Term

Definition

Source

Abstract Syntax
Notation One (ASN.1)

A standard specification language used to describe the structure and content of objects.

CIHI– Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Access

The process of obtaining data from, or placing into a computer system or storage device. It refers to such actions by the individual receiving health services as well as providers of health services and any other individual or entity who has the appropriate authorization for such actions.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper, (partly based on COACH. (1995). Security and Privacy Guidelines for Health Information Systems. Edmonton: Canadian Association for the Advancement of Computers in Health.)

Accountability

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

Specification of what a person or group is responsible for, to which person or group is accountable for. Any contract, agreement or other statement that formalizes the relationship. Roles are one way of expressing the responsibilities a person or group is accountable for.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Accredited Standards Committee MD 156 

(ASC MD 156)

The American Dental Association (ADA) hosts the secretariat of Accredited Standards Committee MD 156 for Dental Material, Instruments, and Equipment. One of the activities of this committee is to develop technical reports, guidelines, and standards on electronic technologies used in dental practice.

MD 156 has several Working Groups that develop standards related to information exchange. These include:

• Diagnostic and clinical peripheral devices and software (including subcommittees on data capture interfaces and digital image formats);
• Electronic data interchange(EDI); and
• Computer patient oral health record software interfaces

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996) Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

ACR/NEMA

See American College of Radiology National Electrical Manufacturers Association. These two organizations are joint developers of DICOM.

American College of Radiology home page:
http://www.acr.org/

Dicom index:
http://www.xray.hmc.psu.edu/dicom/

National Electrical Manufacturers Association:

http://www.nema.org/

Algorithm

A procedure or formula for solving a problem. A computer program can be viewed as an elaborate algorithm. In mathematics and computer science, an algorithm usually means a small procedure that solves a recurrent problem. 

Whatis.com Inc.:
www.whatis.com

American College of
Radiology (ACR)

American College of Radiology, working with the national Electrical Manufacturers Association, has developed standards in the areas of radiology information systems and imaging (DICOM).

American College of Radiology home page:

http://www.acr.org/

AmericanNational

Standards Institute (ANSI)

ANSI is a broad based agency charged with overseeing voluntary standards development for everything from computers to household products. ANSI delegates standards development to subcommittees made up of technical representatives from vendor and user companies, then reviews and officially approves the subcommittee’s recommendations. ANSI then routes the proposed standards to the International Organization for Standardization (ISO).

ANSI homepage:

http://www.ansi.org

American Society for Testing and Materials

(ASTM)

American Society for Testing and Materials develops standards on characteristics and performance of materials, products, systems, and services. There are numerous standards-writing technical committees. E31 is the Committee on Computerized Systems.

CIHI– Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Analog transmission

A method of information transfer that transforms varying frequencies and volumes of sound into electric impulses. Standard telephones use this, but other communication forms are quickly gaining popularity such as cellular (radio waves), digital and satellite. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. 98)

Anonymized data

Originally identifiable data which have been permanently stripped of identifiers.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Architecture

The orderly arrangement of parts; structure.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

ASTM

See American Society for Testing and Materials.

Asymmetric algorithm

A cryptographic algorithm in which the keys used for encryption and decryption are different, and for which it is computationally infeasible to determine the decryption key (which is kept private) from the encryption key (which can be made publicly available).

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document. 

Asymmetric key system

A system that uses different keys for encryption and decryption. Within such a system, it is computationally infeasible to determine the decryption key (which is kept private) from the encryption key (which is made publicly available). 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Asynchronous password generation

A method of generating a unique one-time password for a computer user based on a challenge-response sequence between a host and a device possessed by the user.

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper, Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

ATM (Asynchronous 

Transfer Mode)

A packet-based communication protocol that provides the high bandwidth transmission rates required for multimedia communication.

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine: 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

Attack

In cryptography, the general way in which a cryptanalyst may try to penetrate the secrecy of a cipher. It is not an algorithm; it is an approach as a starting place for constructing specific algorithms.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards). (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document. 

Attribute

A characteristic or property.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

Audit trail

Chronological record of system activity which enables the reconstruction of information regarding the creation, distribution, modification, and deletion of data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics, Working Groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4:  Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5:  Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Authentication

Verification of the identity of a person or process.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Back Up

A copy of a disk or a file on a disk.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics, Working Groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Bandwidth

The amount of data that can be transmitted across a communication channel over a given period of time. 

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine: 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

Behavioural status

Information about risk-taking, substance usage, physical activity, eating, and sleeping. For a population, this is reflected as behavioural norms.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

Biological status

Information about genetic disposition and immune response.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

Biometric Authentication Technology

Technology that uses some human biological feature (e.g. fingerprint, voice pattern, retina scan, or signature dynamics) to uniquely identify an individual.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper, Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocol Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5 : Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Bit (Binary Digit)

The smallest piece of digital information that a computing device handles. It represents off or on (0 or 1). All data in computing devices are processed as bits or strings of bits.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package.

Bits per second (bps)

A measure of data transmission rate.

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine: 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

Breach of security

An action by an authorized or unauthorized user which results in a negative impact or which causes interruption, disclosure, unauthorized access, modification, destruction, or denial of service.

CPRI. (1995). Guidelines for Information Security Education Programs at Organizations Using Computer-Based Patient Records. Schaumburg: Work Group on Confidentiality, Privacy, and Security, Computer-based Patient Record Institute.

Browser

A program designed to view and navigate hypertext.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working groups 3, 4 and 5 of the Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Brute force attack

In cryptography, the method of trying all possible keys until deciphering yields a readable message.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards). (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document. Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Byte
(abbr. B)

Eight bits. Bytes are usually counted in kilobytes, megabytes, and gigabytes.

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine: 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

CA (certification authority)

The entity providing third party trust within PKI.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, The Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

CCI (Canadian Classification of Health Interventions)

A classification system for describing a broad spectrum of health interventions from various types of providers, developed in Canada to accompany ICD-10 release.

Canadian Institute for Health Information homepage:

http://www.cihi.ca

CCP (Canadian Classification of Diagnostic,
Therapeutic, and Surgical
Procedures)

The classification system for health interventions developed in Canada to accompany ICD-9.

Health Statistics Division, Statistics Canada:

http://www.statcan.ca/english/IPS/

Data/82-562-XPE.htm

Certification/ conformance testing

Testing a product for the existence of specific features, functions, or characteristics required by a standard in order to determine the extent to which that product satisfies the standard requirements.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Sub-Group 4.1 Compliance Measurement: Background Document.

Channel

With respect to communications, the connection between two parties that mediates their communication, such as a telephone or e-mail.

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine: 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

Characteristic

A feature that helps identify, tell apart, or describe recognizably; a distinguishing mark or trait.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 Lexicon.

