Glossary

Find definitions for hospital and health care terms used throughout the AHA DataViewer.

A

Ablation of Barrett's esophagus
Premalignant condition that can lead to adenocarcinoma of the esophagus. The nonsurgical ablation of premalignant tissue in Barrett's esophagus by the application of thermal energy or light through an endoscope passed from the mouth into the esophagus.
Acute long term care
Provides specialized acute hospital care to medically complex patients who are critically ill, have multisystem complications and/or failure, and require hospitalization averaging 25 days, in a facility offering specialized treatment programs and therapeutic intervention on a 24 hour/7 day a week basis.
Adjusted admissions
An aggregate figure reflecting the number patients admitted during the reporting period, plus an estimate of the volume of outpatient services, expressed in units equivalent to an (admission) inpatient day in terms of level of effort. The figure is derived by first multiplying the number of outpatient visits by the ratio of outpatient revenue per outpatient visit to inpatient revenue per inpatient day. The product (which represents the number of admissions attributable to outpatient services) is then added to the number of admissions. Originally, the purpose of this calculation was to summarize overall productivity and calculate a unit cost that would include both inpatient and outpatient admissions.
Adjusted average daily census
An estimate of the average number of patients (both inpatients and outpatients) receiving care each day during the reporting period, which is usually 12 months. The figure is derived by dividing the number of inpatient day equivalents (also called adjusted inpatient days) by the number of days in the reporting period.
Adjusted patient days
An aggregate figure reflecting the number of days of inpatient care, plus an estimate of the volume of outpatient services, expressed in units equivalent to an inpatient day in terms of level of effort. The figure is derived by first multiplying the number of outpatient visits by the ratio of outpatient revenue per outpatient visit to inpatient revenue per inpatient day. The product (which represents the number of patient days attributable to outpatient services) is then added to the number of inpatient days. Originally, the purpose of this calculation was to summarize overall productivity and calculate a unit cost that would include both inpatient and outpatient activities.
Admissions
The number of patients, excluding newborns, accepted for inpatient service during the reporting period; the number includes patients who visit the emergency room and are later admitted for inpatient service.
Adult cardiac electrophysiology
Evaluation and management of patients with complex rhythm or conduction abnormalities, including diagnostic testing, treatment of arrhythmias by catheter ablation or drug therapy, and pacemaker/defibrillator implantation and follow-up.
Adult cardiac surgery
Includes minimally invasive procedures that include surgery done with only a small incision or no incision at all, such as through a laparoscope or an endoscope and more invasive major surgical procedures that include open chest and open heart surgery.
Adult cardiology services 
Includes minimally invasive procedures that include surgery done with only a small incision or no incision at all, such as through a laparoscope or an endoscope and more invasive major surgical procedures that include open chest and open heart surgery.
Adult day care program
Program providing supervision, medical and psychological care, and social activities for older adults who live at home or in another family setting, but cannot be alone or prefer to be with others during the day. May include intake assessment, health monitoring, occupational therapy, personal care, noon meal, and transportation services.
Adult diagnostic catheterization 
Cardiac angiography, also called coronary angiography or coronary arteriography, is used to assist in diagnosing complex heart conditions. It involves the insertion of a tiny catheter into the artery in the groin then carefully threading the catheter up into the aorta where the coronary arteries originate. Once the catheter is in place, a dye is injected which allows the cardiologist to see the size, shape, and distribution of the coronary arteries. Images are used to diagnose heart disease and to determine, whether or not surgery is indicated.
Adult interventional cardiac catheterization
Non surgical procedure that utilizes the same basic principles as diagnostic catheterization and then uses advanced techniques to improve the heart's function. It can be a less-invasive alternative to heart surgery.
AHA ID
AHA Assigned unique identification number
Airborne infection isolation room
A single-occupancy room for patient care where environmental factors are controlled in an effort to minimize the transmission of those infectious agents, usually spread person to person by droplet nuclei associated with coughing or inhalation. Such rooms typically have specific ventilation requirements for controlled ventilation, air pressure and filtration.
Alcohol/drug abuse or dependency inpatient care
Provides diagnosis and therapeutic services to patients with alcoholism or other drug dependencies. Includes care for inpatient/residential treatment for patients whose course of treatment involves more intensive care than provided in an outpatient setting or where patient requires supervised withdrawal.
Alcohol/drug abuse or dependency inpatient care beds
Staffed beds set up for patient care in a dedicated alcohol/drug abuse or dependency care unit.
Alcohol/drug abuse or dependency outpatient services
Organized hospital services that provide medical care and/or rehabilitative treatment services to outpatients for whom the primary diagnosis is alcoholism or other chemical dependency.
Alzheimer Center 
Facility that offers care to persons with Alzheimer's disease and their families through an integrated program of clinical services, research, and education
Ambulance services
Provision of ambulance services to the ill and injured who require medical attention on a scheduled or unscheduled basis.
Ambulatory surgery center
Facility that provides care to patients requiring surgery who are admitted and discharged on the same day. Ambulatory surgery centers are distinct from same day surgical units within the hospital outpatient departments for purposes of Medicare payments.
Arthritis treatment center
Specifically equipped and staffed center for the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis and other joint disorders.
Assisted living services 
A special combination of housing, supportive services, personalized assistance and health care designed to individual needs of those who need help in activities of daily living and instrumental activities of daily living. Supportive services are available, 24 hours a day, to meet scheduled and unscheduled needs, in a way that promotes maximum independence an dignity for each resident and encourages the involvement of a residentÆs family, neighbor and friends.
Assistive technology center
A program providing access to specialized hardware and software with adaptations allowing individuals greater independence with mobility, dexterity, or increased communication options
Auxiliary
A volunteer community organization formed to assist the hospital in carrying out its purpose and to serve as a link between the institution and the community.
Average daily census
The average number of people served on an inpatient basis on a single day during the reporting period; the figure is calculated by dividing the number of inpatient days by the number of days in the reporting period.

