E-signature

Act of attaching a signature by electronic means. The e-signature process involves authentication of the signer’s identity, a signature process according to system design and software instructions, binding of the signature to the document, and nonalterability after the signature has been affixed to the document. Types of e-signatures are (1) simple, electronic image of a person’s signature; (2) digital signature—a more complex, technology-specific electronic signature that uses a level of authentication to verify that the person sending the information actually owns the signature; this type of signature is similar to a public key infrastructure and uses the exchange of keys (i.e., digital certificates and encryption algorithms) for authentication; and (3) the “click here if you agree” section of online click-through forms.

E.D.I. or EDIFACT

Electronic Data Interchange for Administration, Commerce and Transport, from the Un-backed electronic data interchange standards body to create electronic versions of common business documents that will work on a global scale. One digital document under consideration, the International Forwarding and Transport Message singularly will do the job of various electronic messages currently in use.

E.M.L.

Estimated Maximum Loss : An expression used in Fire, explosion and material damage policies only. An estimate of the monetary loss which could be sustained by insurers on a single risk as a result of a single fire or explosion considered by the underwriter to be within the realms of possibility.

E/M

Acronym that means evaluation and management services described and coded in the Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) code book.