Check digit

A shorthand for error correction and detection codes used extensively in modern computers and communications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 6: Health Identification Systems Background Document.

Class

A set, collection, group, or configuration containing members regarded as having certain attributes or traits in common; a kind of category.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1997). Working Group 1 Lexicon, 1997.

Clinical classification

A method of grouping clinical concepts in order to represent classes that support the generation of indicators of health status and health statistics.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1997). Controlled Clinical Vocabularies: Background Document.

Coaxial cable

An electrical cable with an extra layer of conductive material surrounding the core. The current standard for cable television, coaxial cable can carry more data than standard telephone wire but less than fiber optics.

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Codebook attack

The classic codebreaking approach of getting or guessing some amount of the plaintext and using it to start a codebook of transformations between plaintext and ciphertext.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards). (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document. Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Cognitive status

Information about knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, and temperament.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

Community

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of People entity. 

A formal or informal group of people with common characteristics that may be geographic, demographic or other. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions. 

Concept

A general idea derived or inferred from specific instances or occurrences; something formed in the mind; a thought or notion.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1997). Working Group 1 Lexicon, 1997.

Confidentiality

A 3^rd party's obligation to protect the personal information with which it has been entrusted.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). (1998). Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-Group 3.1 (April 1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-group 3.3. (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information Over the Internet). Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

Consent

Voluntary agreement with what is being done or proposed (express or implied).

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-Group 3.1. (April 1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information Over the Internet). (1998) A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). (1998). Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Consultation

In the contex of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance event: 

Gathering input from participants affected by a change in governance.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 1 (Health Data Model), Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Content coverage

In vocabularies, the degree to which a vocabulary system represents a given set of concepts.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Controlled Clinical Vocabularies: Background Document.

Controlled clinical vocabulary

A system of standardizing the terms used in describing client-centred health and health service-related concepts.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Controlled Clinical Vocabularies: Background Document.

Controlled language (or controlled vocabulary)

A system of expression that includes explicit restrictions in terminology, grammatical rules and/or description formats.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Controlled Clinical Vocabularies: Background Document.

Core Businesses

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

What functions, processes and organizational mechanisms does the person or group perform.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Cross-references

In vocabularies or languages, the set of relations between the terms and concepts in one system and the terms and concepts in another system.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Controlled Clinical Vocabularies: Background Document.

Cryptographic algorithm

The mathematical process by which a cryptographic key and some input data are combined to create either encryption (changing plain text to encrypted data) or decryption (changing encrypted data to plain text). However, it may also be a digital signature or a cryptographic checksum, or a MAC (Message Authentication Code). The result is cryptographically useful if it bars anyone other than those authorized to use the cryptographic tools from decrypting encrypted data or tampering with the data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Cryptography

The field of technology using mathematically constructed techniques and algorithms to protect data. The fundamental requirement of these is that some protection processes (e.g. the decryption of encrypted data or the creation of digital signatures) cannot feasibly be performed without precise knowledge of a particular data string (known as the key) even if all the other input data is known. This requires that the key must not be obtainable from knowledge of the algorithm and the output data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document.

Data

A representation of facts, concepts or instructions in a manner suitable for communication, interpretation, or processing by humans or by automatic means.; Factual information, especially information organized for analysis or used to reason or make decisions; numerical or other information represented in a form suitable for processing by a computer; values derived from scientific experiments.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Data (or record) linkage

A method of assembling information contained in two or more different files or records to relate significant health and other events for the same individual, organization, community, or other unit of analysis.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Data Compression

Methods to reduce the data volume by encoding it in a more efficient manner, thus reducing the image processing and transmission times and storage space required. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.3. (1997). Canadian Association of Radiologists: National Standard for Teleradiology.

Data custodian

A ‘holder’ of data, including both institutions (such as direct services providers, governments, and research centers), as well as individuals in independent practice.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

Data integrity

The accuracy and completeness of data, to be maintained by appropriate security measures and controls. Preservation of the original quality and accuracy of data, in written or in electronic form.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-group 3.3. (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

Data linkage

The linking together of records contained in different databases.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Data model

A mathematical formalism with a notation for describing data structures and a set of operations used to manipulate and validate that data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Data subject

The generic name given to any person or institution about which data are being collected, including: patients, service providers, and institutions.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper.

Data warehouse

This vast database stores information like a data repository but goes a step further, allowing users to access data to perform research-oriented analyses.

Database

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

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Decision

In the contex of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance event: 

The point of determining the action to be taken.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Decision support

Computerized functions that assist users in making decisions in their job functions. In the practice of medicine, these functions include providing electronic access to medical literature, alerting the user to potential adverse drug interactions, and suggesting alternative treatment plans for a certain diagnosis.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

Decryption

The technique of using mathematical procedures to "unscramble" data so that an unintelligible (coded) message becomes intelligible.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Defined plaintext attack

In cryptography, the submission of arbitrary messages to be ciphered, capturing the resulting ciphertext and thus disclosing the workings of the cipher.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Demographic status or demographics

Information about name, address, age, gender, and role.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

DES (Digital Encryption Standard)

A long-standing public domain symmetric algorithm widely used within the financial services sector.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Design

In the contex of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance event: 

Determine the structure, scope or intended effect of an element of governance.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

DICOM (Digital Imaging Communications in Medicine)

A standard which defines protocols for the exchange of medical images and associated information (such as patient identification details and technique information) between instruments, information systems, and health care providers. It establishes a common language that enables medical images produced on one system to be processed and displayed on another. Developed by the ACR/NEMA committee.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package.

Differential cryptoanalysis attack

In cryptography, the use of any statistical unbalance between different keys, data elements, or bits to imply a probable state to the cipher.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Diffie-Hellman

In cryptography, a method by which two parties can agree upon a secret encryption key, known only to them, which cannot be determined by an eavesdropper listening to the dialogue by which the parties agree on the key.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Digital signature

A string of binary digits which is computed using an encryption algorithm. Digital signatures enable signatory authentication, confirmation of data integrity, and non-repudiation of messages.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Digital signature

A digital value or ‘checksum’ that can be used to prove or verify that the data in a message has not been changed in an unauthorized manner whilst the message has been in transit across a network or in storage. The term is usually reserved for checksums calculated using asymmetric techniques, where only the originator of the message can generate the digital signature but many people can verify it.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Digital Signing

A digital value or ‘checksum’ that can be used to prove or verify that the data contained in a message has not been changed in an unauthorized manner whilst in transit across a network or while in storage.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document.

Digital transmission

Voice, image or text data transformed and transmitted as combinations of zeros and ones (bits), and then transcribed back into the original medium by the recipient. Digital transmission is faster and less susceptible to noise interference than analog transmission. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Digitize

The process by which analog (continuous value) information is converted into digital (discrete value) information. This process is a necessary function for computer imaging applications because visual information is inherently in analog format and most computers use only digital information.

