Health Information TechnologyGlossary of Terms

802.11. A family of IEEE standards for wireless local area networks (LANs) that extend wired Ethernet (802.3) into the wireless domain. The 802.11 standard is more widely known as "Wi-Fi" because the Wi-Fi Alliance, an organization independent of IEEE, provides certification for products that conform to 802.11. There are various 802.11 standards which transfer data at different speeds, frequencies, and transmission methods including 802.11a (54 Mbps), 802.11b (11 Mbps), 802.11g (54 Mbps), and 802.11n (expected in 2008, uses multiple antennas for speeds up to 100 Mbps).

Access Point. Radio-based device that provides users of wireless devices with access to a local area network (LAN).

Administrative Safeguards. A HIPAA security rule term for the administrative actions, policies, and procedures to manage the selection, development, implementation, and maintenance of security measures to protect Private information and to manage the conduct of IT resource users in relation to the protection of that information.

AHIC (American Health Information Community). Also known as "the Community" formed to help advance efforts to reach the president’s call for most Americans to have electronic health records by 2014. See www.hhs.gov/healthit/ahic.html

AHIMA (American Health Information Management System). A community of professionals engaged in health information management, providing support to members and strengthening the industry and profession. For more information see: www.ahima.org.

AMIA (American Medical Informatics Association). A not-for-profit organization dedicated to the development and application of medical informatics in the support of patient care, teaching, research, and health care administration. For more information see www.amia.org.

AMR (Ambulatory Medical Record). A computer system for storing, managing, and retrieving electronic patient health information in the outpatient setting. In the inpatient setting, it is often referred to as an electronic medical record (EMR).

ANSI (American National Standards Institute). The U.S. standards organization that establishes procedures for the development and coordination of voluntary American National Standards.

Application Service Provider (ASP). A business that deploys, hosts, and manages access to software applications for multiple parties from a central facility. The ASP charges a subscription fee to users of the applications, which are delivered over the Internet or other public or private networks.

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Architecture. This term refers to the structure of an information system and how its pieces communicate and work together.

Bandwidth. A measure of how much information can be transmitted at once through a communication medium, such as a telephone line, fiber-optic cable, or radio frequency.

Bi-directional. The ability to move, transfer or transmit data in both directions.

Bluetooth. A protocol designed for short-range wireless communication or networking among a variety of devices.

C+/C++. C is an established programming language found in many operating systems, including UNIX. C++, a daughter program based on objects, is quickly becoming a favored programming language as object-oriented technology gains popularity. Also see Java.

CCHIT (Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology). A voluntary, private-sector organization launched in 2004 to certify health information technology (HIT) products such as electronic health records and the networks over which they interoperate. For more information see www.cchit.org.

Change Management. The formal process of introducing, adapting and diffusing change through the practice.

Chart conversion. Process of deciding and implementing the means to get data from the paper charts into the new EMR.

Clustering. The use of multiple computers, typically PCs or UNIX workstations, multiple storage devices, and redundant interconnections, to form what appears to users as a single highly available system. Cluster computing can be used for load balancing as well as for high availability.

Community health center. Facilities which administer the delivery of health care services to people living in a community or neighborhood.

Computer. A general-purpose machine that processes data according to a set of instructions that are stored internally either temporarily or permanently. The computer and all equipment attached to it are called hardware. The instructions that tell it what to do are called "software." A set of instructions that perform a particular task is called a "program" or "software program."

Computerized Provider Order Entry (CPOE). A computer application that allows a physician's orders for diagnostic and treatment services (such as medications, laboratory,

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and other tests) to be entered electronically instead of being recorded on order sheets or prescription pads.  The computer compares the order against standards for dosing, checks for allergies or interactions with other medications, and warns the physician about potential problems.

Connectivity. The physical network and operating rules allowing computerized health information to be stored at one point and retrieved at another by an authorized user. For some people in the health IT field, connectivity implies having uniform privacy laws protecting individually identifiable medical information from be accessed by unauthorized persons.

Continuity of Care Record (CCR). A standard specification being developed jointly by ASTM International, the Massachusetts Medical Society (MMS), the Health Information Management and Systems Society (HIMSS), the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP), and the American Academy of Pediatrics. It is intended to foster and improve continuity of patient care, to reduce medical errors, and to assure at least a minimum standard of health information transportability when a patient is referred or transferred to, or is otherwise seen by, another provider. The CCR is being developed and enhanced in response to the need to organize a set of basic patient information consisting of the most relevant and timely facts about a patient’s condition.

