Uniting health care facilities under the control of a few health care organizations through mergers, acquisitions, alliances, and formation of contractual networks. This process is related to integration. See integration.
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UK: The combining of separate shipments from two or more shippers for one or more consignees into one container. See CONSOLIDATION CLAUSE.

In a workers’ compensation case, pain approximately 90% to 100% of the time.

In workers’ compensation cases, any indication of disease perceived by the patient (symptoms) that occur approximately 90% to 100% of the time.

Vital signs (temperature, pulse, respiration, blood pressure) and an assessment of an individual’s general well-being.

Physical delivery of an insurance policy either to the insured or to the insurance agent of the applicant.
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Intentionally relinquishing control over a policy and turning it over to someone acting for the policy owner such as when an insurer mails the policy to its own agent for delivery to the policy owner. Legally, an insurance policy is considered delivered when mailed or turned over the policy owner or someone acting on his behalf.

Individual who by training and experience has acquired special knowledge in a subject area (medical, dental, or other medical specialty) and is recognized by a peer group as an expert and provides professional advice or medical services on request.

1. Act of requesting advice from another physician or medical specialist about diagnosis or treatment of a patient. 2. In the Medicare program, services rendered by a physician (specialist, professional advisor, or qualified nonphysician practitioner) whose opinion or advice is requested by another physician, agency, or primary care provider in the evaluation or treatment of a patient’s illness or a suspected problem. The consultant reviews the history, does an examination of the patient, and provides a written opinion to the requesting physician. 3. In coding procedures, this is a type of service provided by a physician whose opinion or advice regarding evaluation and/or management of a specific medical problem is requested by another physician or other appropriate source. A physician consultant may initiate diagnostic and/or therapeutic services at the same or subsequent visit. The written or verbal request for a consult and the medical reason for it may be made by a physician or other appropriate source and documented in the patient’s medical record. The consultant’s opinion and any services that were ordered or performed must also be documented in the patient’s medical record and communicated by written report to the requesting physician or other appropriate source. Remember the 3R’s for documentation for both physicians: written or verbal request and medical reason , render opinion and document findings, and report to requesting physician. Also called medical consultation.

A physician who is paid a fee to examine and/or test a person for disability under either the SSDI or SSI program.

Registered nurse (RN) trained to assess medical problems by telephone and advise patients where to obtain medical care, as well as what treatment to do at home for symptoms.

Provider whose opinion or advice regarding evaluation and/or management of a specific problem is requested by another physician. This may involve either examining the patient or the patient’s medical record.