Glossary

Glossary

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M
N - O - P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A

Accounts Receivable (AR)	Uncollected revenue.

Accounts Receivable Days Outstanding	AR days indicate the average number of days it takes for the facility to collect an account. AR days are used to project cash flow and to determine whether accounts are worked in a timely manner.

Accreditation	By asking for accreditation, an organization agrees to be measured against national standards set by health care professionals. An accredited organization substantially complies with set standards and continuously makes efforts to improve the care and services it provides.Health care organizations seek accreditation because it: Enhances community confidence. Provides a report card for the public. Offers an objective evaluation of the organization's performance. Stimulates the organization's quality improvement efforts. Aids in professional staff recruitment. Provides a staff education tool. May be used to meet certain Medicare certification requirements. Expedites third-party payment. Often fulfills state licensure requirements. May favorably influence liability insurance premiums. Favorably influences managed care contract decisions.

Accreditation Council on Pharmaceutical Education (ACPE)	The national agency for the accreditation of professional degree programs in pharmacy and providers of continuing pharmacy education. The Council is an autonomous and independent agency whose Board of Directors is derived through the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP), the American Pharmacists Association (APhA), the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) (three appointments each), and the American Council on Education (ACE) (one appointment).

Acuity	A clinically sensitive way to describe the care requirements of patients in a facility, to assign budgets, care givers and other resources.

Acute Care	Medical treatment rendered to individuals whose illnesses are of a short-term or episodic nature. Patients receive care in hospitals (in-patient) rather than on an out-patient (ambulatory) basis. Acute care facilities are those hospitals that mainly serve persons with short-term health problems.

Acute Care Facility	A facility which offers care for acute illnesses or needs. May include post-trauma care, emergency care, intensive care, surgical and post-surgical care, obstetric care, etc. Acute care facilities include hospitals, emergency care facilities, and ambulatory surgery centers.

Ad Hoc Charting	Documentation on a form that is not scheduled. Ad Hoc Charting is a way to access all of the defined PowerForms at any time. All of the available forms display in folders that group them by the type of form.

Adjuvant	A substance that, when added to a medicine, speeds or improves its action which aids another, such as an auxiliary remedy.

Administration Time	The time a medication is administered to a patient. A nurse or other healthcare professional records the administration time on the medication administration record (MAR).

Admission	The official acceptance of inpatients into a hospital or other inpatient health facility. Inpatients typically stay at least overnight and are provided with room, board, and nursing service.

Admit-Discharge-Transfer (ADT)	This term refers to changes made to a person's status (admission or discharge) or location (transfer) within the healthcare facility or associated facilities. Managed by Cerner's Enterprise Registration Management system or the client's equivalent patient management system.

Admitting Department	The hospital department which collects and records patient demographic and financial information on inpatients for registration purposes, coordinates patient room assignments, schedules pre-admission testing, records all patient movement including transfers and discharges for the purpose of maintaining accurate census data, and disseminates patient information to other hospital departments.

Advanced Beneficiary Notice (ABN)	A notice that a doctor or supplier should give a Medicare beneficiary to sign before services are rendered in the following cases: If the provider believes that Medicare does not consider the service medically necessary. If the provider believes that Medicare will not pay for the service.

Adverse Drug Event (ADE)	Includes any negative effects of drug administration including error or reactions such as allergic reactions, severe side effects, mistakes in drug, route, dose or frequency of administration.

Allied Health Professional	Specially trained and often licensed health workers other than physicians dentists, optometrists, chiropractors, podiatrists, and nurses. The term is sometimes used synonymously with paramedical personal, all health workers who perform tasks that must otherwise be performed by a physician, or health workers who do not usually engage in independent practice.

Alternator	An Alternator is a giant "Roledex" light box for radiographic films. Depending on the size of the alternator, several hundred radiographs can be placed on the alternator in preparation for interpretation by a radiologist. The alternator had florescent lights inside of it so that the radiographs can be examined without being moved from their location.

Ambulatory	When referring to a patient, "ambulatory" is used to describe a patient who can walk, such as an outpatient. When referring to a facility, "ambulatory" is used to describe an outpatient location that treats such patients, such as outpatient surgery or outpatient testing.

Ambulatory Care	Medical or health services provided on an outpatient basis. It usually implies the person is not staying in the hospital and came to the facility for a specific outpatient treatment or service.

Ambulatory Patient Group (APG)	A method of classifying outpatients into groupings based on common characteristics, each of which can be expected to require similar services.

American College of Healthcare Executives (ACHE)	A professional association designed to promote professional growth of health care executives.

American Hospital Association (AHA)	The nation's principal trade association for hospitals with offices in Washington, DC, and Chicago.

Amlodipine	Amlodipine is used alone or in combination with other medications to treat high blood pressure and chest pain (angina).

Amoxicillin	An antibiotic of the penicillin type

Ampicillin	Ampicillin is one of the most widely prescribed antibiotics. It is considered a penicillin and is a close relative of another penicillin, amoxicillin.

Ancillary Services (ancillary charges)	Supplemental services, including laboratory, radiology, physical therapy, and inhalation therapy that are provided in conjunction with medical or hospital care.

Angina	Chest pain that occurs secondary to the inadequate delivery of oxygen to the heart muscle.

Angoigraphy (Interventional Radiography)	X-ray angiography is performed to specifically image and diagnose diseases of the blood vessels of the body, including the brain and heart.

Appointment	A period of time booked or set aside for a person or resource during which a specific activity will take place. Activities can be described by the selected appointment type or the textual appointment description.

Appointment Type	The description of one or more procedures or other activities that are to take place during an appointment.

Aseptic	Sterile.

Authorization Number	The number issued by a third party payer for approval of services or hospitalization of a patient. This number is used on all billing and correspondence with the insurance carrier.
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B

Bad Debt	An account which management believes the debtor will not pay, even though the debtor may have the resources to pay.

Barium Studies	Barium studies are any studies involving Barium Sulfate. Barium Sufate is a radiopaque substance meaning radiation has a difficult time passing though it. Some common examples of barium studies are Upper GI, Barium Enema, Small Bowel Follow Through. Imaging departments perform barium studies daily and they are very beneficial in identifying problems in the Gastro-Intestinal Tract.

Batch	Many tests require many setup steps or preparation to be run. To run these more efficiently, laboratories will usually batch or save up the specimens and run at predetermined times during a shift.

