It’s no secret that in the world of healthcare and especially information technology, anacronyms are commonly used – and can be somewhat overwhelming.  To assist in the interpretation of the more commonly abbreviated terms, below is a breakdown for your use.

Ambulatory care- is any medical care delivered on an outpatient basis. http://www.emrexperts.com/glossary.php

ASP- Applications Service Provider is an application service provider is a business that provides computer-based services to customers over a network.

CMS- Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services provide Health Coverage for 100 million people through Medicare, Medicaid, and the Children’s Health Insurance Program. And with health insurance reforms and health care exchanges, we are improving health care and ensuring coverage for all Americans. http://www.cms.gov/

CPOE- Computerized Physician Order Entry is a system for physicians to electronically order labs, imaging and prescriptions.

CPR- Computerized Patient Record known as an EMR or EHR has a patient’s past, present, and future clinical data stored in a server.

DICOM- Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine is standard to define the connectivity and communication between medical imaging devices.

EDI- Electronic Data Interchange allows electronic communication between two parties, generally for the filing of electronic claims to payers.

EHR- Electronic Health Records focus on the total health of the patient—going beyond standard clinical data collected in the provider’s office and inclusive of a broader view on a patient’s care. EHRs are designed to reach out beyond the health organization that originally collects and compiles the information.

EOB- Explanation of Benefits is a statement from the patient’s insurance company that breaks down services rendered at time of doctor or hospital visit and amounts covered by insurance provider.

HIE- Health Information Exchange refers to the process of reliable and interoperable electronic health-related information sharing conducted in a manner that protects the confidentiality, privacy, and security of the information.

HIPAA- Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996, is a set of federal regulations which establishes national standards for health care information.

HIT- Health Information Technology is the area of IT involving the design, development, creation, use and maintenance of information systems for the healthcare industry. Automated and interoperable healthcare information systems are expected to lower costs, improve efficiency and reduce error, while also providing better consumer care and service.

HITECH- Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act (HITECH Act) legislation created to stimulate the adoption of electronic health records (EHR) and supporting technology in the United States. http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/definition/HITECH-Act.

MU- Meaningful Use (MU), in a health information technology (HIT) context, defines the use of electronic health records (EHR) and related technology within a healthcare organization. Achieving meaningful use also helps determine whether an organization will receive payments from the federal government under either the Medicare EHR Incentive Program or the Medicaid EHR Incentive Program.

ONC- Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology, abbreviated ONC, is a position within the US Department of Health & Human Services (HHS). The ONC’s purpose is to promote a national health Information Technology infrastructure and oversee its development.

PACS- Picture Archive Communication System is used by radiology and diagnostic imaging organizations to electronically manage information and images.

Patient Portal- A secure web-based system that allows a patient to register for an appointment, schedule an appointment, request prescription refills, send and receive secure patient-physician messages, view lab results, pay their bills electronically, access physician directories.

PHI- Protected Health Information is any information about health status, provision of health care, or payment for health care that can be linked to a specific individual. This is interpreted rather broadly and includes any part of a patient’s medical record or payment history.

PPO- Preferred Provider Organization is an arrangement between insurers and healthcare providers where providers agree to a discounted fee-for-service in exchange for more patients.

Common Healthcare and IT Acronyms