B

Bariatric/weight control services
Bariatrics is the medical practice of weight reduction.
Bassinets set up and staffed
Beds for babies, either normal newborns or those receiving special care in a neonatal intensive or intermediate care unit. Bassinets for normal newborns are not counted as inpatient beds, but as a separate count. Bassinets in neonatal intensive and intermediate care units are counted as part of the hospital’s overall staffed and/or licensed bed count.
Bed size code
Indicates which of eight (8) pre-defined bed size ranges the hospital fits. Bed size ranges are: 6-24, 25-49, 50-99, 100-199, 200-299, 300-399, 400-499, 500+
Beds (total facility)
Number of beds regularly maintained (set up and staffed for use) for inpatients as of the close of the reporting period. Excludes newborn bassinets.
Birthing room/LDR room/LDRP room
A single-room type of maternity care with a more homelike setting for families than the traditional three-room unit (labor/delivery/recovery) with a separate postpartum area. 1 = Yes; 0 = No. A birthing room combines labor and delivery in one room. An LDR room accommodates three stages in the birthing process--labor, delivery, and recovery. An LDRP room accommodates all four stages of the birth process--labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum.
Blood Donor Center Hospital
A facility that performs, or is responsible for the collection, processing, testing or distribution of blood and components.
Bone Marrow transplant services
The branch of medicine that transfers healthy bone marrow from one person to another or from one part to another to replace a diseased structure or to restore function or to change appearance.
Breast cancer screening/mammograms
Provides mammography screening, the use of breast x-ray to detect unsuspected breast cancer in asymptomatic women and/or diagnostic mammography, the x-ray imaging of breast tissue in symptomatic women who are considered to have a substantial likelihood of having breast cancer already.
Burn care 
Provides care to severely burned patients, which include any of the following: (1) second-degree burns of more than 25% total body surface area for adults or 20% total body surface area for children: (2) third-degree burns of more than 10% total body surface area; (3) any severe burns of the hands, face, eyes, ears, or feet; or (4) all inhalation injuries, electrical burns, complicated burn injuries involving fractures and other major traumas, and all other poor risk factors.