Bed	A bed located in a hospital or nursing home used for inpatient use. The number of beds is used as one critical measure of an institution's capacity and size.

Benign	Not cancer. Not malignant. A benign tumor does not invade surrounding tissue or spread to other parts of the body. A benign tumor may grow but it stays put (in the same place).

Betadine	A popular tradename iodine-containing topical antiseptic agent.

Billing Inquiry Queue	This is the customer service line for billing questions and inquiries.

Biopsy	A biopsy refers to a procedure that involves obtaining a tissue specimen for microscopic analysis to establish a precise diagnosis. Biopsies can be accomplished with a biopsy needle (passed through the skin into the organ in question) or by open surgical incision.

Blast	The blood contains white blood cells and the blast cell is an immature cell that normally represent up to five percent of the cells in the bone marrow. An over-production of blasts in the marrow is characteristic of leukemia when the blast cells often spill out into the blood stream.

Blood-Borne Disease	A blood-borne disease is one that can be spread by contamination by blood. The most common examples are AIDS, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C.

Blood Pressure	The force that the circulating blood exerts on the walls of the arteries. This measurement is divided into systolic (pressure during contraction of the heart) and diastolic (pressure during relaxation phase).

BMP	The basic metabolic panel (BMP) is a group of seven or eight tests that are ordered as a screening tool to check for conditions, such as diabetes and kidney disease. The BMP uses a tube of blood collected by inserting a needle into a vein in your arm. Fasting for 10 to 12 hours prior to the blood draw may be preferred. The basic metabolic panel includes: Glucose Calcium Electrolytes Sodium Potassium CO2 (carbon dioxide, bicarbonate) Chloride Kidney Tests Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Creatinine

B.S.N.	Bachelor's of Science in Nursing

Breast Biopsy	A biopsy involves taking a sample(s) of breast tissue and examining it under a microscope to determine whether it contains cancer cells. Many times, mammography or ultrasound is used to help the radiologist or surgeon guide the needle to the correct area in the breast during biopsy (Needle Localization).

Building	A physical location that houses a healthcare establishment. A building is added to a facility and is at level two of the location hierarchy. Many times, a facility contains a single building, but it can contain multiple buildings.

Butterfly	A suture designed to close a wound with a strong adhesive.
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C

Cardiomegaly	Enlarged heart.

Cart Fill	The process through which unit dose medication carts are refilled with medications for inpatients. The pharmacy will supply to each designated nursing unit a 24-hour supply of unit dose medications dispensed in ready-to-administer form, when available, and maintain patient profiles. The patient medication cart will be refilled in the central pharmacy through a system where scheduled medications are filled via by technicians. The filling process is doubled-checked by a pharmacist prior to the exchange. The refilled cart shall be exchanged on the nursing unit at a predetermined time each day. During the ‘double-check’ the centralized pharmacist will check the pharmacy patient profile for discrepancies found during the refilling/checking processes.

Call lights	Alert lights that notify a nurse that a patient has a request.

Catheter	A tubular medical device for insertion into canals, vessels, passageways, or body cavities usually to permit injection or withdrawal of fluids or to keep a passage open.

Central Processing Area	Most laboratories will have a central area those orders and/or processes specimens. They may greet patients needing blood drawn and may perform phlebotomy. They take the processed specimens to the respective labs for analysis. This area is typically staffed by non-degree personnel.

Centrifuge	A centrifuge is an instrument that spins materials at a high rate of speed, primarily used in laboratories to separate serum or plasma from cellular elements in the blood.

Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA)	One who undergoes a minimal training program and is certified by the state for providing a basic level of nursing care under the supervision of a professional nurse.

Charge	Represents the communication to a payer that they owe the provider a certain fee for services and products provided. It indicates what, when, how many and how much of that service or product needs reimbursement.

Charge Nurse	A nurse administratively responsible for a designated hospital unit on a shift basis.

Chart	¹In Charting, a chart is a report of clinical information about a patient or specimen created by Charting. ²In PowerChart^®, a chart is the aggregation of all information recorded about a person's health status. All inpatient and outpatient visits, lab results, procedures, evaluations, orders, reports, x-rays, photographs, films, audio recordings, and other multimedia information pertaining to a person's health are considered part of the total chart. Historically, the chart has been paper-based. Recently, many institutions have begun storing patient information in databases accessible by computers, and the chart has become increasingly electronic.

Chart Summary	A notebook that contains a synopsis of the patients progress notes since admission.

Chemistry	Hospital clinical laboratories are typically divided into different areas or disciplines, such as chemistry, hematology, toxicology, microbiology, serology, and blood bank. The chemistry lab is responsible for analyzing the elements of body fluids such as electrolytes, enzymes, and other elements typically found in serum including urine and cerebrospinal fluid.

Chemotherapy	The treatment of disease by means of chemicals that have a specific toxic effect upon the disease producing microorganisms (antibiotics) or that selectively destroy cancerous tissue (anticancer therapy).

Chest X-Ray	Commonly used to detect abnormalities in the lungs, but can also detect abnormalities in the heart, aorta, and the bones of the thoracic area. Metallic objects, such as jewelry are removed from the chest and neck areas for a chest X-ray to avoid interference with x-ray penetration and improve accuracy of the interpretation.

Cholecystitis	Cholecystitis is inflammation of the gallbladder, the pear-shaped muscular sac that lies below the liver. Cholecyctitis is commonly caused by gall stones. The gallbladder's main function is to store and concentrate bile and to expel the bile through the bile duct during the digestion of fats.

Cipro - ciprofloxacin	An oral antibiotic approved for the treatment of many common bacterial infections.

Claim	A bill for healthcare service. A provider sends the claim to the patient's insurance or health plan, which may review the claim for validity before paying the benefits.

Claim Scrubber	This is an online tool that is used to check insurance claims for accuracy prior to submitting them to the payor. (sometimes referred to as a claim editor)

Clinical Data Repository (CDR)	The Clinical Data Repository is a highly interactive, graphical user interface-based clinical workstation offering within PowerChart that presents diagnoses and clinical events in an intuitive display. It provides a cross-disciplinary, person-focused view of clinical information resident in PowerChart.

Clinical pharmacist	The clinical pharmacist reviews the patient’s history and physician’s recommendations to make sure the best pharmaceutical interventions are being chosen

Clinical Range	The specific time range for results shown on the flowsheet.