Consolidated Health Informatics (CHI) Initiative. One of the 24 Presidential eGovernment initiatives with the goal of adopting vocabulary and messaging standards to facilitate communication of clinical information across the federal health enterprise. CHI now falls under Federal Health Architecture (FHA).

CPT (Current Procedural Terminology). A vocabulary to describe common procedures performed by medical professionals. CPT codes are used in electronic transaction messages and electronic medical records (EMRs) to accurately identify the procedures performed during a clinical encounter. The American Medical Association (AMA) developed CPT in 1996 and is responsible for the continued maintenance of the CPT standard.

Dashboard. A software-based control panel for one or more applications, network devices or industrial machines.

Data. Information.

Database. An aggregation of records or other data that is updateable. Databases are used to manage and archive large amounts of information. Also see relational database.

Data Dictionary. A list that describes the specifications and locations of all data contained in a system or a database.

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Data Mining. Analyzing information in a database using tools that look for trends or anomalies without knowledge of the data's meaning. Mining a clinical database may produce new insights on outcomes, alternate treatments, or effects of treatment on different races and genders.

Data Repository. A database acting as an information storage facility. Although often used synonymously with data warehouse, a repository does not have the analysis or querying capabilities of a warehouse.

Database Server. A computer that stores data centrally for network users. It often uses client/server software to distribute the processing of data among itself and other workstations on the network.

Data Synchronization/Data Syncing. The process of sending updates between a mobile computing device and a personal computer or application server in order to keep both sets of files synchronized. Sometimes called “hot syncing” and sometimes spelled “synch.”

Data Warehouse. A large database that stores information like a data repository but goes a step further, allowing users to access data to perform research-oriented analysis.

Decision Support System (DSS). Computer tools or applications to assist physicians in clinical decisions by providing evidence-based knowledge in the context of patient-specific data. Examples include drug interaction alerts at the time medication is prescribed and reminders for specific guideline-based interventions during the care of patients with chronic disease. Information should be presented in a patient-centric view of individual care and also in a population or aggregate view to support population management and quality improvement.

DICOM (Digital Imaging and Communications in Medicine). A clinical messaging syntax used to exchange medical images (e.g., X-rays, ultrasounds, CT scans, and MRIs) between medical equipment and information systems.

Digital Divide. A phrase coined to describe the gap between people who have access to modern information technology, particularly computers and the Internet, and those who lack such access or the skills to exploit it.

Disease Management. A coordinated and proactive approach to managing care and support for patients with chronic illnesses such as diabetes, congestive heart failure, asthma, HIV/AIDS, and cancer.

Distributed Computing. A system in which computational and storage tasks are distributed among multiple computers rather than being performed exclusively by a

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central computer. It is often used to overcome the limitations of a single computer or to exploit the unused computing power of a group of computers.

Document Imaging. Creating an electronic image in a computer file from a paper document, typically through scanning.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange). A direct exchange of data between two computers via the Internet or other network, using shared data formats and standards.

Electronic Health Record (EHR). An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be created, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff across more than one health care organization.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR). An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that can be created, gathered, managed, and consulted by authorized clinicians and staff within one health care organization.

Electronic Prescribing (eRx). A type of computer technology whereby physicians use handheld or personal computer devices to review drug and formulary coverage and to transmit prescriptions to a printer or to a local pharmacy.  E-prescribing software can be integrated into existing clinical information systems to allow physician access to patient-specific information to screen for drug interactions and allergies.

E-mail (Electronic-Mail). The transmission of text messages and optional file attachments over a network. Within an enterprise, users can send mail to a single recipient or broadcast it to multiple users. Mail is sent to a simulated mailbox in the network mail server or host computer until it is examined and deleted. The mail program (e-mail client) in your computer queries the mail server every so many minutes and alerts you if new mail has arrived. Sometimes spelled email.

Encryption. Translation of data into a code in order to keep the information secure from anyone but the intended recipient.

