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.
Term or Acronym | Definition | Explanation |
e-GIF |
Electronic Government Interoperability Framework | A set of regularly updated technical standards designed to enable interaction between public sector systems. Compliance is a mandatory requirement of new systems in the NHS. |
e-Referral Service |
Booking system for NHS appointments | This has replaced Choose and Book. It is intended to allow patients to book outpatient appointments at a time and place on a date that suits them. |
ECDL |
European Computer Driving Licence | A test of competence in the use of computers and (mostly Microsoft) software. |
ECS |
Emergency Care Summary | The NHS Scotland equivalent of the C4H Summary Care Record. A small nugget of health information including alerts, allergies and current medication. An explicit consent model is required for access to the summary by Out-of-Hours, A&E and Acute services. |
EDIFACT or UNEDIFACT |
Electronic Data Interchange For Administration, Commerce and Transport | A standard supported by the United Nations for the electronic exchange of structured messages. Used for Central Returns and Pathology messages in the NHS. About to be replaced by XML as a messaging standard. |
EHR |
Electronic Health Record | A term introduced in IfH and now superceded by NCRS and the Spine. The concept of a cradle to grave record of health and health care maintained in the primary care arena. |
EMIS |
| Egton Medical Information Systems, GP Clinical Administration System |
Enterprise Master Patient Index | A patient database used by healthcare organizations to maintain accurate medical data across its various departments |
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EPR |
Electronic Patient Record | Superseded by NCRS but still in common use. The electronic equivalent of the hospital notes folder but with added functions. |
ERDIP |
Electronic Record Development and Implementation Programme | A series of pilot projects exploring various aspects of electronic patient records. |
ETP |
Electronic Transmission of Prescriptions |
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