Coding	The process of reviewing the physicians' diagnosis of the patient, and any treatment received during a given encounter, and assigning standard codes which are associated with specific charges. Coders usually work in Health Information Management. Once the HIM coding process is complete, the codes are typically sent to a billing system. From there, the codes appear on the insurance claims and patient statements. Medicare fraud investigators look closely at the medical record documentation that supports codes and looks for consistency. Lack of consistency of documentation can earmark a record as "upcoded" which is considered fraud.

Collection Lists	These are lists, either printed on paper or label stock, that show the information needed for the phlebotomist to collect the right specimen, such as patient name, location, type of tube, amount of blood needed, time to be drawn,and other pertinent information.

Collection Run	Many laboratories provide inpatient phlebotomy services by setting up a series of scheduled blood drawing runs to nursing units. Each phlebotomist is responsible for the work on his/her assigned unit(s).

College of American Pathologists (CAP)	The College of American Pathologists , the principal organization of board-certified pathologists, serves and represents the interest of patients, pathologists, and the public by fostering excellence in the practice of pathology and laboratory medicine. This organization provides guidelines for laboratories to follow and provide for bi-yearly inspections to insure compliance.

Community Hospital	A hospital that is established to meet the medical and health needs of a specific geographic area. Usually these hospitals are nonprofit but may be proprietary for profit. Community hospitals are general nonfederal, short-term, and general care hospitals.

Complete Blood Count (CBC)	This is a lab test to determine the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets that are present in the patients sample of blood. It is the most common test done on the blood.

Computer Physician Order Entry (CPOE)	Computer physician order entry (CPOE) systems are electronic prescribing systems that intercept errors when they most commonly occur — at the time medications are computer rather than on paper. Orders are integrated with patient information, including laboratory and prescription data. The order is then automatically checked for potential errors or problems.

Congestive Heart Failure	Heart failure in which the heart is unable to maintain adequate circulation of blood in the tissues of the body or to pump out the venous blood returned to it by the venous circulation.

Co-Pay	A provision by which the insured individual shares in the cost of certain expenses.

CPT Code	A nationally standardized identifier for a procedure or service, usually used by insurance companies and fiscal intermediaries for the purpose of reimbursement. It is represented within Charge Services as a bill code.

Cranial-Caudal	To view in a top to bottom perspective. Cranial meaning Head. Caudal meaning Foot. The term is usually used in breast imaging when the x-ray tube is placed above the breast and the unexposed film is placed below the breast.

Critical Result	A value for a given result that is higher or lower than the range recognized as normal by the site. Critical results are displayed in a special font color, usually red. Critical thresholds are defined by the site for each element on the flowsheet.

Cross-Table Lateral C-Spine	A typical radiograph done for an MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) of a patient with a suspected neck injury. The film is usually taken in the emergency room with a portable x-ray machine with the patient lying on their back with an immobilizing collar around their neck. The film must contain all 7 cervical vertebrate before the collar to come off and a full cervical spine series can be performed.

CT	Computed Tomography-A special radiographic technique that uses a computer to assimilate multiple X-ray images into a 2 dimentional cross-sectional image. This can reveal many soft tissue structures not shown by conventional radiography. Scans may also be dynamic in which a movement of a dye is tracked. Cuts may be 5 or 10 mm apart or, in some instances even further apart. A special dye material may be injected into the patients vein prior to the scan to help differentiate abnormal tissue and vasculature.

CT Abdomen	A computed tomography (CT) scan is a special type of x-ray that can produce detailed pictures of structures inside the body. A CT scan is also called a computerized axial tomography (CAT) scan. A CT scanner directs a series of x-rays through the body that are analyzed by a computer to produce a detailed picture of a "slice" of an organ or area being studied.

Cytoxan	Precursor of an alkylating nitrogen mustard antineoplastic and immunosuppressive agent that must be activated in the liver to form the active ALDOPHOSPHAMIDE. It is used in the treatment of lymphomas, leukemias, etc. Its side effect, ALOPECIA, has been used for defleecing sheep. Cyclophosphamide may also cause sterility, birth defects, mutations, and cancer.
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D

Diagnosis	The art or act of identifying a disease from its signs and symptoms or the decision reached by the diagnosis process.

Diagnostic Mammogram	An X-ray of the breast done to evaluate: Abnormalities seen or suspected on a prior screening mammogram; Subjective or objectives abnormalities in the breast such as a lump, pain, thickening, nipple discharge or a inexplicable change in breast size or shape; Breasts for which it is difficult to obtain a clear X-ray by a screening mammogram because of special circumstances such as breast implants.

DRG	Diagnostic Related Group (patients with similar illness). Diagnosis Related Groupings are an American patient classification system that describes the types of patients treated by a hospital.

Differential Bench	Laboratories divide work up into different areas, usually called benches. There is typically one person assigned to one or more benches during a shift. They are responsible for running the tests, reporting the results, and keeping track of pending work. The differential bench would be where manual differential counts are performed.

Differential Count	The blood contains white blood cells and they can be analyzed and counted. This is typically done on an automated instrument. There is a normal number and type of white cells that should exist for a person’s age and gender. If the instrument indicates an abnormality in number or type of cells, a smear of blood is made on a slide and stained. Cells are evaluated in the lab by visual recognition using a microscope and then recorded based on how many out of one-hundred the technologist sees .

Discharge	The process of releasing a patient from a healthcare organization.

Diuretic	An agent that promotes the excretion of urine.

Doxorubicin	Antineoplastic antibiotic obtained from Streptomyces peucetics. It is a hydroxy derivative of DAUNORUBICIN and is used in treatment of both leukemia and solid tumors.

Drawing Station	Area where blood is drawn in the lab.

Drug Formulary	Varying list of prescription drugs approved by a given health plan for distribution to a covered person through specific pharmacies.

Durable Medical Equipment (DME)	Medical equipment, such as a respirator or home dialysis system that is prescribed by a physician for a patient's use and that is usable for an extended period of time.
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E

ECG	Electrocardiogram-A recording of the electrical activity of the heart on a moving strip of paper. The electrocardiogram detects and records the electrical potential of the heart during contraction.

Electrolyte Panel	A lab test to measure levels of electrolytes, or substances that dissociates into ions when fused or in solution and thus becomes capable of conducting electricity, an ionic solute. Common blood electrolytes are calcium, potassium and chloride.