C

Cardiac intensive care 
Provides patient care of a more specialized nature than the usual medical and surgical care, on the basis of physiciansÆ orders and approved nursing care plans. The unit is staffed with specially trained nursing personnel and contains monitoring and specialized support or treatment equipment for patients who, because of heart seizure, open-heart surgery, or other life-threatening conditions, require intensified, comprehensive observation and care. May include myocardial infarction, pulmonary care, and heart transplant units.
Cardiac Rehabilitation
A medically supervised program to help heart patients recover quickly and improve their overall physical and mental functioning. The goal is to reduce risk of another cardiac event or to keep an already present heart condition from getting worse. Cardiac rehabilitation programs include: counseling to patients, an exercise program, helping patients modify risk factors such as smoking and high blood pressure, providing vocational guidance to enable the patient to return to work, supplying information on physical limitations and lending emotional support.
Case Management
A system of assessment, treatment planning, referral and follow-up that ensures the provision of comprehensive and continuous services and the coordination of payment and reimbursement for care.
Census Region
AHA Region Code
Chaplaincy/pastoral care services
A service ministering religious activities and providing pastoral counseling to patients, their families, and staff of a health care organization.
Chemotherapy 
An organized program for the treatment of cancer by the use of drugs or chemicals
Children's wellness program
A program that encourages improved health status and a healthful lifestyle of children through health education, exercise, nutrition and health promotion.
Chiropractic services
An organized clinical service including spinal manipulation or adjustment and related diagnostic and therapeutic services.
Community Health Education
Education that provides information to individuals and populations, support to personal, family and community health decisions with the objective of improving health status.
Community hospital designation
Community hospitals are designated as all nonfederal, short-term general, and special hospitals, including special childrens hospitals, whose facilities and services are available to the public.
Community outreach
A program that systematically interacts with the community to identify those in need of services, alerting persons and their families to the availability of services, locating needed services, and enabling persons to enter the service delivery system.
Complementary and alternative medicine services
Organized hospital services or formal arrangements to providers that provide care or treatment not based solely on traditional western allopathic medical teachings as instructed in most U.S. medical schools. Includes any of the following: acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, osteopathy, diet and lifestyle changes, herbal medicine, massage therapy, etc.
Computer assisted orthopedic surgery
Orthopedic surgery using computer technology, enabling three-dimensional graphic models to visualize a patientÆs anatomy.
Contract managed hospital
Indicates whether hospital is contract managed. General day-to-day management of an entire organization by another organization under a formal contract. Managing organization reports directly to the board of trustees or owners of the managed organization; managed organization retains total legal responsibility and ownership of the facility’s assets and liabilities.
Control / Ownership Type
The type of organization responsible for establishing policy concerning the overall operation of hospitals.
Crisis prevention
Services provided in order to promote physical and mental well being and the early identification of disease and ill health prior to the onset and recognition of symptoms so as to permit early treatment.
Critical Access Hospital
Geographically isolated hospitals with no more than 25 inpatient beds that provide 24-hour emergency care and receive cost-based reimbursement for inpatient and outpatient services.

D

Dental services
An organized dental service or dentists on staff, not necessarily involving special facilities, providing dental or oral services to inpatients or outpatients.
Diagnostic radioisotope facility
The use of radioactive isotopes (radiopharmaceuticals) as tracers or indicators to detect an abnormal condition or disease.

E

Electrodiagnostic services
Diagnostic testing services for nerve and muscle function including services such as nerve conduction studies and needle electromyography
Electron Beam Computed Tomography (EBCT)
A high tech computed tomography scan used to detect coronary artery disease by measuring coronary calcifications. This imaging procedure uses electron beams which are magnetically steered to produce a visual of the coronary artery and the images are produced faster tahn conventional CT scans.
Emergency Department
Hospital facilities for the provision of unscheduled outpatient services to patients whose conditions require immediate care.
Emergency room visits
Number of emergency room visits reported by the hospital. An emergency room visit is defined as a visit to the emergency unit. When an emergency outpatient is admitted to the inpatient area of the hospital, he or she is counted as an emergency room visit and subsequently, as an inpatient admission.
Enabling Services
A program that is designed to help the patient access health care services by offering any of the following linguistic services, transportation services, and/or referrals to local social services agencies.
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
A procedure in which a catheter is introduced through an endoscope into the bile ducts and pancreatic ducts. Injection of contrast material permits detailed x-ray of these structures. The procedure is used diagnostically as well as therapeutically to relieve obstruction or remove stones.
Endoscopic ultrasound
Specially designed endoscope that incorporates an ultrasound transducer used to obtain detailed images of organs in the chest and abdomen. The endoscope can be passed through the mouth or the anus. When combined with needle biopsy the procedure can assist in diagnosis of disease and staging of cancer.
Enrollment Assistance Program
A program that provides enrollment assistance for patients who are potentially eligible for public health insurance programs such as Medicaid, State Children's Health Insurance, or local/state indigent care programs.
Esophageal impedance study
A test in which a catheter is placed through the nose into the esophagus to measure whether gas or liquids are passing from the stomach into the esophagus and causing symptoms.
Extracorporeal shock waved lithotripter (ESWL)
A medical device used for treating stones in the kidney or urethra. The device disintegrates kidney stones noninvasively through the transmission of acoustic shock waves directed at the stones.