Members of CAR, CAMRT, and WG4 members. (1998). The Canadian Association of Radiologists’ (CAR) Position Paper on Teleradiology (Draft-Sept.98)

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.3. (1997). Canadian Association of Radiologists: National Standard for Teleradiology.

Dimension

A measure of spatial extent; magnitude; scope; aspect; element.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Disaster recovery

In information systems, the process by which an enterprise would restore any loss of data in the event of a fire, vandalism, natural disaster, or system failure.

CPRI. (1996). Glossary of Terms Related to Information Security. Schaumburg: Work Group on Confidentiality, Privacy, and Security, Computer-based Patient Record Institute.

Disclosure

The release of information to third parties within or outside the health care provider organization from an individual's record with or without the consent of the individual to whom the record pertains [CPRI 1995b].

CPRI. (1995). Guidelines for Establishing Information Security Policies at Organizations Using Computer-based Patient Records. Schaumburg: Work Group on Confidentiality, Privacy and Security, Computer-based Patient Record Institute.

Disclosure

The making available of personal information to others than the patient/client and authorised individuals within the institution which is the information custodian.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Domain

A sphere of activity, concern, or function; a field.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Domains

Spheres of interest or concern, its constituent elements are called 'components'.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

DSA (Digital Signature Algorithm)

A U. S. Federal Information Processing Standard (FIPS) which describes an algorithm for creating and checking digital signatures.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

DSM-IV (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Version IV)

A classification system for mental disorders, developed in the US, released in 1994.

American Psychiatric Association homepage:

http://www.psych.org

Dynamic

Characterized by continuous change, activity, or progress; marked by intensity and vigour; an interactive system or process.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

EDI (Electronic Data Interchange)

The application-to-application transfer of documents between computers. A 'document' in this setting is broadly defined as a collection of information exchanged in an electronic form. While this may be textual, it may also be computer programs, educational material in a variety of media forms or data used for planning, analysis or feedback.

MonashTelehealth – Glossary of Terms

EDIFACT

United Nations Electronic Interchange for Administration, Commerce, and Transport international electronic data interchange standard, produced by the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UN/ECE).

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Educator

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role: 

A person or group who increases the skills of people (with a particular emphasis on services providers).

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Electronic health record

Electronically maintained information about an individual's lifetime health status and health care.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

Element

A fundamental, essential, or irreducible constituent of a composite entity; the basic assumptions or principles of a subject.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

ENCODE-FM

A set of terms and codes for family medicine, intended for use in describing primary care within electronic records.

CIHI. (1997). Terminology, Classification & Nomenclature - Profile #5. Ottawa: CIHI.

ENCODE-FM (Electronic Nomenclature and Classification of Disorders and Encounters in Family Medicine)

A bilingual set of terms and codes, (nomenclature) for use in primary care electronic records, developed in Canada, updated semi-annually. Maps to ICD-10, ICD-9, and ICPC.

INSITE-Family Medicine Inc.:

http://www.cyberus.ca/~insite

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics, Working Group 2 (Data Content Standards) Implementation Project. (1998). A Survey of Vendor Activity Related to Health Nomenclatures and Classifications. (1998)

Encryption

The process of enciphering or encoding a message so as to render it unintelligible without a key to decrypt (decode) the message.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

Environment

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

Places and their characteristics which may have an effect on the health of people. 

• Place
• Environmental Characteristics

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Environment Event

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

Events which affect the state of any of the characteristics of the environment. 

• Weather events – ice storm, floods
• Collisions – motor vehicle
• Construction – building roads,affordable housing, noise barriers
• Legislation – helmet/seat belt laws
• Financial – raising interest rates
• Introduction of an infectious agent/toxin to air, food or water

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Environmental Characteristics

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of environment entity: 

Characteristics of a place which may affect the health of people. The Health Information Framework classifies characteristics into Physical-Chemical, Social Cultural, and Economic.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

European Workshop for Open Systems, Expert Group Medical (EWOS/EG MED)

EWOS is responsible for defining and drafting profiles for Open Systems Interconnection (OSI). Most of the work of EWOS is done by expert groups (EG). EG MED is responsible for technical aspects of standardization process because it provides the means to implement standards specified by bodies such as CEN. EWOS/ED MED’s focus is on ISO’s OSI and on functional profiles to be used in healthcare.

EWOS homepage:

http://www.ewos.be/index.htm

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Event Linkage

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

An explicit acknowledgement that two or more events are related to each other. The relationships may be causal, occurring concurrently, occurring in a predefined sequence, or one event being the trigger to initiate other events Whenever a change in jurisdiction is required, an event linkage recognizes the nature of the transfer of control. Event linkages can be predefined, retroactively recognized or explicitly acknowledged during a related event.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Evidence-based health care

The use of simple rules of logic and science to appraise evidence research and apply it to the health care of individuals and populations.

Dr. Brian Haynes, Director, Canadian Cochrane Network and Centre (cited in National Forum on Health, Summary Report -- Evidence-Based Decision-Making: A Dialogue on Health Information, 1997.)

Family Member

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role: 

A person who is included in a designated role in a family.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Fiber-optic network

A network of fiber-optic cables. 

Network cabling that employs one or more optical fibers, consisting of a central glass or plastic fiber, glass cladding, and a plastic outer sheath. Fiber-optic cable carries information as light instead of electricity, and can carry much more information over greater distances than copper cabling.

The Communications Library:

http://www.wcom.com/tools-resources/
communications_library

Firewall

A filter between a network of trusted computers and other networks.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-group 3.3. (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

Framework

A structure for supporting or enclosing something else, especially a skeletal support used as the basis for something being constructed; a fundamental structure, as for a written work or a system of ideas.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Function

The action for which one is particularly fitted or employed.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Goals/Objectives

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

What is the person or group attempting to accomplish.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Governance

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model: 

Any aspect of defining the structure of the intent to affect the health of people: 

• Juristiction
• Mission/Purpose
• Organization Structure
• Accountability
• Goals/Objectives
• Strategies/Tactics
• Core Businesses
• Policies
• Programs
• Services

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Governance Event

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

An event which is intended to establish, change or delete any element of governance. Examples: 

• Health Monitor/Surveillance
• Research
• Consultation
• Design
• Decision

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Governor

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role:

A person or group that makes decisions.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Gray Scale

The number of different shades of levels of gray that can be stored and displayed by a computer system. The number of gray levels is directly related to the number of bits used in each pixel: 6 bits = 64 gray levels, 7 bits = 128 gray levels, 8 bits = 256 gray levels, 10 bits = 1024 gray levels, and 12 bits = 4096 gray levels. 