Electrolytes	A substance that dissociates into ions when fused or in solution and thus becomes capable of conducting electricity, an ionic solute. Examples include sodium, chloride and potassium. These provide chemical balance within the body. Sodium Potassium CO2 (carbon dioxide, bicarbonate) Chloride

Electronically Sign	The ability to allow a provider to approve the reports that were dictated and transcribed by signing them on-line. An electronic signature does not have to look like the physician's signature. It does represent the physician who approves the result and therefore is a legal signature.

Electronic Medical Record (EMR)	The electronic medical record replaces the patient's paper medical record. The EMR is at the heart of the automated health system. It allows patient records to be viewed and updated by numerous healthcare providers simultaneously. No longer are the patients' records inaccessible while waiting to be filed.

Emergency Room/Emergency Department	The department or unit of a hospital which provides the medical services necessary to sustain life or to prevent critical consequences. This area sometimes provides non-urgent, walk-in care and is usually staffed 24 hours a day by physicians and nurses.

Employee Health	Almost all hospitals have a separate unit that deals with employee health. When there is exposure to blood borne pathogens such as HIV or hepatitis, through a needle-stick, cut or other type of incident, the employee will have routine testing. Depending on the results of the test, the employee may get prophylactic treatment.

Encounter	A single patient interaction. The following interactions are examples of encounters: A patient registered as an inpatient. A patient registered as an outpatient.

Encounter Type	Examples of encounter types (or encounter classes) can include inpatient, outpatient, and emergency room visits.

Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)	Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is a procedure that combines the use of a flexible, lighted scope (endoscope) with X-ray pictures to view the system of tubes that drains the liver, gallbladder, and pancreas. Some problems identified with ERCP may be treated during the procedure.

Explanation of Benefits (EOB)	A statement issued to the insured to explain the processing, payment or rejection of a submitted claim. The statement also indicates any deductibles or co-insurance amounts that have been applied.
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F

Facility	A location comprised of at least one building.

Family Practice	A medical specialty concerned with the provision of continuing, comprehensive primary health care for the entire family.

Fasting	To abstain from food.

Fellow	For physicians who have completed their three or more years of residency and choose to pursue subspecialty training, fellowship is the next step.

FDA - US Food and Drug Administration	The FDA is responsible for protecting the public health by assuring the safety, efficacy, and security of human and veterinary drugs, biological products, medical devices, our nation’s food supply, cosmetics, and products that emit radiation. The FDA is also responsible for advancing the public health by helping to speed innovations that make medicines and foods more effective, safer, and more affordable; and helping the public get the accurate, science-based information they need to use medicines and foods to improve their health.

Film Processor	A device used to develop film.

Financial Class	The classification sent to a billing system that drives charges. A charge for the same procedure may differ, for example, if a patient uses a preferred provider for the patient's health plan. Examples of financial class include commercial health plan, workmen's compensation, Medicare and self-pay.

Financial Number	A unique number assigned to the patient for use by your financial department's billing system. A new financial number typically is assigned to each encounter.

Flowsheet	A spreadsheet of a selected patient's clinical results for a certain time span. All types of results are arranged on a grid that is sorted by result categories on one axis and by time increments or specific times on the other axis. Any result can be opened to view its creation history, status, and, when applicable, its comparison to normal values for its result type. New results can be entered into the flowsheet by electronic capture (handheld devices at the bedside, for example), by direct charting, or by feeds from other systems. The data is refreshed automatically at user-defined intervals or can be refreshed manually at any time.

Fluoroscopy	Fluoroscopy uses a continuous beam of X-rays to evaluate structures and movement within the body, such as blood traveling through a blood vessel, the diaphragm moving up and down, or food moving through the digestive tract. It also can be used to help a health professional locate a foreign object in the body, position a catheter or needle for a procedure, or realign a broken bone.
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G

Geriatrics	The branch of medicine concerned with the physiological and pathological aspects of the aged.

Guarantor	The person responsible for payment. A guarantor pays the portion of fees not covered by insurance.
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H

HCFA 1500	The Health Care Finance Administration's standard form for submitting provider service claims to third party companies or insurance carriers.

HCPCS	A nationally standardized identifier for a procedure or service used by insurance companies and fiscal intermediaries for the purpose of reimbursement. It is represented within Charge Services as a bill code.

Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA)	The federal government agency within the Department of Health and Human Services which directs and oversees the Medicare and Medicaid programs (Titles XVIII and XIX of the Social Security Act) and conducts research to support those programs. Generally it oversees the state's administrations of Medicaid, while directly administering Medicare.

Health Information Management (HIM)	The department within the hospital that is responsible for the cataloging, maintenance, processing, and control of patient hospital medical records. This department may be responsible for the statistical and qualitative preparation of patient care. Also known as Medical Records.

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)	This act created many new rules and regulations, but one of its biggest impacts on hospitals and laboratories deals in the area of patient privacy.

Health Maintenance Organization (HMO)	Health Maintenance Organization-A comprehensive prepaid system of health care with emphasis on the prevention and early detection of disease, and continuity of care.HMOs may be nonprofit or profit-making ventures, and along with PPOs and managed care plans have come to define the U.S. Health care scene. HMOs generally offer a package of services; however, the choice of physician is frequently limited to those working within the HMO.

Hemoglobin	This test measures the amount of hemoglobin (a protein found in red blood cells) in your blood and is a good indication of your blood’s ability to carry oxygen throughout your body. Hemoglobin carries oxygen to cells from the lungs. If your hemoglobin levels are low, you may have anemia, a condition in which your body is not getting enough oxygen, causing fatigue and weakness.

Hill-Burton Act	Following World War II, the federal government encouraged the building of hospitals and other health care facilities by providing funds for expansion and development. These funds, made available through the Hill-Burton Construction Act (Titles VI and XVI of the Public Health Service [PHS] Act), spurred the development of community hospitals, nursing homes, public health centers and rehabilitation facilities. In accepting Hill-Burton funds, public and nonprofit medical facilities agreed to make services available to persons in the facilities' service area without discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, creed or ability to pay for 20 years following the facilities' completion. Hill-Burton facilities were required to participate in the Medicare and Medicaid programs and they were required to post public notice of their community service obligation.

Health Insurance portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)	United States Department of Health and Human Services developed standards and requirements for the maintenance and transmission of health information that identifies individual patients. The required healthcare standards are: transactions and code sets, privacy, security, and identifiers.

HL7	An acronym for Health Level Seven, which is a healthcare industry standard protocol for electronic data exchange.