Enterprise. The entire organization, including all of its subsidiaries. It implies a large corporation or government agency, but it may also refer to a company or organization of any size with many systems and users to manage. The terms "enterprise," "company," "corporation" and "organization" are often used synonymously.

Enterprise Architecture. A strategic resource that aligns business and technology, leverages shared assets, builds internal and external partnerships, and optimizes the value of information technology services.

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Enterprise-Wide Network. A network in which all computers in the various facilities of an organization (e.g. a health care system) are connected.

Ethernet. Probably the most commonly used standard for local area network (LAN) architecture. It supports data transfer rates of up to 10 megabits per second, although newer systems, called Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet, support transfer rates of 100 Mbps and 1 gigabit (1,000 megabits) per second, respectively.

Extranet. An intranet that allows specified levels of access to authorized, external users.

Federal Health Architecture (FHA). A collaborative body composed of several federal departments and agencies, including the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), the Department of Defense (DoD), and the Department of Energy (DOE). FHA provides a framework for linking health business processes to technology solutions and standards, and for demonstrating how these solutions achieve improved health performance outcomes.

Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs). A type of health provider defined by the Medicare and Medicaid statutes. Federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) include all organizations receiving grants under section 330 of the Public Health Service Act, certain tribal organizations, and FQHC Look-Alikes. FQHCs qualify for enhanced reimbursement from Medicare and Medicaid, as well as other benefits. FQHCs must serve an underserved area or population, offer a sliding fee scale, provide comprehensive services, have an ongoing quality assurance program, and have a governing board of directors.

FQHC Look-Alike. An organization that meets all of the eligibility requirements of an organization that receives a PHS Section 330 grant, but does not receive grant funding. See FQHC.

File Server. A computer dedicated to managing the flow of information among networked computers and used as a storage location for data and applications shared by network users.

Firewall. A security device consisting of hardware or software situated between a private network and outside networks like the Internet.

Formulary. A list of medications (both generic and brand names) that are covered by a specific health insurance plan or pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), used to encourage utilization of more cost-effective drugs.

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Groupware. Software that supports multiple users working on related tasks in local and remote networks. Also called "collaborative software," groupware is an evolving concept that is more than just multiuser software which allows access to the same data. Groupware provides a mechanism that helps users coordinate and keep track of ongoing projects together.

Handheld. A portable computer that is small enough to hold in one's hand or pocket. Used to refer to a variety of devices ranging from personal data assistants, such as Palm and Pocket PC models, to more powerful devices that offer many of the capabilities of desktop or laptop computers. Handhelds are used in clinical practice for such tasks as ordering prescriptions, accessing patients’ medical records and documenting patient encounters.

Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS). A healthcare industry membership organization exclusively focused on providing leadership for the optimal use of healthcare information technology and management systems for the betterment of human health. For more information see www.himss.org.

Health Information Technology (HIT). The application of information processing involving both computer hardware and software that deals with the storage, retrieval, sharing, and use of health care information, data, and knowledge for communication and decision making.

Health Information Exchange (HIE). The electronic movement of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.

Health Information Organization. An organization that oversees and governs the exchange of health-related information among organizations according to nationally recognized standards.

Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). HRSA is an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. It is the primary federal agency for improving access to health care services for people who are uninsured, isolated or medically vulnerable.

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996). A federal law (Public Law 104-191) intended to improve the portability of health insurance and simplify health care administration. HIPAA sets standards for electronic transmission of claims-related information and for ensuring the security and privacy of all individually identifiable health information.

HIPAA Security Rule. One of four rules (Privacy, Identifiers, and Transactions and Code Sets are the other three) that specify standards to implement HIPAA. The HIPAA

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Security Rule requirements are divided into administrative, physical, and technical safeguards designed to protect electronic Personal Health Information.

HL7 (Health Level Seven). One of several accredited standards (specifications or protocols) established by ANSI (American National Standards Institute) for clinical and administrative data. Systems which are HL7 ‘compliant’ improve the ability for interoperability and exchange of electronic data.

Hardware. Machinery and equipment such as processors, disk and tape drives, modems, keyboards, printers, scanners, cables, etc. A computer consists of both hardware and software. The hardware design specifies the commands it can follow, and the software instructions tell it what to do.

Host. A computer that acts as a source of information or provides functionality for multiple terminals, peripherals, and/or users.

