic record.

BI (Business Intelligence)

The use of analytics and data visualization to improve healthcare decision-making. Example: A hospital dashboard that tracks patient wait times and bed occupancy.

CPOE (Computerized Physician Order Entry)

A system that allows healthcare providers to enter medical orders electronically, reducing errors. Example: A doctor prescribes medication via CPOE instead of writing it on paper.

CDS (Clinical Decision Support)

A system that provides real-time guidance to clinicians based on patient data. Example: An alert warns a doctor about a possible drug allergy before prescribing medication.

CDA (Clinical Document Architecture)

A standard format for structuring medical documents to ensure interoperability. Example: Discharge summaries shared between hospitals using a common format.

Cloud Computing

The use of remote servers to store and manage healthcare data securely. Example: Storing patient records in a cloud-based EHR instead of on local servers.

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine)

A standard for handling and sharing medical images. Example: MRI and CT scan images stored in a hospital’s PACS system.

Data Interoperability

The ability of different healthcare systems to exchange and use data seamlessly. Example: A patient’s lab results from one hospital can be accessed by another hospital’s EHR.

EHR (Electronic Health Record)

A digital version of a patient’s medical history, accessible by authorized users. Example: A doctor reviews a patient’s past lab results and medications in an EHR.

EMR (Electronic Medical Record)

A digital version of paper charts specific to one healthcare organization. Example: A clinic’s internal patient records that are not shared externally.

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)

A modern standard for exchanging healthcare information electronically. Example: A mobile health app retrieving patient allergies from an EHR using FHIR APIs.

HIE (Health Information Exchange)

A network that allows healthcare organizations to share patient data securely. Example: A hospital shares lab results with a primary care provider via an HIE network

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

A U.S. law that protects patient privacy and data security. Example: Hospitals must encrypt patient emails to prevent unauthorized access.

IoMT (Internet of Medical Things)

Connected medical devices that collect and transmit patient data. Example: Wearable ECG monitors that send real-time heart rate data to a cardiologist.

Integration Engine

A middleware system that ensures data flows smoothly between different healthcare IT systems. Example: HL7 messages moving between an EHR and a radiology system via an integration engine.

LIS (Laboratory Information System)

Software used to manage lab tests and results. Example: A system that automates blood test processing and sends results to an EHR.

MPI (Master Patient Index)

A database that uniquely identifies patients across different systems. Example: Preventing duplicate records when a patient visits multiple hospitals.

MHealth (Mobile Health)

The use of mobile devices for healthcare services and information. Example: A diabetes management app that tracks blood sugar levels.

PACS (Picture Archiving and Communication System)

A system for storing and retrieving medical images. Example: Radiologists reviewing X-rays on a PACS system.

PHI (Protected Health Information)

Any patient data that must be kept secure under HIPAA. Example: A patient’s name, diagnosis, and treatment history.

PHR (Personal Health Record)

A health record maintained by a patient rather than a provider. Example: A patient tracking their medical history using an online health portal.

RCM (Revenue Cycle Management)

The financial process that tracks patient care from registration to payment. Example: Insurance claims processing and patient billing automation.

RIS (Radiology Information System)

Software used to manage radiology workflows and reports. Example: A radiologist entering findings for an MRI scan in an RIS.

SNOMED CT (Systematized Nomenclature of Medicine )

Clinical Terms) – A standardized clinical vocabulary used in healthcare IT. Example: Ensuring consistent medical terminology across EHR systems.

VNA (Vendor Neutral Archive)

A medical imaging storage system that allows data access across different platforms. Example: A cardiologist viewing an echocardiogram stored in a VNA, regardless of the imaging system used.

Conclusion

This glossary covers essential healthcare IT terms for beginners. Understanding these terms will help anyone working in the field navigate complex systems and processes more effectively.

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Bryan Vartabedian is the Chief Medical Officer at Texas Children’s Hospital Austin and one of health care’s influential voices on technology & medicine.

Healthcare IT