Hematology	Hematology is the branch of medicine that is concerned with blood and its disorders.

Home Medical Equipment	Durable medical equipment prescribed by a physician for use by a patient at home. It is a means of continuing access to health care without remaining in the hospital. Such equipment may help the patient function more independently, it may assist recuperation, or it may be palliative. The equipment may be leased or purchased. These costs may be covered by a health plan.

Hopper	A receptacle for flushing wastes.

Hospice	Facility or program providing care for the terminally ill.

Hospitalist	Health care provider, usually a physician, whose entire practice is devoted to treating patients in a hospital setting.

Hypertension	Persistently high arterial blood pressure. Hypertension may have no known cause (essential or idiopathic hypertension) or be associated with other primary diseases (secondary hypertension). This condition is considered a risk factor for the development of heart disease, peripheral vascular disease, stroke and kidney disease.

Hysterectomy	The operation of excising the uterus, performed either through the abdominal wall or through the vagina.
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I

ICD9 Diagnosis	A nationally standardized identifier for a diagnosis.

ICD9 Procedure	A nationally standardized identifier for a procedure or service, usually used by insurance companies and fiscal intermediaries for the purpose of reimbursement. It is represented within Charge Services as a bill code.

Inpatient	A patient who has been admitted to the hospital or other health care facility for at least one night for the purpose of receiving diagnostic treatment or other medical service.

Internist	A physician who is expert on the medical management of a wide variety of medical problems.

ICU	Intensive Care Unit.

Institute of Medicine (IOM)	The Institute of Medicine serves as adviser to the nation to improve health. As an independent, scientific adviser, the Institute of Medicine strives to provide advice that is unbiased, based on evidence, and grounded in science. The mission of the Institute of Medicine embraces the health of people everywhere.

Instrument	Hospital clinical laboratories use a variety of instruments to analyze components of blood and body fluids. These instruments can quickly report out a large variety of components. The results are typically transmitted to a laboratory information system.

Intake and Output (I&O)	A record of a patient's intake and output for a specified time period.

Intensivist	A healthcare provider, usually a physician, whose entire practice is devoted to treating patients in a hospital intensive care type setting.

Intravenous	Within a vein or veins.

IV	An apparatus used to administer an intravenous injection or feeding.

IV admixtures	Intravenous admixture is the compounding of intravenous fluids with concentrated medications. This diluted medication is then administered by the nursing staff intravenously to the patient.

IV Bag	A container designed to hold a chemical solution that will be administered into a patient intravenously for medical treatment.

IV Pharmacy Tech	In addition to the normal responsibilities of a pharmacy technician, the IV pharmacy tech is responsible for preparing IV admixtures in an asceptic environment. The IV tech must be knowledgeable in the use of an IV hood which is a piece of equipment designed specifically for the handling of cytotoxic agents, as well as antibiotics and potential allergens in the preparation of IV admixtures. The hood protects the product from contamination, and protects personnel and the environment from the hazards of aerosols generated during sterile preparation.


IV Preparation	The mixture of therapeutic agents into a base solution.

IVP (Intravenous Pyelogram)	A special diagnostic test that follows the time course of excretion of a radiopaque contrast dye through the kidneys, ureters and bladder after it is injected into a vein.
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J

Joint Commission (JCAHO)	Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations-A private, voluntary, not-for-profit organization which establishes standards for the operation of health facilities and services, conducts surveys, and awards accreditation.
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K

Kidney Tests	Blood Urea Nitrogen (BUN) Creatinine
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L

Laboratory Assistant	A laboratory assistant is typically a non-degree entry-level position that helps to process and prepare laboratory specimens, prepares solutions and reagents, operates specialized equipment and keeps records. They work under the direction of a medical laboratory technician (MLT), medical technologist (MT) or other supervisory laboratory personnel.

Laboratory Department	The unit or department within a hospital or health care facility which is designed to perform clinical tests and procedures through detailed analysis and examination of specimens. The laboratory is typically divided into sections, including Anatomical Pathology, Clinical Chemistry, Cytopathology, Hematology and Microbiology.

Laboratory Information System (LIS)	A computer system that allows for laboratories to process their work using automated methods including compiling worklists, resulting tests, reviewing patient results, and printing patient reports.

Lavender Top Tube	This type of tube contains EDTA, which prevents the tube from clotting so the cellular elements (red cells, white cells and platelets) can be analyzed.

Lesion	Any pathological or traumatic discontinuity of tissue or loss of function of a part.

Location	A term describing many physical sites within a healthcare organization, such as facilities, buildings, and beds. Locations can be organized into physical groupings, such as beds in a room, or logical groupings, such as nurse units in a service area. Please note location categories are defined and maintained by Cerner.

Lumpectomy	An operation to remove a lump, usually from the body or the breast.
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M

Macroscopic	One of three distinct urinalysis testing phases, the macroscopic examination evaluates the urine's color, clarity, and concentration.

Magnesium	This test measures the amount of magnesium in the blood. Normally, only a very small amount (about one percent) of magnesium is present in the blood. Magnesium levels may be ordered for symptoms such as weakness, irritability, cardiac arrhythmia, nausea, and/or diarrhea that may be due to too much or too little magnesium.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)	A test that produces very clear pictures, or images, of the human body without the use of X-rays. Instead, MRI uses a large magnet, radio waves, and a computer to produce these images.

Malignant	In regard to a tumor, having the properties of a malignancy that can invade and destroy nearby tissue and that may spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body.

Mammography	Mammography is a special type of x-ray imaging used to create detailed images of the breast. Mammography uses low dose x-ray, high contrast, high-resolution film, and an x-ray system designed specifically for imaging the breasts. Mammography plays a major role in early detection of breast cancers.
Mastectomy	The surgical removal of a breast(s) due to tumor growth within the tissue.

Medicaid (Title XIX)	Government entitlement program for the poor who are blind, aged, disabled or members of families with dependent children (AFDC). Each state has its own standards for qualification. A Federally aided, state-operated and administered program which provides medical benefits for certain indigent or low-income persons in need of health and medical care. The program, authorized by Title XIX of the Social Security Act, is basically for the poor. It does not cover all of the poor, only persons who meet specified eligibility criteria. Subject to broad Federal guidelines, states determine the benefits covered, program eligibility, rates of payment for providers, and methods of administering the program. All states but Arizona have Medicaid programs.