Members of CAR, CAMRT, and WG4 members. (1998). The Canadian Association of Radiologists’ (CAR) Position Paper on Teleradiology (Draft-Sept.98)

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.3. (1997). Canadian Association of Radiologists: National Standard for Teleradiology.

Group

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of People entity: 

Any collection of people, formal or informal, with distinct characteristics of interest in common.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Hash Function

A mathematical algorithm with the property that it reduces a message of any length to a code string of fixed length (i.e. to a ‘hash summary code’ or ‘message digest’), in such a way that is computationally infeasible to find two messages with the same hash function product or, alternatively, to find a message given a hash function product.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Health information

Information about an identifiable individual that relates to his or her previous, current, and future health; knowledge derived from statistics or data describing and enumerating attributes, events, behaviours, services, resources, outcomes, or costs related to health, disease, and health services.

Adapted from Working Group 2's Briefing Note to Working Group 3 for Agenda Item 6, CIHI, 1997.

Health Level Seven (HL7)

An ANSI approved American National Standard for electronic data exchange in health care. It enables disparate computer applications to exchange key sets of clinical and administrative information. Comprised of standard formats which specify the implementation of interfaces between different computer applications, HL7's protocols provide the flexibility needed to allow compatibility for specialized data sets that have facility-specific needs. Developed by HL7 members and designed to be applicable in numerous settings, HL7 ultimately saves time, money, and work for its users.

HL7 homepage: 

http://www.hll7.org 

Health Monitor/Surveillance

In the contex of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance event: 

Observing the state of characteristics for people, environment and resources to identify changes that may be considered opportunities or issues affecting the health of people. Monitoring the environment might include such activities as air quality testing, water sampling, or radiation dosimeter readings. The information acquired from these activities will be used to initiate triggers which are derived from human health data (or possibly animal or microorganism). Ozone monitoring is an example. It takes place in many locations, in real time, i.e. every hour of every day. Concentrations above a certain threshold trigger a response regardless of whether any person or any thing (e.g. bean crop) is actually affected 

Health monitoring includes public health surveillance. These activities are conducted for the purpose of detecting effects on a defined population who are at potential risk. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Health service personnel

Individuals who have reason to work within the health service structure as a direct or indirect care provider, including, but not limited to, physicians, students, nurses, volunteers, external consultants/ vendors, researchers, maintenance personnel, and contractors.

CIHI. (1998). Guidelines for Promoting a Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Education and Awareness Program: A Framework for Action. Ottawa: CIHI.

Health status

Information about perceived health indicators, diagnoses, impairments, disabilities, and handicaps.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

Health System

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity:

Governance and resources applied to affec the health of persons or groups. The scope of authority of the group making the rules can vary from an individual making choices that affect their own health, to a family, and municipality, a region, a province, an country or to the global community.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Hypertext

The organization of information units into connected associations that a user can choose to make. An instance of such an association is called a link or hypertext link. (And the highlighted word "link" in the previous sentence is an example of a hypertext link.) 

Whatis.com Inc.:

http://www.whatis.com

ICD (Intermittently Connected Device)

A device that stores and transmits person-related data in such a way that the originator of the information may not receive confirmation of its receipt.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

ICD-10 (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10^th Revision)

The 1992 revision of the international disease classification system developed by the World Health Organization.

WHO, Health Situation and Trend Assessment:

http://www.who.int/hst/icd-10/index.html

http://nelle.mc.duke.edu/standards/
termcode/codehome.htm

ICD-10-CM (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10^th Revision, Clinical Modification)

The American modification of the ICD-10 classification system, for field review release in 1998..

The National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS):

http://www.cdc.gov/nchswww/about/
otheract/icd9/abticd10.htm

ICD-10-PCS (International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 10^th Revision, Procedural Classification System)

A classification system for reporting clinical procedures, to accompany ICD-10-CM, developed in the US, for 1998 field review release.

The Health Care Financing Administration (HCFA):

http://www.hcfa.gov/stats/icd10/icd10.htm

ICD-9 (International Classification of Disease, 9th Revision)

The 1972 revision of the international disease classificaiton system developed by the World Health Organization.

WHO, Health Situation and Trend Assessment:

http://www.who.int/hst/icd-10/index.html

ICD-9-CM (International Classification of Disease, 9^th Revision, Clinical Modification)

The American modification of the ICD-9 classification system for both diagnoses and procedures.

National Center for Health Statistics

http://nelle.mc.duke.edu/standards/
termcode/icd9cm.htm

ICIDH (International Classification of Impairments, Disabilities and Handicaps)

A classification system for impairments, activities, and participation, first release in 1980 by the World Health Organization, 2^ndversion expected in 1999.

Canadian Institute for Health Information:

http://www.who.org/whosis/icidh/icidh.htm

ICNP (International Classification for Nursing Practice)

A new classification for nursing, its alpha version testing is expected to be complete by the end of 1998.

International Council of Nurses:

http://www.nethotel.dk/dihnr/Telenurse/ICNP/

ICPC (International Classification of Primary Care)

A classification system incorporating codes for patient reason for encounter, symptoms, diseases, and processes of care and designed to allow complete recording of encounters and episodes of care for statistical analysis.

World Organization of Family Doctors: 

http://www.wonca.org/working_groups/
classification/wonca_classification.htm

IEEE

Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers. See also the MEDIX and MIB standards.

IEEE homepage:

http://www.ieee.org/

IEEE MEDIX (Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers' Medical Data Interchange), also called IEEE P1157

A family of standards produced by the MEDIX Committee of IEEE to "specify and establish robust and flexible communications standards for the interchange of data between heterogeneous health care information systems".

IEEE homepage:

http://www.ieee.org/

IEEE MIB (Institute for Electrical and Electronic Engineers' Medical Information Bus) or IEEE P1073

A family of standards produced by the MIB Committee of IEEE to allow hospitals and other users to easily interface medical devices (usually point-of-care devices) to patient care information systems. These standards are optimized for acute care environments.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Health Information Exchange Protocols – Profile # I-2. Ottawa: CIHI

Indicator

A pointer or an index; one that indicates.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Individual

Of or relating to an individual, especially a single human being; by or for one person.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Informatics

The application of computer science and information science to the management and processing of data, information, and knowledge

Monash Telehealth – Glossary of Terms

Information

Knowledge derived from study, experience, or instruction; a collection of facts or data; the act of informing or the condition of being informed; Data to which meaning is assigned, according to context and assumed conventions [National Security Council 1991].

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Information custodian

A ‘holder’ of information, including both institutions (such as direct services providers, governments, and research centres), as well as individuals in independent practice.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Information exchange protocols

Technical standards which support communication between data acquisition, processing, and handling systems.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Information technology

A term describing the electronic acquisition, storage, and transmission of information.