F

Fertility Clinic
A specialized program set in an infertility center that provides counseling and education as well as advanced reproductive techniques such as: injectable therapy, reproductive surgeries, treatment for endometriosis, male factor infertility, tubal reversals, in vitro fertilization (IVF), donor eggs, and other such services to help patients achieve successful pregnancies.
Fitness center
Provides exercise, testing, or evaluation programs and fitness activities to the community and hospital employees.
Freestanding/Satellite Emergency Department
A facility owned and operated by the hospital but physically separate from the hospital for the provision of unscheduled outpatient services to patients whose conditions require immediate care.
Full-field digital mammography
Combines the x-ray generators and tubes used in analog screen-film mammography (SFM) with a detector plate that converts the x-rays into a digital signal.

G

Gen. medical/surgical adult care
Provides acute care to patients in medical and surgical units on the basis of physiciansÆ orders and approved nursing care plans.
Gen. medical/surgical pediatric care
Provides acute care to pediatric patients on the basis of physiciansÆ orders and approved nursing care plans.
Geriatric services
The branch of medicine dealing with the physiology of aging and the diagnosis and treatment of disease affecting the aged. Services could include: adult day care; AlzheimerÆs diagnostic-assessment services; comprehensive geriatric assessment; emergency response system; geriatric acute care unit; and/or geriatric clinics.
GPO
A Group Purchasing Organization negotiates purchasing contracts for members of the group or has a central supply site for its members

H

Health Fair
Community health education events that focus on the prevention of disease and promotion of health through such activities as audiovisual exhibits and free diagnostic services.
Health research
Organized hospital research program in any of the following areas: basic research, clinical research, community health research, and/or research on innovative health care delivery.
Health screenings
A preliminary procedure such as a test or examination to detect the most characteristic sign or signs of a disorder that may require further investigation.
Heart transplant
The branch of medicine that transfers a heart organ or tissue from one person to another or from one part to another to replace a diseased structure or to restore function or to change appearance.
Hemodialysis
Provision of equipment and personnel for the treatment of renal insufficiency on an inpatient or outpatient basis
HIV-AIDS services
Special unit or team designated and equipped specifically for diagnosis, treatment, continuing care planning, and counseling services for HIV-AIDS patients and their families. General inpatient care for HIV-AIDS-Inpatient diagnosis and treatment for human immunodeficiency virus and acquired immunodeficiency syndrome patients, but dedicated unit is not available. Specialized outpatient program for HIV-AIDS-Special outpatient program providing diagnostic, treatment, continuing care planning, and counseling for HIV-AIDS patients and their families.
Home health services
Service providing nursing, therapy, and health-related homemaker or social services in the patientÆs home.
Hospice Program
A recognized clinical program with specific eligibility criteria that provides palliative medical care focused on relief of pain and symptom control and other services that address the emotional, social, financial and spiritual needs of terminally ill patients and their families. Hospice care can be provided either at home, in a hospital setting, or a free-standing facility.
Hospital size
Hospital size is based on bed size as follows: small – under 100 beds; medium – 100-399 beds; large – 400+ beds.
Hospital-base outpatient care center/services
Organized hospital health care services offered by appointment on an ambulatory basis. Services may include outpatient surgery, examination, diagnosis, and treatment of a variety of medical conditions on a nonemergency basis, and laboratory and other diagnostic testing as ordered by staff or outside physician referral.