Medicaid (Title XVIII)	A federal program for the elderly and disabled, regardless of financial status. It is not necessary, as with Medicaid, for Medicare recipients to be poor. A U.S. health insurance program for people aged 65 and over, for persons eligible for social security disability payments for two years or longer, and for certain workers and their dependents that need kidney transplantation or dialysis. Monies from payroll taxes and premiums from beneficiaries are deposited in special trust funds for use in meeting the expenses incurred by the insured. It consists of two separate but coordinated programs: hospital insurance (Part A) and supplementary medical insurance (Part B).

Medical Assistant	The medical assistant is broadly defined as an unlicensed person who provides administrative, clerical, and technical support to the physician and acts as link between patient and physician.

Medical Record	A patient file containing information which clearly identifies the patient, justifies the patient's diagnosis and treatment, and accurately documents the results. The record serves as a basis for planning and continuity of patient care and provides a means of communication among the physicians and other health professionals involved in the patient's care. The record also serves as a basis for review, study, and evaluation on serving and protecting the legal interests of the patient, hospital, and responsible practitioner. The content of each record is usually confidential and is the property of the hospital

Medical Record Number (MRN)	A permanent number used to identify the patient. It typically remains unchanged even if the patient has multiple encounters.

Med-Surg	Medical and Surgical Nursing unit. Defines the type of patients that could be admitted to that unit.

Medical Technologist	Medical technologists are individuals with a degree in medical technology from an accredited four-year university. They are responsible for performing routine laboratory tests on body fluids. Frequently at a large hospital or clinic, an individual will work primarily in one area of the field, such as blood bank. Many smaller institutions assign more diverse duties to broadly-trained medical technologists. The medical technologist assists the physician by providing vital quantitative information needed in diagnoses and the therapeutic management of patients.

Medically Necessary	A term used to describe the supplies and services provided to diagnose and treat a medical condition in accordance with the standards of good medical practice and the medical community. An example of a service that is not medically necessary is that part of a stay in a facility determined by a case manager to be excessive. It may be considered excessive because the stay was too long or appropriate care is available in a less costly or more efficient setting.

Medication	Any substance or chemical compound used in the prevention, diagnosis, alleviation, treatment, or cure of a disease or symptoms.

MAR (Medication Administration Record)	Displays all active medications for a specific patient. MAR displays the medication, orders, tasks, and administrations for the selected time frame and selected order status.

Medio-Lateral	To view from the center of the body outward. Medio meaning middle. Lateral meaning outer. The term is usually used in breast imaging when the x-ray tube is on the inside wall of the breast and the unexposed film is place on the outside wall of the breast.

Mg/m2	Milligrams per meter squared. Refers to dosing based on patients body surface area.

Motor Vehicle Accident (MVA)	A collison involving at least one motor vehicle. The person or persons involved in the accident that are brought to the emergency room are referred to as MVAs.
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N

NG tube - nasogastric tube	A flexible plastic tube that is introduced through the nostril to the nasopharynx and advanced to the stomach. This may be performed for diagnostic purposes (looking for bleeding), decontamination (overdose), therapeutics (stomach decompression).

Needle Localization	Needle localization is a procedure done prior to a breast biopsy or breast surgery. This procedure is done using a mammogram or ultrasound. A specially trained radiologist and technologist work together to put a fine, thread-like wire as close as possible to the area of concern in your breast. With the wire in place, your surgeon can do a biopsy knowing exactly which area of tissue to remove.

Non-Acute Care Facility	A facility that offers care for non-acute needs or illnesses may include chronic illnesses. Non-acute care facilities include doctor's offices, healthcare clinics, nursing homes, and rehabilitation centers.

nosocomial	Of or being a secondary disorder associated with being treated in a hospital but unrelated to the patient's primary condition. Typically describes infections a patient receives from the hospital environment rather than his disease process or condition.

Nil Per Os (NPO)	From the Latin nil per os, meaning nothing by mouth.

Nuclear Medicine	Nuclear medicine imaging (also called radionuclide scanning) is an excellent diagnostic tool because it shows not only the anatomy (structure) of an organ or body part, but the function of the organ as well. This additional "functional information" allows nuclear medicine to diagnose certain diseases and various medical conditions much sooner than other medical imaging examinations which provide mainly anatomic (structural) information about an organ or body part. Nuclear medicine can be valuable in the early diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of numerous medical conditions and continues to grow as a powerful medical tool.

Nursing Unit	The geographical area of the hospital in which the nursing organization functions. In this area, patient care takes place on a long or short-term basis. Many hospitals' nursing units are organized by type of care including medical-surgical, intensive care, cardiac care, pediatrics, labor/delivery/recovery and postpartum, orthopedics, etc.

Nurse Practitioner	A registered nurse qualified and specially trained to provide primary care, including primary health care in homes and in ambulatory care facilities, long-term care facilities, and other health care institutions. Nurse practitioners generally function under the supervision of a physician but not necessarily in his/her or her presence.

Nursing Process	A standard process whereby nursing care is delivered. The steps in this cyclical process are assessment, planning, intervention, evaluation.
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O

Oncologist	A doctor who specializes in the diagnosis, treatment and rehabilitation of individuals suffering with cancer.

Oncology	The study of diseases that cause cancer.

OR (Operating Room)	Facilities equipped for performing surgery.

Orderable	Something that can be ordered. In Cerner solutions, an orderable can be selected and used to create an order. Different types of orderables can be present in the list, depending on the solutions installed and user security. Some examples include medications, laboratory tests, and radiology procedures.

Organization	Any business entity whose information can be defined in the HNA Millennium database. Typical organizations include hospitals, insurance companies, employers, physicians' offices, and clients.

Outpatient	A patient receiving ambulatory care at a health facility, such as a hospital, without being admitted as an inpatient.
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P

Picture Archiving and Communications System (PACS)	PACS allows an imaging department to create and store their films on-line. This eliminated the need for costly equipment like film processors, chemicals, radiographic film and valuable space within a hospital.

PACU	Post-Anesthesia Care Unit. This is what was formerly referred to as the recovery room. Patients here receive frequent monitoring and a high provider to patient staffing ratio as they recover from the anesthesia drugs administered in the OR or during invasive procedures.

Palliative	Affording relief, but not cure.