Telehealth – Glossary of Terms:

http://www.monash.edu.au/informatics/
prhcit/report/tele39.htm

Institutional ‘Review Board (IRB)

Within the context of personal health information, an IRB is an arm’s length review body established to help ensure that ethical principles are applied to the use of information. The IRB has both educative and administrative roles: in its educative role, the IRB serves as a consultative body for those within the institution who are collecting, using, or disseminating personal information. The IRB has both educative and administrative roles: in its educative role, the IRB serves as a consultative body for those within the instiuttion who are collective, using, or disseminating personal information. In its adminstrative role, the IRB has the responsibility for independent review of the ethics of data collection, use or dissemination to determine whether it should be permitted to start or to continue. (Also hknown as an ERB (ethics review board) or REB (research ethics board)). 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Integrated health record

Integratable, non-redundant health data about a person across a lifetime, including facts, observations, plans, actions, outcomes, preferences, and desires.

Working Group 1 Meeting, October 1997

Interface

Shared boundary between two functional units defined by various characteristics pertaining to the functions, physical interconnections, signal changes, and other characteristics as appropriate.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

Intermittently Connected Device (ICD)

See definition for ICD (Intermittently Connected Device).

Interpretability

The ability of hardware and software from different vendors to understand each other and exchange data, either within the same network or across dissimilar networks.

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

ISDN (Integrated Services Digital Network)

A digital communications route capable of transmitting text, graphics, video and audio at about 65K – 128 K bps. Although an ISDN line is slower than a fiber distributed data interface, it’s faster than a standard telephone line and is a popular way to connect local area networks.

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

ISO

The International Organization for Standardization (ISO). It is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies from some 130 countries, one from each country. 

ISO is a non-governmental organization established in 1947. The mission of ISO is to promote the development of standardization and related activities in the world with a view to facilitating the international exchange of goods and services, and to developing cooperation in the spheres of intellectual, scientific, technological and economic activity. 

ISO's work results in international agreements which are published as International Standards. 

ISO homepage:

http://www.iso.ch

Jurisdiction

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

The boundary and scope of authority of the person or group. May be bound by a geographical boundary or a specific domain of influence.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

K (Kilo)

Stands for the number one thousand. It is used primarily when referring to computer storage and memory capacities. For example, 1 Kbyte = 1024 bytes.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package. 

Key certificate

A data record that authenticates the owner of a public key for an asymmetric algorithm. It is issued by a certification authority and is protected by a digital signature allowing the certificate to be verified widely. The certificate may also contain other fields beside the value to the key and the name of the owner, for example an expiry date.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Key coded data

Data in a form that doesn’t include personal identifiers but which allows data custodians to link records (via a matching code, held separately) for individuals on an as-needed basis.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

Key coded data

Data in a form that doesn’t include personal identifiers but which allows information custodians to link records (via a matching code, held separately) for individuals on an as-needed basis.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Key Management

A general term for a number of processes or practices involved in the secure creation, storage, exchange, use and deletion of cryptographic keys.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Key Recovery

A capability that can be added in to some Key Management schemes to allow the encryption keys to be recovered by a trusted body under strict controls.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Keys

A sequence of symbols that controls the operations of encryption and decryption. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Known plaintext attack

In cryptography, the method that first assumes the presence of some amount of original plaintext with accompanying ciphertext. This information is then used to reconstruct the internal state or cipher text.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

LAN (Local Area Network)

A computer network limited to servicing computers in a small locality. 

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine - Enrico Coiera 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

Legacy system

An older computer system, often centered around a mainframe, that has been in place for a long time. Since rather old technology is difficult to upgrade, owners of legacy systems often are faced with weighing the cost of replacing a system that technically "still works" with a faster, less bulky, fully integrated system. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

LOINC (Logical Observation Identifiers, Names, and Codes)

The LOINC databases provide sets of universal names and ID codes for identifying laboratory and clinical test results. The purpose is to facilitate the exchange and pooling of results, such as blood hemoglobin, serum potassium, or vital signs, for clinical care, outcomes management, and research. 

http://nelle.mc.duke.edu/standards/
termcode/loinc.htm

Longitudinal health record

A collection of all health-related information regarding an individual from prenatal to postmortem stages created by multiple encounters with multiple providers.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

Lossless compression

A process which allows data compression and its expansion to its original form without any loss of information. PKZip, ZOO and ARC are common examples. See also Huffman Coding.

http://www.wcom.com/tools-resources/
communications_library/

Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)

An imaging technique. The patient is surrounded by a massive electromagnetic and is exposed to short bursts of powerful magnetic fields and radiowaves. The bursts stimulate protons (hydrogen nuclei) to emit radio signals, which are detected and analyzed by computer to create an image of a slice of the patient’s body. 3-dimensional reconstruction can be used to build 3-dimensional representation of the patient’s body. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Magnetic stripe

Found on most plastic credit and ID cards, this electromagnetic surface is capable of holding a small amount of information 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Magnetic Tape

A data storage medium used for backup.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Manager

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role: 

A person or group that allocates resources to get work done.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998).Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Man-in-the middle attack

In cryptography, the subversion of the routing capabilities of a computer network, posing as the other side to each of the communicators. Normally, this takes advantage of the generally unrecognized need to validate or certify public keys.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Matrix

An image formed by distinct points in both the horizontal and vertical directions. For example, a 512 matrix is made up of 512 points in one axis and 512 points in the other.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package. 

MeDDRA (Medical Dictionary for Drug Regulatory Affairs)

A nomenclature/classification designed to support the reporting of medical information throughout the medical product regulatory cycle. Developed by the International Conference on Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Registration of Pharmaceuticals for Human Use (ICH), Version 2.0 for 1998 release.

International Conference on Harmonisation homepage

http://www.ifpma.org/ich5m.html

MEDIX

See definition for IEEE MEDIX above.

Message Authentication

Confirmation of the originator of a message.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Message Authentication Code (MAC)

A digital code generated using a cryptographic algorithm, defined in an ISO (International Organization for Standardization) standard that establishes that the contents of a message have not been altered or generated by an unauthorized party.

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper, Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Message Integrity

Protecting a message against its unauthorized modification, often by the originator of the message generating a digital signature.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Message integrity

The degree to which a message is protected against unauthorized modification. The preservation of the original quality and accuracy of data, in written or electronic form.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document.

Message-Digest Algorithm

A method of reducing a message of any length to a string of a fixed length, called the message digest, in such a way that is computationally infeasible to find two messages with the same message digest or to find a message with a given, predetermined message digest.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Methodology

A body of practices, procedures, and rules used by those who work in a discipline or engage in an inquiry; a set of working methods.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

MIB

See definition for IEEE MIB above.

