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Jargon Buster

The SCATA Jargon Buster is a compilation of many of the confusing terms and acronyms used in Health Informatics. It was compiled from various sources and is maintained by the SCATA membership.
If you are are a SCATA member, you can add and edit jargon terms from the member's area
Non-members can use the contact page to submit a new term or acronym, or to update an existing one.

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Term or Acronym

Definition

Explanation

ACSP

Authorized Clinical Service Provider

a clinician of any title who is permitted to perform the focus procedure. This role may be played

by an anesthesiologist, physician, nurse anesthetist (CRNA), nurse or other qualified person. Permission may be assigned at a federal, state or local level. This role is assigned to the care team member who performs the procedure.

ADS

Active Decision Support

Function within an electronic record that uses ‘if…then …’ rules to evaluate data held in the record and automatically provide relevant information to assist clinicians in making decisions.

ADT

Admissions, discharges and transfers

See PAS

AIMS

Anaesthetic Information Management System

Anesthesia Information Management Systems (AIMS) allow the automatic and reliable collection, storage, and presentation of patient data during the perioperative period. They are specialized forms of electronic health record (EHR) systems that in addition to providing basic record-keeping functions, typically provide end users with ready access to summary data that can be used to facilitate quality assurance and research functions.

APSF

Anesthesia Patient Safety Foundation

An organisation founded in the USA in 1984 with the mission to “assure that no patient shall be harmed by the effects of anesthesia”. See www.apsf.org .

Arden Syntax

Arden syntax is a markup language used for representing and sharing medical knowledge

A programming language for Medical Logic Modules / sophisticated Clinical Decision Support.

Arden syntax was formerly a standard under ASTM, published in 1992, and is now part of Health Level Seven International

Arms Length Bodies

 

NHS organisations that work at “arms length” from the main functions of the NHS, e.g. the NHSIA, PPA, NHSU, Modernisation Agency. A review by the Department of Health plans to reduce the number of ALBs from 38 to 20 to save £0.5billion per annum.

Audit Trail

 

The mechanism whereby changes to a document or database can be identified, along with who did what and when.