Glossary

API – Application Programming Interface, are a set of rules or protocols that enable software to communicate with each other to exchange data.

AVT – Ambient Voice Technology, refers to AI tools that capture and process spoken conversations and convert them into structured text.

Cloud-based subscription models – Instead of owning the software or infrastructure users pay a recurring fee to access it. There are several different models of cloud services being used in the NHS.

Computer vision – A type of AI that enables computers to interpret visual information, in healthcare it is usually used to detect objects or segment images.

Cyber security – Protecting confidentiality, integrity and availability of digital data, information and systems. 

Data controllers – Individuals or organisations who are responsible for data and determine the purposes and means of processing the data. Public sector organisations often decide the organisation as a legal entity is the data controller for UK GDPR purposes. The Information Commissioner has the power to take action against them if they do not conduct their duties and individuals can bring claims for compensation and damages. More information about roles and responsibilities regarding data and records can be found here 

Data Lake – A centralised repository that stores all structured and unstructured data at any scale. Unlike traditional databases, data lakes are designed to handle vast amounts of raw data in its native form until its needed.

Data stack – A collection of software tools used to manage the entire data lifecycle from collection to analysis. A modern data stack refers to integrated cloud-based tools that enable collection, storage, analysis, transformation and governance of data, often also called a ‘data platform’.

Digital inclusion – There is no universal definition for digital inclusion or agreed way of measuring it. The government defines it as: ensuring that everyone has the access, skills, support and confidence to participate in and benefit from our modern digital society, whatever their circumstances.

Digital maturity – An organisation’s ability to respond to changes and trends in technology. A digitally mature organisation will be able to demonstrate a clear link between their digital strategies and their core business objectives. 

Digital transformation – The strategic adoption of digital technologies and processes to improve healthcare in a concreted way.

Electronic patient record – A system that contains organisation centric electronically maintained information about an individual’s health status and care and focusses on tasks and events directly related to patient care. 

Generative AI – Deep learning models that can generate high quality text, images and other content based on the data they were trained on. 

Share care record – Shared care records join up information from separate records from different health and care organisations. 

Single patient record – A single secure and authoritative account of patient's data in a single patient record that enables coordinated, personalised and predictive care.

Software stack – Also called a technology stack is the full set of technologies used to build and run an application, including data systems, frontend technologies for user interface and backend server-side technologies.

FHIR – Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources is a standard for electronically exchanging healthcare data. It is a set of basic building blocks for APIs, documents and structured messages between systems, 

Interoperability – The ability for systems or software to exchange and make use of information.

Orchestration layer – A software component that acts as a central control to coordinate interactions between various systems and data sources.

Virtual wards – Defined by NHS England as short-stay (up to 14 days), acute-only services for people who would otherwise be in hospital. They can provide either ‘step-up’ or ‘step-down’ care. Patients should have access to the same services they would in hospital, including urgent diagnostics, blood tests, intravenous therapy, 24-hour management from a multidisciplinary team and face-to-face meetings with specialists. The term virtual ward is often interchangeable with hospital at home.