Microdata

The most detailed level of data provided by data suppliers or respondents, which may often contain sensitive information.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

Mission/Purpose

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

statement(s) for the group’s reason for being.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Modality

Refers to particular medical "imaging equipment" where an image is produced.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Model

A preliminary work or construction that serves as a plan from which a final product is to be made.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Modem (short for modulator/demodulator)

A device that translates computerized data into analog signals for transmission over a telephone line and converts incoming analog data into digital form. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Multi-media

Computer controlled systems that combine a rich mix of text, graphics, still and moving pictures, music and sound. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

NANDA (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association standard)

A nomenclature of nursing diagnoses developed by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association (in collaboration with the University of Iowa). Organized around 9 'Human Response Patterns'. Updates have been less frequent than annually to date.

American Nurses Association:

http://www.mcis.duke.edu/standards/
termcode/nanda.htm

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 2 (Data Content Standards) Implementation Project. (1998). A Survey of Vendor Activity Related to Health Nomenclatures and Classifications. (1998)

NANDA (North American Nursing Diagnosis Association)

A set of terms and codes adopted by the North American Nursing Diagnosis Association. These terms describe the patient's reaction to disease rather than describing the disease itself.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Terminology, Classification & Nomenclature - Profile #3. Ottawa: CIHI.

Network

A set of connected elements. For computers, any collection of computers connected together so that they are able to communicate, permitting the sharing of data or programs. 

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine - Enrico Coiera 

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

Non-acute care

All client-related health activities that occur in settings other than acute care hospitals and cancer clinics. These settings include community or family health clinics, day care facilities, physician or dentist offices, retail pharmacies, home care, continuing or long term care, palliative care, mental health facilities, schools, workers' compensation facilities and industrial workplaces.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Controlled Clinical Vocabularies: Background Document.

Object-oriented

A method of applications software design and programming, offering a way of breaking down a problem to be solved by focusing on physical objects rather than procedures.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

OECD (Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development)

The OECD groups 29 member countries in an organisation that, most importantly, provides governments a setting in which to discuss, develop and perfect economic and social policy. Most often their discussion makes for better informed work within their own governments on the spectrum of public policy and clarifies the impact of national policies on the international community. And it offers a chance to reflect and exchange perspectives with other countries similar to their own.

OECD Home Page

http://www.oecd.org/about/general/index.htm

Open system

A system capable of integrating hardware and peripherals of multiple vendors. Such systems usually are able to interact with other open systems based on standard protocols.

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Open Systems Interconnection (OSI)

An International Organization for Standardization (ISO) standard based on a basic reference model that defines a seven-layer model for network interconnection.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Organization

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of People entity. 

A formalized group of people with a common purpose.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Organization Structure

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

The structure of the group in relation to other groups that it may be a part of or that may be part of it. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

OSI (Open Systems Interconnection)

An international standard for networking adopted by the ISO (International Organization for Standardization). This 7-layer model offers the widest range of capabilities for networking.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

OSI Model

See definition above for OSI.

Outcome

In medicine, the end result of an episode of care across the health care delivery system as perceived by the patient and the provider(s). Examples of outcomes are condition cured, quality of life improved, pain alleviated, life extended, death, etc.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

Outcome

A natural result; a consequence or effect.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Packet

A discrete bundle of data sent over a network.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Packet Switching

When a network sends packets between stations by routes that may vary depending on which route is the best available at the time.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics,Working groups 3, 4 and 5. (1997). Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet: Draft Guidelines.

Participant Roles

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

Roles recognized by the health system that participate in events affecting the health of people: 

• Provider
• Governor
• Manager
• Recipient
• Researcher
• Educator
• Worker
• Family member

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

People

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity. 

Persons and groups of interest to the health system. The characteristics of persons and groups are those states that describe or affect the health of persons or populations. 

• Person
• Group
• Organization
• Community

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

People Event

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

Events that change the state of characteristics of persons or groups: 

Person examples: 

• Vital events – birth, death, marriage, adoption, divorce
• Employment – gaining ajob, changing jobs, losing a job
• Education – receiving a diploma, taking a course, dropping out of high school
• Exposure – coming into contact with a health affecting-agent (micro-organism, radiation)
• People activities – fighting, eating, sleeping.. or not

Group Examples: 

• Election
• Gaining/losing new businesses
• Advertisement campaign
• Common exposure to a health-affecting agent

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Person

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of People entity. 

A human being, alive or not.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Personal Health Information

Information about:

• An identifiable individual’s health or health care history;
• Provision of health care to the individual;
• Payment for health care provided to the individual;
• Any personal health identification number or code;
• Genetic information about the individual; or
• Demographic information or information about the provider of health care to the individual if:
• That information is linked to other information about the individual’s health or health care; or
• The information can be associated with other personal health information about the individual.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Personal Information

Information about the characteristics or activities of an identifiable person, including information about individuals who may not be explicitly identified, but whose identity could be inferred from elements of the data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

Personal Information

Information about the characteristics or activities of an identifiable person, including information about individuals who may not be explicitly identified, but whose identity could be inferred from elements of the data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

Personal/person identifiable information

Information about the characteristics or activities of an identifiable natural person, including information about individuals who may not be explicitly identified, but whose identify could be inferred from elements of the data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 3: Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

Personal/Person Identifiable Information

Information about the characteristics or activities of an identifiable natural person, including information about individuals who may not be explicitly identified, but whose identity could be inferred from elements of the data.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Perspective

A mental view or outlook.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Pharmacy Claim Standard

A common claim format for insurance carriers to use, with the aim of providing real-time claims processing (data collection and payment) through a single device in the pharmacy linked to networks and carriers while avoiding 'double-keying' information.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997). Health Information Exchange Protocols - Profile # P-1. Ottawa: CIHI

Picture Archiving and Communication Systems (PACS)

Systems that can store, distribute, retrieve and display images.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

Pixel

The smallest discrete part of a video image, the size of which is controlled by the analog-to-digital conversion sampling process and subsequent other compression processes. The more picture elements per line, the higher the resolution of the image. To convert the number of H pixels to a close approximation of TV lines of resolution for the NTSC system, simply multiply the number of H pixels by 0.78. Furthermore, each 80 TV lines of resolution (NTSC) requires 1 MHz of analog bandwidth for transmission.

The Communications Library

http://www.wcom.com/tools-resources/
communications_library/

PKI

Public Key Infrastructure, a conceptual framework that enables the encryption, decryption and electronic "signing" of data transmissions in a secure fashion within an open network environment.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Place

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of environment entity: 

A name and a set of coordinates which allows any point or area to be represented in space.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Plug-and-Play

The ability for applications that interchange data to do so without intervening gateways, requiring only a minimal on-site implementation effort to achieve interoperation and supporting a common set of system management capabilities to simplify the maintenance of a distributed system of interoperating applications.

