Glossary of Healthcare Terms

There are three defined "levels" of supervision for nonphysician practitioners, listed in order of increasing requirements (1) general physician not required to be present, (2) direct physician is immediately available, and (3) personal physician is in the room.

A provider of healthcare services, other than a practitioner, that is permitted to bill under Medicare Part B, including DME, prosthetics, orthotics, x-ray, etc.

A complex and dynamic system through which information and supplies flow upstream and downstream between manufacturers, distributors, purchasers, providers, and consumers.

"As muscles contract, microvolt level electrical signals are created within the muscle that may be measured from the surface of the body. A procedure that measures muscle activity from the skin is referred to as surface electromyography (SEMG)"

An acute care hospital with at least 45 percent of its Medicare discharges involving a surgical procedure.

Suspects are potential clients that have been identified by the consultant. Once identified information is gathered on them, including size of practice, location, site, specialty(s), services, ownership, financial status, and so forth This information is often stored in the consultant's contacts database.

“The SGR is the current mechanism for updating payment rates for physicians’ services and has two key components: an expenditures
target level (measured both annually and cumulatively), and a method for adjusting payment rates over time in an attempt to bring expenditures in line with the target level.”

MSOs created, funded, and essentially governed by hospitals.