IEEE. Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEE) is a membership organization that includes engineers, scientists and students in electronics and allied fields. See www.ieee.org.

Infrastructure. (1) The fundamental structure of a system or organization. The basic, fundamental architecture of any system (electronic, mechanical, social, political, etc.) determines how it functions and how flexible it is to meet future requirements. (2) May refer to system and development programs in contrast to applications. A computer system's infrastructure would include the operating system, database management system (DBMS), communications protocols, compilers and other development tools.

Informatics. The study of information. Informatics is primarily concerned with the structure, creation, management, storage, retrieval, dissemination and transfer of information. Informatics also includes studying the application of information in organizations, on its usage and the interaction between people, organizations and information systems.

Interoperability. The ability or capacity of different information technology systems and software applications to communicate, to exchange data accurately, effectively, and consistently, and to use the information that has been exchanged. Interoperability is the feature that would allow the creation of a single comprehensive medical record that could follow a person throughout his or her life and from one geographic area to another.

Interface. A program designed to enable the exchange of data between two sources; enable software to connect one information system to another, to share certain data or outputs, to join systems to perform tasks seamlessly and without double entry of data.

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Integrate. Bring together and blend several things into one.

Integration. Process of ensuring all elements in an information system can communicate and can act as a uniform entity.

Internet. A publicly accessible, global network connecting millions of computers. The Internet carries data for applications such as e-mail, instant messaging and teleconferencing, in addition to the billions of documents and images that make up the World Wide Web. Although the terms Internet and Web are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. See also World Wide Web.

Intranet. An internal network that looks and acts like the World Wide Web. Intranets allow companies to take advantage of Web-based technology and create a private means of sharing data and applications among their networked users.

ICD-9 (International Classification of Disease- 9th Revision). International disease classification system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that provides a detailed description of known diseases and injuries. The classification system is used worldwide for morbidity and mortality statistics, reimbursement systems and automated decision support in medicine.

Java. A platform-independent, object-oriented programming language developed by Sun Microsystems and modeled on the programming language C++. Java applets are miniature applications designed to run within another program and are now popular features of Web sites.

LAN (Local Area Network). A network consisting of computers that are located in relatively close physical proximity to each other and are connected by wire cables, fiber optic lines, or other physical means. See also WLAN.

Legacy System. An existing IT system or application, often built around a mainframe computer, which generally has been in place for a long time and represents a significant investment. Compatibility with legacy systems is often a major issue when considering new applications.

Medicaid Information Technology Architecture (MITA). MITA is a national framework to support improved systems development and health care management for the Medicaid program.

MPI (Master Patient Index). A database that collects a patient’s various hospital identification numbers, e.g. from the blood lab, radiology department, and admissions, and keeps them under a single, enterprise-wide identification number.

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NAHIT (The National Alliance for Health Information Technology). Also known as "the Alliance" is a partnership of leaders from all healthcare sectors working to advance the adoption and implementation of healthcare information technology to achieve improvements in patient safety, quality and efficiency. For more information see www.nahit.org.

National Drug Codes (NDCs). A standard for reporting drugs and biological products. Originally established to serve as a critical part of an out-of-hospital drug reimbursement program under Medicare, they are now maintained by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and are used for many purposes, including reporting prescription drugs in pharmacy transactions, coding drug information within clinical information systems and for prescription drug claims processing.

National Health Information Network (NHIN). Describes the technologies, standards, laws, policies, programs and practices that enable health information to be shared among health decision makers, including consumers and patients, to promote improvements in health and healthcare. The development of a vision for the NHIN began more than a decade ago with publication of an Institute of Medicine report, “The Computer-Based Patient Record.”

Network. A general term for terminals, processors, and devices linked either by cable or wireless technology. Peripherals, applications and data can be shared by network users.

ONCHIT (Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology). The US Department of Health and Human Services office, established in 2004, to provide leadership for the development and nationwide implementation of an interoperable health information infrastructure.

Open source. Software or a program in which the source code is available to users, who can read and modify the code.

Patient registry. Provides multiple views of information about a patient or lists of patients for use (1) at the point of care, (2) between visits to identify gaps in care, and (3) to provide status reports about specific patient populations.