Andover Group glossary

http://www.interactive.hp.com/
mpgawg/glossary.html

Policies

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

A statement of value, direction or intent that compels or constrains the behavior of specified people. Includes: legislation, regulations, guidelines, standard operating procedures, rules and protocols.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Privacy

Right of an individual to control the circulation of information about him-/herself within social relationships; freedom from unreasonable interference in an individual's private life; an individual's right to protection of data regarding him/her against misuse or unjustified publication.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics (1996). Working Group 1: Health Information Model Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper. CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

Private key

In asymmetric cryptography, the key which is held only by the user for signing and decrypting messages.

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper. Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Process

A series of actions, changes, or functions, bringing about a result.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1997) Working Group 1 (Health Data Model) Lexicon.

Programs

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

A defined collection of potential services which: 

• seeks to achieve specific goals and objectives;
• is delivered by one or one or more delivery organizations;
• has resources defined;
• is ideally measured against a set of standards
• is directed toward specific targeted people.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Protocol

A way of doing things that has become an agree-upon convention, or "role." In electronic communication, if several systems use the same protocols, they operate in a similar way and can easily exchange data. Standard protocols have evolved on a national and international basis for data exchange, language translation and use of the Internet, to name a few. 

Provider

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role: 

A person or organization that provides goods or services in the health system.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Psycho-social status

Information about feelings, mood, personal efficacy, coping skills, and acculturation.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

Public key

In asymmetric cryptography, the key which is published by the user to encrypt messages and so that others may verify his/her signature.

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper. Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Public Key Certificate

A data record that authenticates the owner of a public key for an asymmetrical key system. It is issued by a CA and is protected by a digital signature, allowing the certificate to be verified widely.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document.

Public-Key Cryptography Standards (PKCS)

Cryptography standards developed by RSA Laboratories, a division of RSA Data Security Inc., that describes the syntax for messages and gives complete details about encryption algorithms.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Push technology

The automatic delivery of web news and other information without a request from the user. Unlike web pages and most e-mail where a user downloads or "pulls" information each time in order to view it, push technology requires a user to register only once and sends the news as it becomes available, without further prompting.

Read Codes

A nomenclature for use by all health service professionals to describe clinical care, developed in the UK and updated quarterly.

Computer Aided Medical Systems 

http://www.mcis.duke.edu/standards/

termcode/read.htm

Recipient

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role: 

A person or group that receives goods or services from the health system

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Red Pike

A British encryption algorithm developed for use by non-central government organizations.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Registration Authority

An entity (group or agency) that has been delegated by a CA to perform a specific set of ‘rusted authority’ functions within PKI.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Relational database

A database where all information is arranged in tables containing predefined fields. Using structured query language, reports and comparisons can be generated by selecting fields of interest from the original database and creating new tables. Changing a field in one record automatically changes the same record in all related databases, allowing for easy global updating. 

Research

In the contex of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance event: 

Investigation into the causes and effects of a subject of interest. These activities are not on-going, rather they are ad-hoc and on-time. Research studies may be repeated and/or replicated but each one can only be done once. The focus of research activities is with testing hypotheses and establishing causal relationships. Research can be linked back to public health surveillance. For example: the realization that too many children were being diagnosed with S enteriditis in the ‘Lunchables’ outbreak, was a health surveillance activity. The investigation of the outbreak was a research activity.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Researcher

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of participant role: 

A person or group that tests hypotheses to further the state of knowledge about any aspect of the health system

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Resolution

The ability of an imaging system to differentiate between objects.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.2 (DICOM). (1997). Diagnostic Imaging Briefing Package.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 5.3. (1997). Canadian Association of Radiologists: National Standard for Teleradiology.

Resource Event

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

Events which increase or decrease the capability and capacity of the "inventory" of any of the resources available to the health system.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Resources

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, an entity: 

A thing of value to the health system which is applied to achieve the objectives of the health system. The value may be monetary (equipment, buildings, bank accounts, investments), or non-monetary, (employees, volunteers). 

• Human - the skills and time of people are the human resources of interest
• Financial
• Equipment
• Supplies
• Buildings
• Facility - An enabling capability that assembles the resources required to provide services and is administered by an organization nformation - Data, information, intelligence

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Risk

The chance of a vulnerability being exploited.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

Risk Assessment

An evaluation of the chance of vulnerabilities being exploited, based on the effectiveness of existing or proposed safeguards or countermeasures.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

RSA (Rivest, Shamir and Adelman)

A public key cryptography algorithm developed by mathematicians Rivest, Shamir and Adelman at MIT (Massachusetts Institute of Technology).

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper, Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

Security

In information systems, the degree to which data, databases, or other assets are protected from exposure to accidental or malicious disclosure, interruption, unauthorized access, modification, removal or destruction.

CPRI. (1995). Guidelines for Establishing Information Security Policies at Organizations Using Computer-based Patient Records. Schaumburg: Work Group on Confidentiality, Privacy and Security, Computer-based Patient Record Institute. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Sub-Group 3.1. (1998). Canadian Framework for Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security of Health Information: a Position Paper

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 5: Advanced Health Technologies Background Document.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Security education and awareness program

An education and awareness program directed to all health service personnel throughout an organization that includes the concepts of security, confidentiality, data integrity, and privacy.

CIHI. (1998). Guidelines for Promoting a Privacy, Confidentiality, Data Integrity, and Security Education and Awareness Program: A Framework for Action. Ottawa: CIHI.

Service Recipient Event

An entity within the context of the Canadian Health Data Model.

A specialized type of people event which intends to affect the health of a person or group (the service recipient). The act of providing a specific service to a service recipient by a service provider at a place during a time period. Previously referred to as a Service Event. The rationale for the name change is that the event is named for the object that it acts on. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Services

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

An activity by people which consumes resources and is intended to directly or indirectly affect the wellbeing of an identified population: includes administrative services, support services as well as direct intervention services.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

SGML (Standard General Markup Language)

An overall standard of which HTML (HyperText Markup Language), the authoring tool for WWW (World Wide Web) pages, is a subset.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

Signature Algorithm

An algorithm that transforms a message of any length under a private key to a signature in such a way that is computationally infeasible to find two messages with the same signature, to find a message with a given, predetermined signature, or to find the signature of a given message without knowledge of the private key.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Smart Cards

A portable, updatable card that can be used to store personal identification, medial history and insurance information. Because it has its own microprocessing chip, a smart card can store thousands more bits of information than a magnetic stripe card, although it requires a special card-reading device.

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98) 

SNOMED International

A nomenclature for use by all health services professionals, developed in the US and updated at least semi-annually.