I

Image-guided radiation therapy
Automated system for image-guided radiation therapy that enables clinicians to obtain high-resolution x-ray images to pinpoint tumor sites, adjust patient positioning when necessary, and complete a treatment, all within the standard treatment time slot, allowing for more effective cancer treatments.
Immunization program
Program that plans, coordinates and conducts immunization services in the community.
Indemnity fee for service plan (JV)
The traditional type of health insurance, in which the insured is reimbursed for covered expenses without regard to choice of provider. Payment up to a stated limit may be made either to the individual incurring and claiming the expense, or directly to providers.
Indigent care clinic
Health care services for uninsured and underinsured persons where care is free of charge or charged on a sliding scale. This would include free clinics staffed by volunteer practitioners, but could also be staffed by employees with the sponsoring health care organization subsidizing the cost of service.
Inpatient Days
The number of adult and pediatric days of care, excluding newborn days of care, rendered during the entire reporting period.
Inpatient palliative care unit
An inpatient palliative care ward is a physically discreet, inpatient nursing unit where the focus is palliative care. The patient care focus is on symptom relief for complex patients who may be continuing to undergo primary treatment. Care is delivered by palliative medicine specialists.
Integrated salary model
Hospital has an arrangement in place whereby physicians are salaried by the hospital or another entity of a health system to provide medical services for primary care and specialty care.
Intensity-Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) 
A type of three-dimensional radiation therapy, which improves the targeting of treatment delivery in a way that is likely to decrease damage to normal tissues and allows varying intensities.
Intermediate nursing care
Provides health-related services (skilled nursing care and social services) to residents with a variety of physical conditions or functional disabilities. These residents do not require the care provided by a hospital or skilled nursing facility, but do need supervision and support services.
Intraoperative magnetic resonance imaging
An integrated surgery system which provides an MRI system in an operating room. The system allows for immediate evaluation of the degree to tumor resection while the patient is undergoing a surgical resection. Intraoperative MRI exists when a MRI (low-field or high-field) is placed in the operating theater and is used during surgical resection without moving the patient from the operating room to the diagnostic imaging suite.
Investor-owned for-profit
The number of investor-owned, for profit hospitals in the system

K

Kidney transplant
The branch of medicine that transfers a kidney organ or tissue from one person to another or from one part to another to replace a diseased structure or to restore function or to change appearance.

L

Length of Stay
Length of Stay (LOS) refers to the average number of days a patient stays at the facility.
Linguistic/translation services
Services provided by the hospital designed to make health care more accessible to non-English speaking patients and their physicians.
Liver transplant
The branch of medicine that transfers a liver organ or tissue from one person to another or from one part to another to replace a diseased structure or to restore function or to change appearance.
Lung transplant
The branch of medicine that transfers a lung organ or tissue from one person to another or from one part to another to replace a diseased structure or to restore function or to change appearance.

M

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)
The use of a uniform magnetic field and radio frequencies to study tissue and structure of the body. This procedure enables the visualization of biochemical activity of the cell in vivo without the use of ionizing radiation, radioisotopic substances, or high-frequency sound.
Meals on wheels
A hospital-sponsored program which delivers meals to people, usually the elderly, who are unable to prepare their own meals. Low cost, nutritional meals are delivered to individualsÆ homes on a regular basis.
Medical surgical intensive care
Intensivists are board-certified physicians who are additionally certified in the subspeciality of critical care medicine; or physicians board-certified in emergency medicine who have completed a critical care fellowship in an ACGME accredited program; or physicians board-certified in Medicine, Anesthesiology, Pedicatrics or Surgery who completed training prior to the availability of subspecialty certification in critical care and who have provided at least six weeks of full-time ICU care annually since 1987.
Medical/surgical intensive care
Provides patient care of a more intensive nature than the usual medical and surgical care, on the basis of physiciansÆ orders and approved nursing care plans. These units are staffed with specially trained nursing personnel and contain monitoring and specialized support equipment for patients who because of shock, trauma or other life-threatening conditions require intensified comprehensive observation and care. Includes mixed intensive care units.
Mobile Health Services
Vans and other vehicles used to deliver primary care services.
Multi-slice spiral computed tomography < 64 slice 
A specialized computer tomography procedure that provides three-dimensional processing and allows narrower and mulitple slices with increased spatial resolution and faster scanning times as compared to a regular computerd tomography scan.
Multi-slice spiral computed tomography 64 + slice
Involves the acquisition of volumetric tomographic x-ray absorption data expressed in Hounsfield units using multiple rows of detectors. 64+ systems reconstruct the equivalent of 64 or greater slices to cover the imaged volume.

N

Neonatal intensive care 
A unit that must be separate from the newborn nursery providing intensive care to all sick infants including those with the very lowest birth weights (less than 1500 grams). NICU has potential for providing mechanical ventilation, neonatal surgery, and special care for the sickest infants born in the hospital or transferred from another institution. A full-time neonatologist serves as director of the NICU.
Neonatal intermediate care 
A unit that must be separate from the normal newborn nursery and that provides intermediate and/or recover care and some specialized services, including immediate resuscitation, intravenous therapy, and capacity for prolonged oxygen therapy and monitoring.
Network member
A group of hosptials, physicians, other providers, insureres and/or communty agencies that voluntarily work together to coordinate and deliver health services
Neurological services
Services provided by the hospital dealing with the operative and nonoperative management of disorders of the central, peripheral, and autonomic nervous system.
Nutrition program
Those services within a health care facility which are designed to provide inexpensive, nutritionally sound meals to patients.

