Category: I

The 1975 revision of the World Health Organization (WHO) series of statistical classifications, which was expanded for North American use into the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM). One often finds reference to use of ICD-9 as the disease classification system being employed in clinical settings, research, and reimbursement systems in the…

An extension of the neoplasm chapter (Chapter II) of the International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems (ICD-10), published by the World Health Organization, Geneva, 1990. Although listed as the second edition, the first edition was an extension of The International Classification of Diseases, Injuries, and Causes of Death, Ninth Revision.  

A classification and coding system developed by the Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities (CPHA) for certain hospital-provided services in order to standardize patient care data and to facilitate computer handling of those data. Schemas are available for laboratory services, diagnostic imaging, and drugs. Similar schemas are under development for supplies, anesthesia, cardiology, respiratory therapy,…

A variety of home health care which includes daily care for a two- to three-week period and thereafter under “exceptional circumstances.”  

A portion of a skilled nursing facility (SNF) which is organized so as to provide “intermediate care” (the other portion of the SNF, that portion giving “skilled nursing care,” would be the facility’s “skilled nursing unit” (SNU)). Rarely is an intermediate care unit a portion of an acute hospital. The acronym ICU for an intermediate…

A free-standing facility which provides intermediate care for mentally retarded patients.  

A plan required by federal regulations for each patient in a long-term care facility (LTCF). The plan must define the patient’s problems and needs, and must also set forth measurable goals, approaches to the care, and the profession (department or service) responsible for the care of the patient. An IPCP is sometimes referred to by…

A tort where the wrongdoing consists of outrageous conduct which causes extreme mental suffering. This tort is also called outrage. Deliberate destruction of a person’s peace of mind; a common law tort. The conduct must be outrageous and beyond all bounds of decency; ordinary rude or insulting behavior is not enough. In those rare cases…

The telephone system of the future. ISDN is a technology which permits transmission of data on telephone lines at an extremely high speed, roughly 27 times faster than traditional technology. It uses digital signals instead of analog, and is therefore very popular among users who use telephone lines to connect computers to each other. Because…

A group of hospitals, physicians, other providers, insurers, and/or community agencies that work together to coordinate and deliver a broad spectrum of services to their community. This definition is from the 1995-96 AHA Guide, which has for the first time a listing of “integrated health delivery networks.” The Guide notes that it has identified networks…