Part A Medicare	Refers to the inpatient portion of benefits under the Medicare Program, covering beneficiaries for inpatient hospital, home health, hospice, and limited skilled nursing facility services. Beneficiaries are responsible for deductibles and co-payments. Part A services are financed by the Medicare HI Trust Fund, which consists of Medicare tax payments. Part B, on the other hand, refers to outpatient coverage.

Part B Medicare	Refers to the outpatient benefits of Medicare. Medicare Supplementary Medical Insurance (SMI) under Part B of Title XVII of the Social Security Act covers Medicare beneficiaries for physician services, medical supplies, and other outpatient treatment. Beneficiaries are responsible for monthly premiums, co-payments, deductibles, and balance billing. Part B services are financed by a combination of enrollee premiums and general tax revenues.

Patient Demographics	Information defined for the person or encounter. Demographic information includes elements such as the current location (nursing station, room, and bed, for example), alias identification values, age, birth date, gender, and maiden name.

Payors	The person or corporation that pays the medical bill. In most cases this is your insurance company.

Peristalsis	The wormlike movement by which the alimentary canal or other tubular organs provided with both longitudinal and circular muscle fibres propel their contents. It consists of a wave of contraction passing along the tube for variable distances.

Pharmacy technician	PHARMACY TECHNICIANs perform a wide range of clerical and technical tasks necessary to the operation of a hospital pharmacy. They enable the licensed pharmacists to concentrate on professional functions, such as providing medical staff and patients with information and advice. The primary responsibility of most technicians is to prepare, package, and distribute medications prescribed by physicians for hospitalized patients.

Phlebotomist	A clinical person trained to draw blood. Typicall works in a hospital or clinical laboratory.

Physical Therapist	A physical therapist is a specialist trained using exercise and physical activities to condition muscles and improve level of activity. Physical therapy is helpful in those with physical debilitating illness.

Pneumatic Tube System	Many hospitals use a pneumatic tube system to transport specimens, requisitions, and other materials quickly from one place to another. This system is linked by a series of tunnels throughout the health system and use pressurized air to move plastic carrier tubes from one location to another.

Pneumonia	A disease of the lungs characterized by inflammation and consolidation followed by resolution and caused by infection or irritants.

Poly-pharmacy	The administration of an excessive number of drugs.

Port	A port is a device that is implanted into a patient and can be used to collect blood; which is only one of its medical uses.

PowerChart	PowerChart is the automated solution to the needs of health care providers for accurate and timely data. PowerChart enables the clinician to view lists of current patients and to group the patients by location, condition, or other criteria. Each patient's medical record is instantly available online, and various displays regarding the patient's status are placed at the caregiver's fingertips.

PPO	Preferred Provider Organization-A health care delivery model which uses a panel of eligible physicians and care is paid for as it is received.

Pre-Operative	Preceding an operation.

Prothrombin Time (PT)	This is a test used to evaluate the blood clotting.

Partial Thromboplastin Time (PTT)	A test used to evaluate the blood clotting. If there is a deficiency in a particular blood clotting factor, the time required for clotting will be lengthened. Patients with severe liver disease, Von Willebrand disease, or hemophilia will have an abnormal (prolonged) PTT test. Heparin, a medication given to thin the blood, will prolong the PTT, making this a useful test for regulating heparin dosing.

Psychiatric Hospital	A specialty institution which provides inpatient and outpatient care and treatment for the mentally ill.

Pulse Oximetry	Pulse oximetry is a simple non-invasive method of monitoring the percentage of haemoglobin (Hb) which is saturated with oxygen. The pulse oximeter consists of a probe attached to the patient's finger or ear lobe which is linked to a computerised unit.
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Q

Quality Control	When tests are run in a clinical laboratory, it is often accompanied by controlled material (material that has a known value). This allows the technologist to validate that the reagents and instruments used in the performance of the test are working. When this sample is out of control, it is an indication that the instrument or reagent may have a problem and further investigation is needed before patient values are reported out.
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R

Radiation Therapy	Treatment with high energy radiation from X-rays or other sources of radiation.

Radiologic Technologist	A person professionally trained in performing diagnostic imaging procedures and using imaging devices.

Radiologist	A medically qualified doctor who specializes in the use of imaging techniques (X-rays, Ultrasound, CT, MR, fine needle biopsy etc) for diagnosis (diagnostic radiologist)

Radiology	A branch of medicine which deals with the use of x-rays and other forms of radiant energy in the diagnosis and treatment of disease.

Radiology Department	That unit in a hospital specifically designed to use x-rays and other radioactive elements for the diagnosis and treatment of patients. This department is directly supervised by a radiologist (physician). This department could also include radiation therapy and/or nuclear medicine sections.

Radiology Information System (RIS)	Computer software developed to focus on the workflow of a radiology department. Cerner's Millennium RIS solution is RadNet.

Range of motion	The range through which a joint can be moved, usually its range of flexion and extension. Due to an injury, the knee may for example lack 10 degrees of full extension.

Reactive Lymphocyte	The blood contains many types of white blood cells and lymphocytes are ones that are used to fight disease and infection. When a person has a viral infection or a disease such as mononucleosis, the lymphocytes will take on an abnormal appearance. This is a benign natural condition due the person’s illness and does not indicate leukemia or other malignant blood diseases.

Reagents	Laboratories use a variety of chemical solutions to analyze specimens. Many of these contain volatile ingredients and have a limited shelf-life and special storage considerations, such as refrigeration or, for safety purpose, a fire-proof cabinet.

Reanastamose	To close or repair a wound.

Recurring Bill	Instead of billing for each treatment, healthcare organizations may bill monthly for certain treatments, such as radiation therapy.

Record Report	The act of dictating the status of the patients that are under a nurses care for one shift.

R.N.	Registered Nurse

Remittance Advice (Payor Remittance)	A written explanation of payment included with a check covering services for one or more visits for multiple patients. Medicare, Medicaid, Champus and Blue Cross are examples of payers that issue a remittance advice. The following information is included: Patient name Visit number Billed amount Amount of payment Amount of contractual adjustment Reason for denial

Requisition	The paper or online form that houses demographic information about a patient.

Resected	To remove part or all of an organ or tissue.

Residents	Physician Trainees

Result	The answer to a detail procedure.

Revenue cycle	Revenue Cycle integrates the entire billing life cycle of a patient from initial access of health care services through collections.

Routine	In order for departments to determine which tests need to be done first, orderable tests and procedures are typically assigned a priority level. Routine is considered to be the lowest priority for most health care institutions.
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S

Scout	An x-ray that is taken before a procedure is performed to identify if a patient is prepped for the procedure.