Payer-based Electronic Health Record (PBHR). Another type of electronic health record which is owned and administered by a health plan. It includes whatever data are available to the health plan but primarily those related to claims. It may also include demographic information provided by the patient at the time of enrollment. It does not contain clinical notes; however, owing to the increasing amount of data required in submitting claims to payers, a PBHR may comprise laboratory results, radiological readings, prescriptions, and complete reports for inpatient and outpatient hospital care, as well as other types of information.

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PDA (Personal Data Assistant). A handheld computer that offers relatively limited functionality and computing power. Often used primarily as organizers, but some PDAs offer wireless e-mail and Internet access. Used in clinical practice for applications such as taking patient notes and ordering prescriptions.

Personal Health Record (PHR). An electronic record of health-related information on an individual that conforms to nationally recognized interoperability standards and that can be drawn from multiple sources while being managed, shared, and controlled by the individual.

Physical Safeguards. A HIPAA security rule term for the technical and non-technical physical controls implemented to protect IT resources and related buildings from natural and environmental hazards and unauthorized intrusion. Security guards, sign-in logs, escorting of visitors and such are a few examples of non-technical physical controls. Key locks, card-swipe activated door locks, motion detectors, and alarms are a few examples of technical physical controls.

Portal. A Web site that offers a range of resources, such as e-mail, chat boards, search engines, content and online shopping.

Practice Management System (PMS). A portion of the medical office record or a software application that contains financial, demographic and non-medical information about patients.

Regional Health Information Organization. A health information organization that brings together health care stakeholders within a defined geographic area and governs health information exchange among them for the purpose of improving health and care in that community.

Relational Database. A database in which all information is arranged in tables containing predefined fields. Changing a field in one record automatically changes the same field in all related records, allowing for easy global database management. Using SQL, reports and comparisons can be generated by selecting fields of interest from the original database.

Remote Access. The ability of a user or other entity to access an IT resource via an external network connection. Remote Access generally occurs from remote locations such as homes, hotel rooms, and off-site offices; however, it could also occur from within another organizational unit’s physical facilities, depending on the technical access method used.

Return on investment (ROI). A measurement of success of a project; the percent of profit earned on an investment.

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Safety net healthcare. Healthcare to low-income, uninsured, and vulnerable populations through a wide variety of providers. Many of these providers have either a legal mandate or an explicit policy to provide services regardless of a patient's ability to pay. Major safety net providers include public hospitals and community health centers as well as teaching and community hospitals, private physicians, and other providers who deliver a substantial amount of care to these populations.

Safety.net. A collaborative of seven community-based health providers (Asylum Hill Family Medicine Center, Burgdorf/Bank of America Health Center, Community Health Centers Inc., Fair Haven Community Health Center, Generations Family Health Center, Hill Health Center, StayWell Health Center) and the Ethel Donaghue TRIPP Center at the University of Connecticut formed to create a dynamic health information network to eliminate healthcare disparities through the use of technology.

Scalability. The ability to add users and increase the capabilities of an application without making significant changes to the application software or the system on which it runs.

SDO (Standards Development Organization). An organization that develops standards to provide stability and consistency for a product or service in hopes of lowering costs and maintaining or improving quality.

Server. A networked computer that manages a specific set of network resources. A server may manage network traffic or peripheral use, store files, or run applications for users at other computers on the network.

SQL (Structured Query Language). A standard command language used to interact with a database.

Software. Instructions for the computer. A series of instructions that performs a particular task is called a "program." The two major categories of software are "system software" and "application software." System software is made up of control programs such as the operating system and database management system (DBMS). Application software is any program that processes data for the user (inventory, payroll, spreadsheet, word processor, etc.).

Subscription-Based Model. A business model based on a monthly fee charged for the use of equipment, software, services or content, or some combination of those. Used by many vendors, such as providers of e-prescribing systems. See also transaction-based model.

T1, T3, T4. Types of transmission lines in the T-carrier telecommunications system that are often used to provide Internet access to larger organizations. T1 lines can transmit about 1.5 Mbps of data. A T3 line contains 28 T1 lines together and can transmit about 45

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times the data of a single T1, enough for full-motion video. Six T3 lines make one T4 line, capable of transmitting about 274 Mbps.

Tablet Computer. A flat-panel laptop that uses a stylus pen or touch-screen, rather than a keyboard, for entry of data and commands.

