Numeric designation preceded by the letter “E” that is a classification of International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) coding for external causes of injury rather than disease. E codes are also used in coding adverse reactions to medications and should not be used as a principal diagnosis because the insurance carrier will reject the claim. Their use identifies causes of injury and poisoning and can be important in obtaining payment from insurance payers. The index for the E codes is located in Volume 2, following the Table of Drugs and Chemicals. Also known as the Supplementary Classification of External Causes of Injury and Poisoning (E800-E999) .

Use of electronic mail and the telephone to answer patients’ questions, prevent unnecessary office visits, and consult online with other physicians. Insurers may or may not reimburse providers for e-care using CPT code 0074T for online medical evaluation. Physicians who offer this service have patients either prepay an annual fee for unlimited online messaging or pay a predetermined amount for each e-visit (fee-for-service model).

Any transaction done using the Internet, such as purchasing medical supplies, books, and products and services and transmitting prescriptions and insurance claims. Many pharmacies will not accept electronic prescriptions, and transmission to pharmacies is illegal in some states.
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The buying and selling of goods by way of electronic media, such as the Internet.

Conducting health-related and health-care related transactions and communication via the Internet. This may include e-mail messages, consumers’ putting their personal medical records on the Web, providers allowing patients to access their medical records, websites that give information on diseases and methods of treating them, and buying health-related products and services.

Phrase that describes any and all transactions in which health care information is accessed, processed, stored, and transferred using electronic technologies.

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.

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

Discussion with a patient and/or family concerning treatment, results of diagnostic studies, recommended management, prognosis, and education of the disease process.