Serology	A blood test that detects the presence of antibodies to a particular antigen.

Serum	Serum is the fluid portion of blood that contains no cellular elements. Serum results when blood has been allowed to clot in a tube with no anticoagulant. When spun in a centrifuge, the clot moves with the cells to the bottom of the blood collection tube, leaving the serum on top.

SST – Serum Separator Tube or Red Speckle Top Tube	This type of red top tube contains clot activator and gel for serum separation. The walls of the SST tube are coated with Silica particles, a clot activator. Initial activation occurs when blood enters the tube and contacts the particles on the tube wall. The gel forms a physical barrier between serum or plasma and blood cells during centrifugation.

Shift	A span of time that a nurse will work during one day. Typically 8 or 12 hours.

Shunt	A shunt is a device that is implanted into a patient and can be used to collect blood; although it can have other medical uses as well.

Specimen	¹As a general definition, a specimen is a substance or sample, usually extracted from a person or animal, upon which laboratory testing can be performed. Specimens can also be derived from nonliving sources, such as environmental samples. ²In PathNet's Anatomic Pathology, a specimen is the tissue, gynecologic smear, fluid, peripheral blood, corpse, or other such sample associated with a pathology case. In surgical pathology, for example, the tissues removed during a surgical procedure are considered "specimens." If multiple tissues are removed during a surgical procedure and submitted as a single case, each tissue is a specimen for that case. In gyn cytology, the smears prepared during the gynecological examination are specimens. In nongynecologic cytology, the fluids received for analysis are specimens. In cytogenetics, the peripheral blood, amniotic fluid, chorionic villi sampling, or tissue used for karyotyping and analysis are specimens.

Specimen Type	A term that uniquely identifies the type of specimen collected (for example, blood, urine, spinal fluid, and so on).

STAT	Tests and procedures are typically assigned a priority level when ordered, so that each department can determine which tests need to be done first. STAT (from the Latin statim) is considered to be the highest priority for most health care institutions.

Standard Operating Procedure (SOP)	Laboratories have a process and procedure for every test that they analyze and process they follow. This procedure outlines the purpose of the test, what material is needed to run the test, when and how quality control is performed, and the normal values for the test. These are reviewed and updated at designated times as dictated by regulatory agencies.

Statement	A record generated for patients containing information regarding balance, aging, dunning messages, and insurance information.

Subluxation	A separation or dislocation.

Subscriber	The owner of a health insurance policy and usually the person who pays the insurance premiums. Typically, a subscriber is the patient, a parent of the patient, or a spouse of the patient.

Superbill	A form that specifically lists all of the services provided by the physician.

Suture	Also known as a stitch.

Sutures	Materials used in closing a surgical or traumatic wound.
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T

Teaching Rounds	A progressive bedside meeting between practicing physicians and residents where patient cases and care is reviewed.

Timely Filing	Many payers will specify a maximum number of days within which a claim must be submitted/received to be considered for payment. Claims received after this specified number of days are rejected on the basis of untimely filing.

Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN)	Intravenous feeding that provides patients with all essential nutrients.

Tourniquet	An apparatus designed for the compression of the vessels of the limb. A loosely applied tourniquet can impede venous blood flow out of the extremity. A tightly applied tourniquet can also impede arterial blood flow into the extremity.

Transcriptionist	A transcripionist is a person who types medical reports from a physican's dictation. Many types of physicians dictate reports that will be stored in a patient's medical record.

Tumor Markers	Tumor markers are substances, usually proteins, which are produced by the body in response to cancer growth or by the cancer tissue itself.
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U

Ultrasound	The ultrasound process involves placing a small device called a transducer, against the skin of the patient near the region of interest, for example, against the back to image the kidneys. The ultrasound transducer combines functions like a stereo loudspeaker and a microphone in one device--it can transmit sound and receive sound. This transducer produces a stream of inaudible, high-frequency sound waves which penetrate into the body and bounce off the organs inside. The transducer detects sound waves as they bounce off or echo back from the internal structures and contours of the organs. Different tissues reflect these sound waves differently, causing a signature which can be measured and transformed into an image. These waves are received by the ultrasound machine and turned into live pictures with the use of computers and reconstruction software.

Unit Dose	Occurring in or using a single dose, seen as a standard of measurement. Unit dose provides individually wrapped or packaged medications in drawers labeled for each patient on that nurse unit. The nursing staff then will administer the medication to the patient at their bedside at the appropriate time.

Urinalysis (UA)	This test identifies and measures the byproducts of normal and abnormal metabolism, which are eliminated from your body in urine. A complete urinalysis consists of three distinct testing phases: Physical examination, which evaluates the urine's color, clarity, and concentration Chemical examination, which tests chemically for nine substances that provide valuable information about health and disease Microsopic examination, which identifies and counts the type of cells, casts, crystals, and other components (bacteria or mucous ) that can be present in urine
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V

Vacutainer	Vacutainer is a trademark for a kind of test tube, designed for venipuncture that contains a vacuum that aspirates the correct amount of blood into a tube without the need for a syringe. The test tubes are covered with a color-coded plastic cap with a rubber center. They often include additives that mix with the blood when collected. To collect blood using a vacutainer, a hypodermic needle is placed on a translucent plastic holder. The needle is double-ended. One end is designed to pierce the skin for venipuncture; the other end is coated in rubber. This end will pierce the rubber area on the vacutainer.

Ventilator	A machine which mechanically assists patients in the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide. Temporary use of this closed ventilation system requires insertion of a breathing tube which blocks the vocal cords and prevents the patient from talking or swallowing.

Verbal Orders	The act by a physician of relaying medical orders verbally to a nurse who is providing care to a patient under his care.

Vitals	Manifestation of breathing, heartbeat, and sustained blood pressure. Commonly, vital signs include temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure. Pain level is becoming known as the fifth vital sign.

Vital Signs	Manifestation of breathing, heartbeat, and sustained blood pressure.
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W

Wet-Read	A wet-read is a quick interpretation of a radiograph before it has been formally dictated and transcribed. Wet-Reads are common practice in the Emergency Room when a quick turn around is needed on a result. The term wet-read comes from the time when films radiographic films were dipped in chemicals to develop them and then hung up to dry. If an urgent result was needed, the films would be read wet.
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