O

Obstetrics care 
Provides care, examination, treatment, and other services to women during pregnancy, labor, and the puerperium.
Occupational health services
Includes services designed to protect the safety of employees from hazards in the work environment.
Oncology services
Inpatient and outpatient services for patients with cancer, including comprehensive care, support and guidance in addition to patient education and prevention, chemotherapy, counseling and other treatment methods.
Optical Colonoscopy
An examination of the interior of the colon using a long, flexible, lighted tube with a small built-in camera.
Orthopedic services
Services provided for the prevention or correction of injuries or disorders of the skeletal system and associated muscles, joints and ligaments
Other special care
Provides care to patients requiring care more instensive than that provided in the acute area, yet not sufficiently intensive to require admission to an intensive care unit. Patients admitted to this area are usually transferred here from an intensive care unit once their doncition has improved. These units are sometimes referred to as dfinitive observation, step-down or progressive care units.
Other Transplant - hospital
Other transplant services includes heart/lung, or other multi-transplant surgeries.
Outpatient surgery
Scheduled surgical services provided to patients who do not remain in the hospital overnight. The surgery may be performed in operating suites also used for inpatient surgery, specially designated surgical suites for outpatient surgery, or procedure rooms within an outpatient care facility.

P

Pain Management Program
A recognized clinical service or program providing specialized medical care, drugs or therapies for the management of acute or chronic pain and other distressing symptoms, administered by specially trained physicians and other clinicians, to patients suffering from an acute illness of diverse causes.
Palliative Care Program
An organized program providing specialized medical care, drugs or therapies for the management of acute or chronic pain and/or the control of symptoms administered by specially trained physicians and other clinicians; and supportive care services, such as counseling on advanced directives, spiritual care, and social services, to patients with advanced disease and their families.
Patient Controlled Analgesia
Patient-controlled Analgesia (PCA) is intravenously administered pain medicine under the patient's control. The patient has a button on the end of a cord than can be pushed at will, whenever more pain medicine is desired. This button will only deliver more pain medicine at pre-determined intervals, as programmed by the doctor's order.
Patient education center
Written goals and objectives for the patient and/or family related to therapeutic regimens, medical procedures, and self care.
Patient representative services
Organized hospital services providing personnel through whom patients and staff can seek solutions to institutional problems affecting the delivery of high-quality care and services.
Pediatric cardiac electrophysiology
Evaluation and management of pediatric patients with complex rhythm or conduction abnormalities, including diagnostic testing, treatment of arrhythmias by catheter ablation or drug therapy, and pacemaker/defibrillator implantation and follow-up.
Pediatric cardiac surgery - hospital
Includes minimally invasive procedures that include surgery done with only a small incision or no incision at all, such as through a laparoscope or an endoscope and more invasive major surgical procedures that include open chest and open heart surgery.
Pediatric cardiology services 
An organized clinical service offering diagnostic and intervential procedures to manage the full range of pediatric heart conditions.
Pediatric diagnostic catheterization 
Cardiac angiography, also called coronary angiography or coronary arteriography, is used to assist in diagnosing complex heart conditions. It involves the insertion of a tiny catheter into the artery in the groin then carefully threading the catheter up into the aorta where the coronary arteries originate. Once the catheter is in place, a dye is injected which allows the cardiologist to see the size, shape, and distribution of the coronary arteries. Images are used to diagnose heart disease and to determine, whether or not surgery is indicated.
Pediatric intensive care 
Provides care to pediatric patients that is of a more intensive nature than that usually provided to pediatric patients. The unit is staffed with specially trained personnel and contains monitoring and specialized support equipment for treatment of patients who, because of shock, trauma, or other life-threatening conditions, require intensified, comprehensive observation and care.
