Glossary

With all the technological terms and acronyms, we figured a glossary might be in store.

ARRA - American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. Signed in to law by President Obama to promote the nation's economic recovery. The EHR Incentive Program is a result of ARRA.

ATCB - Authorized Testing and Certification Body. The testing and certification bodies that ONC employs to test and certify EHR Software and Technology.

CHPL - The Certified HIT Product List. A list of certified Complete and Modular EHR Software. Once software is certified, it gets a CHPL Product Number.

CMS - Center for Medicare and Medicaid. Oversees the EHR Incentive Program.

EHR - Electronic Health Record. An electronic health recording system that is not limited such information as patients' vitals but includes things like demographics and lab results. The main difference between EMRs and EHRs is that EHRs are connected to different systems (i.e. if a patient is transferred to a hospital during labor, you would send her EHR to the hospital if need be).

EMR - Electronic Medical Records. An electronic-based medical record created within a stand-alone organization (e.g. birth center). All tracking and modification is done within the organization.

EP - Eligible Professional. Professionals that meet the requirements of the EHR Incentive Program are eligible for EHR Incentive Payments.

HHS - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. Oversees the CMS (among other things).

HIT - Health Information Technology. Oversees the comprehensive management of electronic information systems designed and created for the healthcare industry.

ONC-Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology. Their job is to promote a health technology infrastructure. ONC sets the standards for certifying EHR Software and Technology.