College of American Pathologists:

http://www.snomed.org

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/ Telematics, Working Group 2 (Data Content Standards) Implementation Project. (1998). A Survey of Vendor Activity Related to Health Nomenclatures and Classifications. (1998)

Socio-economic status

Information about income, education, and occupation.

The Health Information Framework, 1997

Sonographer

A technologist approved by the regional licensing body to perform diagnostic ultrasound services.

Members of CAR, CAMRT, and WG4 members. (1998). The Canadian Association of Radiologists’ (CAR) Position Paper on Teleradiology (Draft-Sept.98)

Sonologist

A radiologist or other imaging physician approved by the regional licensing body to perform and interpret diagnostic ultrasound services.

Members of CAR, CAMRT, and WG4 members. (1998). The Canadian Association of Radiologists’ (CAR) Position Paper on Teleradiology (Draft-Sept.98)

Standard

Documented agreements containing technical specifications or other precise criteria to be used consistently as rules, guidelines, or definitions of characteristics to ensure that materials, products, processes, and services are fit for their purpose.

ISO (International Organization for Standardization), 1996.

Standard Generalized Markup Language (SGML)

See definition for SGML above.

Store-and-forward operation

A network delivery method that does not use real-time communication. Text or image data are received by the network and held for later delivery. "Later" can be less than a minute or several hours, depending on the type of communications and network delivery protocols. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Strategies/Tactics

In the context of the Canadian Health Data Model, a type of governance: 

What actions are intended to move toward the goals and objectives in the short term and the longer term.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Data Model Project Team. (1998). Canadian Data Model – Entity Definitions.

Symmetric algorithm

A cryptographic algorithm in which the same key is used for encryption and decryption. Hence the encryption key cannot be made public as this would immediately expose the decryption key (which is the key that needs to remain secret).

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

Symmetric key cryptography

Cryptographic processes in which encryption and decryption rely on the same secret key.

Inkster, P. Mark. (1997). A Technology Assessment for Biometric Encryption: A Discussion Paper, Ottawa: Canadian Institute for Health Information.

T1, T3, and T4

Types of transmission lines in the T-carrier telecommunications system. T1 lines can transmit about 1.5 M bps of data. A T3 line contains 28 T1 lines together and can transmit about 45 times the data of a single T1, enough for full-motion video. Six T lines make one T4 line, capable of transmitting about 274 M bps. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

TCP/IP

TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) is the basic communication language or protocol of the Internet. It can also be used as a communications protocol in the private networks called intranets and in extranets. 

TCP/IP is a two-layered program. The higher layer, Transmission Control Protocol, manages the assembling of a message or file into smaller packets that are transmitted over the Internet and received by a TCP layer that reassembles the packets into the original message. The lower layer, Internet Protocol, handles the address part of each packet so that it gets to the right destination. 

http://www.whatis.com

Telecommunications

The use of wire, radio, optical, or other electromagnetic channels to transmit or receive signals for voice, data, and video communications.

Monash Telehealth – Glossary of Terms 

Telehealth

A broad term describing the combined efforts of health telecommunication, information technology and health education to improve the efficiency and quality of healthcare. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Telemedicine

As a segment of telehealth, telemedicine focuses on the provider aspects of healthcare telecommunications, especially medical imaging technology. 

Healthcare Informatics (Jan. ’98)

Third Party

Any individual, group of individuals, or organization which is not the patient/client or the original data collector or custodian.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), project team 3.4 (Secure Exchange of Information over the Internet). 1998. A Framework for Utilizing Public Key Infrastructure as a shared security and Authentication Standard for Electronic Health Information Applications.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Project Team 3.1 (Privacy Legislation and Guidelines). 1998. Principles for the Protection of Personal Health Information : A discussion Paper.

Third Party Trust

A situation in which individuals may implicitly trust each other because of the relationship they share with a common third party.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, the Secure Exchange of Health Information over the Internet (SEHII) sub-group. (April 1998). Public Key Infrastructure: Background Document

Threat

Any potential event or act, deliberate or accidental, that could cause unauthorized disclosure, destruction, removal, modification, or interruption of sensitive information, assets or services, or injury to people.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, and Security), Sub-group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

Threat and risk assessment

An evaluation of the nature, likelihood, and consequences of acts or events that could place sensitive data and assets at risk.

COACH. (1995). Security and Privacy Guidelines for Health Information Systems. Edmonton: Canadian Association for the Advancement of Computers in Health.

Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP)

A set of non-proprietary communications protocols used for Internet communication. 

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 4: Information Exchange Protocols Background document.

Trusted Third Party (TTP)

An organization trusted by parties wishing to exchange cryptographically secured messages to manage cryptographic keys on their behalf. TTPs may also provide other services relating to the use of cryptographic facilities.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality and Security), Sub-Group 3.3 (Technical Standards) (1997). Cryptographic Standards: A Background Document.

UMLS (Unified Medical Language System)

A long-term research project developed by the US National Library of Medicine to assist health professionals and researchers to retrieve and integrate clinical vocabularies from a wide variety of information sources. The goal is to link information from scientific literature, patient records, factual databases, knowledge-based expert systems, and directories of institutions and individuals in health and health services.

CIHI. (1997). Terminology, Classification & Nomenclature – Profile #2.Ottawa: CIHI.

Universal patient identifier

A standardized, permanent, unique identifier that links the individual patient to his/her related health information. It is used for all encounters in the spectrum of the longitudinal health record.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 6: Health Identification Systems Background Document.

Utilization management

Management of the measures of consumption of health services.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics. (1996). Working Group 6: Health Identification Systems Background Document.

Virus

A computer program, typically hidden, that attaches itself to other programs and has the ability to replicate. In personal computers, they are generally replicated by inadvertent human action and, when executed, result in undesired side effects unanticipated by the user.

CPRI. (1996). Glossary of Terms Related to Information Security. Schaumburg: Work Group on Confidentiality, Privacy and Security, Computer-based Patient Record Institute.

Vulnerability

Weakness.

CIHI – Partnership for Health Informatics/Telematics, Working Group 3 (Privacy, Confidentiality, Security), Sub-group 3.3. (March 1998). Threat and Risk Assessment: a Background Document.

WAN (wide area network)

Computer network extending beyond a local area such as a campus or office.

Guide to Medical Informatics, The Internet and Telemedicine:

http://www.coiera.com/glossary.htm

X12

A committee chartered by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) to develop uniform standards for interindustry electronic interchange of business transactions—electronic data interchange (EDI). 

Disa Home Page:

http://www.disa.mil/disahomejs.html

X12N

The principle responsibilities of ASC X12N Insurance Subcommittee are development and maintenance of X12 standards, standards interpretations and guidelines, and UN/EDIFACT Messages (UNSMs). 

X12N Standards Links:

http://dumccss.mc.duke.edu/
standards/X12N/x12.htm