Pediatric interventional cardiac catheterization
Non surgical procedure that utilizes the same basic principles as diagnostic catheterization and then uses advanced techniques to improve the heart's function. It can be a less-invasive alternative to heart surgery.
Physical Rehabilitation care
Provides care encompassing a comprehensive array of restoration services for the disabled and all support services necessary to help patients attain their maximum functional capacity.
Physical rehabilitation outpatient services
Outpatient program providing medical, health-related, therapy, social, and/or vocational services to help disabled persons attain or retain their maximum functional capacity.
Positron emission tomography (PET)
Positron emission tomography scanner is a nuclear medicine imaging technology which uses radioactive (positron emitting) isotopes created in a cyclotron or generator and computers to produce composite pictures of the brain and heart at work. PET scanning produces sectional images depicting metabolic activity or blood flow rather than anatomy.
Positron emission tomography/CT (PET/CT)
Provides metabolic functional information for the monitoring of chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and surgical planning.
Primary care department
A unit or clinic within the hospital that provides primary care services (e.g. general pediatric care, general internal medicine, family practice, gynecology) through hospital-salaried medical and/or nursing staff, focusing on evaluating and diagnosing medical problems and providing medical treatment on an outpatient basis.
Prosthetic and orthotic services
Services providing comprehensive prosthetic and orthotic evaluation, fitting, and training.
Proton beam therapy
A form of radiation therapy which administers proton beams. While producing the same biologic effects as x-ray beams, the energy distribution of protons differs from conventional x-ray beams in that they can be more precisely focused in tissue volumes in a three-dimensional pattern resulting in less surrounding tissue damage than conventional radiation therapy permitting administration of higher doses.
Psychiatric care
Provides acute or long-term care to emotionally disturbed patients, including patients admitted for diagnosis and those admitted for treatment of psychiatric problems, on the basis of physicians' orders and approved nursing care plans. Long-term care may include intensive supervision to the chronically mentally ill, mentally disordered, or other mentally incompetent persons.
Psychiatric child/adolescent services
Provides care to emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, including those admitted for diagnosis and those admitted for treatment.
Psychiatric consultation/liaison services
Provides organized psychiatric consultation/liaison services to nonpsychiatric hospital staff and/or departments on psychological aspects of medical care that may be generic or specific to individual patients.
Psychiatric education services
Provides psychiatric educational services to community agencies and workers such as schools, police, courts, public health nurses, welfare agencies, clergy, and so forth. The purpose is to expand the mental health knowledge and competence of personnel not working in the mental health field and to promote good mental health through improved understanding, attitudes, and behavioral patterns.
Psychiatric emergency services
Services of facilities available on a 24-hour basis to provide immediate unscheduled out-patient care, diagnosis, evaluation, crisis intervention, and assistance to persons suffering acute emotional or mental distress.
Psychiatric geriatric services
Provides care to emotionally disturbed elderly patients, including those admitted for diagnosis and those admitted for treatment.
Psychiatric outpatient services
Provides medical care, including diagnosis and treatment, of psychiatric outpatients.
Psychiatric partial hospitalization program
Organized hospital services of intensive day/evening outpatient services of three hours of more duration, distinguished from other outpatient visits of one hour.

R

Retirement housing
A facility that provides social activities to senior citizens, usually retired persons, who do not require health care but some short-term skilled nursing care may be provided. A retirement center may furnish housing and may also have acute hospital and long-term care facilities, or it may arrange for acute and long-term care through affiliated institutions.
Robot-assisted walking therapy
A form of physical therapy that uses a robotic device to assist patiets who are relearning how to walk.
Robotic surgery
The use of mechanical guidance devices to remotely manipulate surgical instrumentation.

