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Healthcare Data Dictionary for the Modern Data Stack
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Domain

Operations

Scheduling, facilities, departments, workflows, and staff

6,492 operations terms

Fraud, Waste, and AbuseFWA

FWA encompasses improper billing practices detected across claims, EHR, and PBM systems. Data engineers flag FWA patterns via anomaly detection on procedure codes, diagnosis clustering, provider NPI behavior, and pharmacy dispensing frequency to support CMS compliance and SIU investigations.

Generic Effective RateGER

GER is a PBM and pharmacy analytics metric expressing the actual per-unit cost paid for generic drugs after rebates, discounts, and network adjustments. Used in formulary performance reporting, contract benchmarking, and drug cost trend analysis pipelines to evaluate generic dispensing efficiency against MAC pricing benchmarks.

Global Harmonization Task ForceGHTF

Abbreviated as GHTF, this international body established guidelines for harmonizing medical device regulatory requirements across member countries. Referenced in healthcare data systems managing medical device master files, regulatory submissions, and supply chain records to ensure compliance with internationally aligned device classification and post-market surveillance standards.

Group Purchasing OrganizationGPO

An entity that aggregates purchasing volume for healthcare providers, hospitals, or pharmacies to negotiate contracts and pricing with pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical suppliers. In PBM and supply chain data systems, GPO contract identifiers are used to determine drug pricing tiers and rebate eligibility.

HCAHPS composite scorehcahps_comp_scr

A composite numeric score derived from the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems survey, aggregating patient responses across domains including communication with nurses, communication with doctors, hospital environment, pain management, communication about medicines, and discharge information. HCAHPS scores are publicly reported on Hospital Compare and affect Medicare value-based purchasing payments.

Health Information ExchangeHIE

A network infrastructure enabling the secure electronic sharing of clinical and administrative health information across disparate healthcare organizations, EHR systems, and payers. Supports interoperability standards such as HL7 and FHIR to facilitate care coordination, reduce redundancy, and improve data liquidity across healthcare ecosystems.

Health Information Trust AllianceHITRUST

A certifying body establishing a standardized security and privacy framework for protecting sensitive health information across healthcare organizations. HITRUST CSF certification is widely recognized in EHR, claims, and health IT environments as a benchmark for HIPAA compliance and data security risk management.

Health Maintenance OrganizationHMO

A managed care health plan model requiring members to select a primary care physician who coordinates all care and provides referrals to specialists within the plan network. HMOs typically have lower premiums and no out-of-network coverage. Member enrollment and claims data are tracked in payer data systems.

IV Roomiv_rm

A designated pharmacy workspace within hospital EHR and pharmacy information systems where intravenous preparations are compounded and tracked. IV room workflows integrate with medication dispensing, sterile compounding logs, and clinical documentation systems to ensure dose accuracy and compliance.

Individually Identifiable Health InformationIIHI

Any health information in EHR, claims, or administrative systems that can be used to identify a specific individual and relates to their past, present, or future health condition, care provision, or payment. IIHI is governed under HIPAA Privacy Rule and must be safeguarded by covered entities and business associates.

Intensive Care UnitICU

A facility revenue center classification used in hospital billing, claims, and EHR systems to identify high-acuity inpatient services. ICU encounters carry distinct revenue codes, DRG groupings, and nurse-to-patient ratios that affect reimbursement rates in UB-04 claims and case-mix calculations in cost analytics platforms.

Interest Amountpmt_int_amt

A financial field in claims payment and accounts payable systems representing additional interest charges assessed when an insurer or payer fails to process a claim within state-mandated prompt payment deadlines. Stored as pmt_int_amt in payment transaction tables and reconciled against remittance advice records in revenue cycle management systems.

International UnitIU

A standardized measurement unit used in pharmacy, EHR, and PBM systems to quantify biological substances such as insulin, vitamins, and vaccines where mass-based measurements are insufficient. IU values appear in prescription drug records, dose calculation fields, and medication administration logs to ensure accurate dispensing and clinical documentation.

Lead Timelead_tm

The elapsed duration between a medication order initiation and its fulfillment or delivery in pharmacy and supply chain systems. Tracked in EHR, specialty pharmacy, and PBM platforms to measure dispensing efficiency, manage prior authorization delays, and support medication adherence and operational reporting.

Long Term CareLTC

Category of healthcare services and facilities in claims, enrollment, and Medicaid data systems covering skilled nursing facilities, custodial care, and home health for chronically ill or disabled members. LTC benefit carve-outs require distinct eligibility, billing codes, and cost reporting logic.

Management Services OrganizationMSO

An administrative entity that provides operational, billing, contracting, and IT infrastructure services to physician practices or medical groups in healthcare systems. In EHR and claims data, the MSO may appear as the billing or administrative entity managing provider credentialing, payer contracts, and revenue cycle workflows.

Master Formula Recordmstr_frmla_rec

A standardized pharmacy or compounding document that specifies the ingredients, quantities, preparation procedures, and quality controls for a drug formulation. In PBM and pharmacy systems, the master formula record governs compounding workflows, inventory management, and regulatory compliance documentation.

Medical Loss RatioMLR

A regulatory financial metric defined under ACA as the ratio of incurred medical claims costs to earned premium revenue, reported at plan and market segment level. Payers must maintain MLR thresholds (80–85%) or issue member rebates. Calculated from claims and premium tables in financial reporting and actuarial data systems.

Medical Surgical UnitMed-Surg

An inpatient care unit designation stored in facility location master tables within EHR and hospital information systems. Used to route admission and bed management workflows, assign nursing staff, and classify inpatient encounter records in claims and cost accounting systems for DRG-based reimbursement analysis.

MetforminMET

A first-line oral biguanide antidiabetic medication used to manage Type 2 diabetes. In pharmacy, PBM, and EHR systems, Metformin is tracked by NDC code, formulary tier, prescription fill history, and medication adherence metrics for chronic disease management and quality reporting programs such as HEDIS.

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