Technical Safeguards. A HIPAA security rule term for the technology and the policies and procedures for its use that protect ePHI and control access to it.

Telehealth. The use of telecommunications and information technology to deliver health services and transmit health information over distance. Sometimes called telemedicine.

Telemedicine. The use of telecommunications and information technology to deliver health services and transmit health information over distance. Sometimes called telehealth.

Templates. A form or pattern to capture data in a structured manner.

Total Cost of Ownership. A long-term view of all costs associated with a specific technology investment. Costs include that of acquiring, installing, using, maintaining, changing, and disposing of a technology during its useful life.

Transaction-Based Model. A business model based on service fees charged for each transaction conducted using the vendor’s equipment, software, services or network. Used by some e-health vendors, including providers of e-prescribing systems. See also subscription-based model.

User Interface (UI). The part of an application that allows the user to access the application and manipulate its functionality. It can include menus, forms, command buttons, etc.

Virtualization. The creation of a virtual (rather than actual) version of something, such as an operating system, a server, a storage device or network resources.

VPN (Virtual Private Network). A network that uses public connections, such as the Internet, to link users but relies on encryption and other security measures to ensure that only authorized users can access the network.

WAN (Wide Area Network). A computer network that covers a large physical area. A WAN usually consists of multiple local area networks (LANs).

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WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network). A LAN that uses radio frequency technology to transmit data over relatively short distances. It can replace or extend a wired LAN.

Wi-Fi (WIreless-FIdelity). A logo from the Wi-Fi Alliance that certifies network devices comply with the IEEE 802.11 wireless Ethernet standards. In the early 2000s, Wi-Fi/802.11 became widely used (initially 802.11b, then 802.11g), and within a short time, all laptops and other handheld devices came with Wi-Fi built in. Earlier laptops can be Wi-Fi enabled by plugging in a Wi-Fi adapter via the USB port or PC Card. See 802.11.

Wiki. A website or similar online resource which allows users to add and edit content collectively with simple formatting rules.

Web Browser. A software program that interprets documents written in HTML, the primary programming language of the Web. A browser such as Netscape Navigator, Mozilla Firefox or Microsoft Explorer is required to experience the photos, video, and sound elements on a Web page and assists in quick, easy travel around the Web.

WebDAV. Web Distributed Authoring And Versioning (WebDav) enhancements to the HTTP protocol that turn the Web into a document database that enables collaborative creation, editing and searching from remote locations.

Web Server. A networked computer that stores and transmits documents and other data to Web browsers via HTTP, an Internet data transfer protocol.

Workflow. The progress of how processes and functions are performed.

World Wide Web. An international group of databases within the Internet containing billions of documents that are formatted in HTML and link to other documents and files. Although the terms Internet and Web are often used interchangeably, they are not synonymous. See also Internet.

XML. Extensible Markup Language (XML) is a general-purpose markup language for creating special-purpose markup languages, capable of describing many different kinds of data. Its primary purpose is to facilitate the sharing of data across different systems, particularly systems connected via the Internet.

Compiled from various sources including:

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Alliance for Health Reform. A reporter's toolkit: Health Information Technology. Available: http://www.allhealth.org/publications/health_information_technology/health_information_technology_bb.asp

American Academy of Pediatrics Council on Clinical Information Technology. (2007). Your Glossary of the Alphabet Soup. Available: http://www.aapcocit.org/cocit_tasks.php?task=alphabet

Gallagher, Peter B. Glossary of Selected Health Information Technology Terms. Available: http://www.pinellashealth.com/RHIO/Terminology_Master.pdf

HIMSS (2006). HIMSS Dictionary of Healthcare Information Technology Terms, Acronyms and Organizations. Chicago, IL.

Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) (2004) Health IT Strategic Framework Glossary of Selected Terms. Available: http://www.hhs.gov/healthit/glossary.html.

National Alliance for Health Information Technology. (2008). The National Alliance for Health Information Technology Report to the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology on Defining Key Health Information Technology Terms. Department of Health and Human Services.

TechEncyclopedia. Available: http://www.techweb.com/encyclopedia/.

West Virginia State Medical Society. Glossary of Health Information Technology Terms. Available: http://www.wvsma.com/shared/content_objects/pdfs//glossary%20of%20hit%20acronyms%20and%20terms%20-%20revised.pdf

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