S

Shaped beam Radiation System
A precise, non-invasive treatment that involves targeting beams of radiation that mirror the exact size and shape of a tumor at a specific area of a tumor to shrink or destroy cancerous cells. This procedure delivers a therapeutic dose of radiation that conforms precisely to the shape of the tumor, thus minimizing the risk to nearby tissues
Simulated rehabilitation environment
Rehabilitation focused on retraining functional skills in a contextually appropriate environment (simulated home and community settings) or in a traditional setting (gymnasium) using motor learning principles.
Single photon emission computerized tomography (SPECT)
Single photon emission computerized tomography is a nuclear medicine imaging technology that combines existing technology of gamma camera imaging with computed tomographic imaging technology to provide a more precise and clear image.
Skilled nursing care
Provides non-acute medical and skilled nursing care services, therapy, and social services under the supervision of a licensed registered nurse on a 24-hour basis.
Sleep Center
Specially equipped and staffed center for the diagnosis and treatment of sleep disorders.
Social work services
Organized services that are properly directed and sufficiently staffed by qualified individuals who provide assistance and counseling to patients and their families in dealing with social, emotional, and environmental problems associated with illness or disability, often in the context of financial or discharge planning coordination.
Sports medicine
Provision of diagnostic screening and assessment and clinical and rehabilitation services for the prevention and treatment of sports-related injuries.
Stereotactic radiosurgery
Stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) is a radiotherapy modality that delivers a high dosage of radiation to a discrete treatment area in as few as one treatment session. Includes gamma knife, cyberknife, etc.
Support groups
A hospital-sponsored program that allows a group of individuals with the same or similar problems who meet periodically to share experiences, problems, and solutions in order to support each other.
Surgical operations (inpatient)
Surgical services provided to patients who remain in the hospital overnight.
Swing bed services
A hospital bed that can be used to provide either acute or long-term care depending on community or patient needs. To be eligible a hospital must have a Medicare provider agreement in place, have fewer than 100 beds, be located in a rural area, do not have a 24 hour nursing service waiver in effect, have not been terminated from the program in the prior two years, and meet various service conditions.
System Classification
A health system is assigned to one of five categories based on how much they differentiate and centralize their hospital services, physician arrangements, and provider-based insurance products. Differentiation refers to the number of different products or services that the organization offers. Centralization refers to whether decision-making and service delivery emanates from the system level more so than individual hospitals.
System member
Indicates whether a hospital is affiliated with a healthcare system. A multihospital health care system is two or more hospitals owned, leased, sponsored, or contract managed by a central organization.

T

Teaching Affiliation
Major Teaching Hospitals - those with Council of Teaching Hospitals designation Minor Teaching Hospitals - those either Approved to participate in residency and/or internship training by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education, or those with medical school affiliation reported to the American Medical Association Non Teaching Hospitals - those without COTH, ACGME, or Medical School (AMA) affiliation
Teen outreach services
A program focusing on the teenager which encourages an improved health status and a healthful lifestyle including physical, emotional, mental, social, spiritual and economic health through education, exercise, nutrition and health promotion.
Tissue transplant
The branch of medicine that transfers tissue from one person to another or from one part to another to replace a diseased structure or to restore function or to change appearance.
Tobacco Treatment Services
Organized hospital services with the purpose of ending tobacco-use habits of patients addicted to tobacco/nicotine.
Total births (excluding fetal deaths)
Total number of infants born in the hospital during the reporting period, excluding fetal deaths. Births do not include infants transferred from other institutions, and are excluded from admission and discharge figures.
Total hospital beds
Number of beds regularly maintained (set up and staffed for use) for inpatients as of the close of the reporting period. Excludes newborn bassinets.
Transportation to health services
A long-term care support service designed to assist the mobility of the elderly. Some programs offer improved financial access by offering reduced rates and barrier-free buses or vans with ramps and lifts to assist the elderly or handicapped; others offer subsidies for public transport systems or operate mini-bus services exclusively for use by senior citizens.

U

Ultrasound
The use of acoustic waves above the range of 20,000 cycles per second to visualize internal body structures.
Urgent care center
A facility that provides care and treatment for problems that are not life-threatening but require attention over the short term. These units function like emergency rooms but are separate from hospitals with which they may have backup affiliation arrangements.

V

Virtual colonoscopy
Noninvasive screening procedure used to visualize, analyze and detect cancerous or potentially cancerous polyps in the colon.
Volunteer services department
An organized hospital department responsible for coordinating the services of volunteers working within the institution.

W

Women’s health center/services
An area set aside for coordinated education and treatment services specifically for and promoted to women as provided by this special unit. Services may or may not include obstetrics but include a range of services other than OB.
Wound Management Services - hospital
Services for patients with chronic wounds and non-healing wounds often resulting from diabetes, poor circulation, improper seating and immunocompromising conditions.

Book and CD Products view all

  • AHA GuideAHA Guide

    The esteemed and essential encyclopedic directory of hospitals and health care systems.

  • AHA Hospital StatisticsAHA Hospital Statistics

    The comprehensive reference source for analysis and comparison of hospital trends.

  • AHA Annual Survey DatabaseAHA Annual Survey Database™

    The most comprehensive and powerful database of AHA hospital data available..

Quick Reports

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    Search and select from a complete list of hospitals from the AHA hospital database. Hospital lists are updated monthly.

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