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MHS Health Care Glossary

Military Health System Health Care Glossary serves as the official repository and consolidated reference (as a secondary source) for terms and definitions used within the MHS. Some terms may have multiple and varying definitions based on the context and primary source of authority. Note that certain definitions may be approved only for limited use in a single primary reference document, while others may have broad applicability in multiple contexts and issuances. To determine the most appropriate definition in a particular context, consult all relevant source documents. Any disparities between this Glossary and primary sources are unintentional, and the primary source shall control.

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Glossary Term
Dec 29, 2015

Completed Military Service

Includes active duty service, all service as a member of the Selected Reserve, the Individual Ready Reserve, the Standby Reserve, the Retired Reserve, or the Retired Regular Permanent.

Glossary Term
Dec 29, 2015

Forensic Medicine Disciplines

Those forensic disciplines supporting the DoD’s medical missions. They include but are not limited to, forensic pathology, forensic anthropology, forensic odontology, deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sciences, forensic toxicology, and mortality surveillance.

Glossary Term
Dec 29, 2015

Forensic Pathology Investigation

A systematic process of gathering, recording, and preserving evidence and information for purposes of positive identification of the deceased, documentation of trauma and preexisting conditions, and investigative correlations to include an interpretation of injury patterns. The goal of a forensic pathology investigation is to determine a cause and manner ...

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

TRICARE

The DOD health care program that provides health care coverage for medical services, medications, and dental care for military families, retirees and their families, and survivors.

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act Security Officer

An official with statutory or operational authority and responsibility for the development, implementation, maintenance, oversight, and reporting of security requirements for electronic protected health information (PHI) in accordance with DOD Instruction 6025.18 and parts 160, 162, and 164 of Reference Privacy Rule defined in Title 45, Code of ...

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Service Treatment Record (STR)

The chronologic record of medical, dental, and mental health care received by Service members during the course of their military career. It includes documentation of all outpatient appointments (i.e. without overnight admittance to a hospital, clinic, or treatment facility), as well as summaries of any inpatient care (Discharge Summaries) and care receiv...

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Inpatient

A patient who is admitted to a hospital or clinic for treatment that requires at least one overnight stay.

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Protected Health Information

Individually identifiable health information that is transmitted or maintained by electronic or any other form or medium. PHI excludes individually identifiable health information in employment records held by a DOD covered entity in its role as employer. Information which has been de-identified in accordance with Paragraph 4.5.a is not PHI. PHI is a subs...

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Military Treatment Facility (MTF)

A military facility established for the purpose of furnishing medical and dental care to eligible individuals.

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Outpatient

A patient who is not admitted into a hospital. Outpatient care includes care in emergency rooms, same day surgery centers, and ambulatory procedure clinics for patients who are not subsequently hospitalized overnight during the episode of care.

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Personally Identifiable Information

Information used to distinguish or trace an individual’s identity, such as name, social security number, date and place of birth, mother’s maiden name, biometric records, home phone numbers, other demographic, personnel, medical, and financial information.  PII includes any information that is linked or linkable to a specified individual,...

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

DoD Health Record

Includes all medical and dental care documentation, including mental health care documentation, that has been recorded for that individual. Information may be recorded and maintained in paper or electronic media. Three principal component records maintained within the Department of Defense (DOD) health care system, each of which is a specific subset of th...

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Beneficiary

A person eligible to receive care in a military treatment facility.

Glossary Term
Nov 16, 2015

Archive

1. (Verb) To remove objects no longer in day-to-day use from the online system and place them into long-term, retrievable storage.

2. (Noun) According to context, the copy of a record that has been archived or the collective DOD repository containing archived records. The archive is distinct from the “live” electronic record system supporting o...

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