Diagnostic code book first published in 1976 for classifying morphology of neoplasms. Of the five digits, the first four identify the histology of the neoplasm and the fifth identifies the neoplasm as either benign, uncertain, carcinoma in situ, primary malignant, secondary malignant, or unknown whether primary or secondary. Cancer registry centers in hospitals and ambulatory care centers use this code system for classification of tumors. Also known as morphology of neoplasms .

Diagnostic code book that uses a system for classifying diseases and operations to assist collection of uniform and comparable health information. It has been modified, will be implemented on October 1, 2013, and will replace ICD-9-CM Volumes 1 and 2 when submitting insurance claims for billing hospital and physician office medical services. Presently it is used for mortality reporting in the United States.

Procedural code system developed by 3M Health Information Systems (HIS) under contract with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). When implemented on October 1, 2013, it will replace ICD-9-CM Volume 3 for hospital inpatient procedure reporting in the United States.

Classification coding system developed by the World Health Organization (WHO) that is used to report an individual’s functional capabilities or limits in situations that are the result of disease. The disease is not identified. This reporting system is not used in the United States but is being investigated at the National Center for Health Statistics for possible future use.

Code system developed in Australia and distributed by the World Health Organization (WHO) to other countries. It is used to report interventions and procedures for the purpose of collecting data.

Organization that coordinates the development and adoption of numerous international standards. ISO is not an acronym but rather the Greek word for “equal.”

Medicare regulations online that replaced guidelines previously printed as paper-based manuals.

Doctor who finds and treats health problems in adults.

Ability of different information technology systems and software applications to communicate; exchange data accurately, effectively, and consistently; and use the information that has been exchanged. This is a definition created by member organizations of the National Alliance for Health Information Technology available online at www.nahit.org .

For e-prescriptions, able to communicate and exchange data accurately, effectively, securely, and consistently with different information technology systems, software applications, and networks in various settings and exchange data such that the clinical or operational purpose and meaning of the data are preserved and unaltered.