| Wireless Health Glossary |
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The West Wireless Health Institute (WWHI) created this glossary to define commonly used and often confused terms within the wireless health universe. We recognize that these terms have various interpretations, as well as points of overlap. Multiple sources are therefore cited and reflected in the definitions below. WWHI will continue to build the glossary with terms that are pervasive in the ecosystem. Download a copy of WWHI Glossary here. Wireless health – The use of wireless technologies for personal health management and health care delivery. Encompasses solutions that facilitate continuous access to health care information, expert advice, or therapeutic intervention enabled by ubiquitous telecommunication networks. Example applications include real-time monitoring, medication compliance and imaging. (WWHI) Infrastructure IndependenceSM health care model – Coined by the West Wireless Health Institute, this is the ability to extend care to a patient regardless of physical or geographic location – "the right care, at the right time, wherever a person may be." The Infrastructure IndependenceSM health care model mitigates unsustainable and unnecessary health care costs such as preventable hospital readmissions. (WWHI) Algorithm – A step-by-step computation for solving a problem in a finite number of steps. In wireless health applications, an algorithm can be an automated program that operates on a number of distinct variables to arrive at a desired result, such as one that takes as inputs a series of glucose readings and provides as outputs the timing and amounts of insulin administration. (WWHI) Analytics (advanced) – Applying sophisticated techniques to data to identify significant trends and insights, and better predict and forecast outcomes. Advanced analytics aids real-time decision making and assists clinicians in examining large sets of patient data, finding new data relationships and tracking emerging trends. (WWHI) Biomarker - A characteristic that is objectively measured and evaluated as an indicator of normal biologic processes, pathogenic processes, or pharmacologic responses to a therapeutic intervention. Within wireless health, common uses will be in aiding diagnosis, as well as in therapeutic interventions such as medication titration. Biometrics – The science and technology of measuring and analyzing biological data. Includes technologies that measure and analyze human body characteristics, such as DNA, fingerprints, eye retinas and irises, and voice and facial patterns, for authentication purposes. In wireless health, biometric data can be collected by a sensor, run through an algorithm or data mining program, and then monitored by a clinician for diagnostic and/or therapeutic purposes. Clinical decision support - Generally computer-based or digital tools that aid or enhance health care delivery. Systems can encompass algorithms, computerized alerts and reminders, clinical guidelines, patient data reports, and clinical workflow tools. Data mining - In health care, the process of extracting patterns from data sets to define the effect of current patient behavior, diagnoses and interventions on future outcomes and costs. Will be an important analytical tool in wireless health for extracting relevant and actionable data. eCare – The remote monitoring, evaluation and management of an individual through the use of technology that allows a remote interface to collect and transmit clinical data between the individual and a health care provider for the purposes of clinical review, care management, and patient education. (Continua Health Alliance) Electronic Health Record (EHR) – A digital record of patient health information generated by one or more encounters in any care delivery setting. Included in this information are patient demographics, progress notes, diagnoses, medications, vital signs, medical history, immunizations, laboratory data and radiology reports. Also known as Electronic Medical Record (EMR). (HIMSS) Health 2.0 - The use of Web-based and social networking tools to facilitate communication and information exchange between and among patients, caregivers, medical professionals, and other health care stakeholders. (Health 2.0) Health care informatics – The effective organization, analysis, management, and use of information to support patient care, public health, teaching, research and administration. Includes the design, implementation, and use of systems that manage the increasingly complex and voluminous information in health care delivery and research. (AMIA) Health information technology (Health IT) – The use of information and communication technology in health care. Health IT can include electronic health records, clinical alerts and reminders, computerized decision support systems, hand-held devices, and other technologies that store, protect, retrieve and transfer clinical, administrative, and financial information electronically within health care settings. (HHS/HRSA) Interoperability - Interoperability - The ability of a system or product to work with other systems or products without special effort by the user. In health care, the concept extends to "plug-and-play" interoperability – the ability to take a medical device out of its box and easily make it work with other devices. (IEEE, CIMIT) mHealth - The delivery of health care services via mobile communication devices such as cell phones. Applications range from targeted text messages to promote healthy behavior to wide-scale alerts about disease outbreaks. The proliferation of cell phones across the globe, even in locales without basic health care infrastructure, is spurring the growth of mHealth in developing countries. Also known as mobile health. (UN Foundation / mHealth Alliance, WWHI) Personal Health Record (PHR) – A digital record of personal health information that is maintained by an individual (as opposed to a hospital or health care system). (WWHI) Smart sensor - A device that measures a signal or signals, processes data from the signal(s), and seamlessly integrates with wireless networks to transmit the data. In health care, such sensors are used in real-time monitoring of a variety of parameters (movement, temperature, blood pressure, oxygen and glucose levels, heart rate, etc) and medication compliance. (WWHI) Telehealth - Often used as a synonym for telemedicine, but also includes non-clinical practices such as continuing medical education and nursing call centers. (American Telemedicine Association) Telemedicine - Medical information exchanged from one site to another via electronic communication to improve patients' health status. Videoconferencing, transmission of still images, and remote monitoring are all considered part of telemedicine. Telemedicine has been traditionally limited to fixed locations for reimbursement purposes and is often associated with extending the reach of physicians to rural or remote locations. (American Telemedicine Association) Wireless monitoring – The use of mobile devices and sensors to track and transmit patient health data to a clinician, caregiver or call center. Wireless monitoring circumvents some of the issues associated with older remote monitoring technology such as unwieldy equipment, fixed locations, and a lack of integration of different sensors. (WWHI, Science Daily)
GLOSSARY SOURCES For more background on these terms, please consult the following resources. Unless otherwise noted, all content cited from the Web was current as of June 4, 2010. eCare Biomarkers Biometrics Clinical decision support Data mining Electronic Health Record (EHR) Health 2.0 Health care informatics Health IT Interoperability mHealth Personal health record (PHR) Telehealth and Telemedicine Wireless Monitoring |