Appointments, Encounters, and Referrals

Vocabulary flashcards covering appointment scheduling times, confirmation protocols, telehealth, EHR safety checks, encounters, outpatient services, and insurance referral procedures.

Appointment Reminders

Notifications conducted via email, text, or phone call a few days prior to a scheduled appointment to remind patients to bring a photo ID, insurance card, medication list, and co-payment, and to arrive $15\,\text{minutes}$ early.

Appointment Confirmation Documentation

The process of recording in the EHR whether an appointment is confirmed or not confirmed, with medical practices potentially assessing a late or no-show fee for missed visits.

Specialist Consult

A provider appointment scheduled for an allocated duration of $45\text{--}60\,\text{min}$.

Annual Physical Exam

A comprehensive provider appointment scheduled for a duration of $30\,\text{min}$.

Follow Up

A provider appointment scheduled for a duration of $15\,\text{min}$.

Sick Visit

An acute care appointment scheduled for a duration of $15\,\text{min}$.

Blood Pressure Check

A clinical visit scheduled for a duration of $5\,\text{minutes}$.

Nurse Visit

A clinical appointment scheduled for a duration of $5\,\text{minutes}$.

Telehealth

Virtual appointments initiated by a provider via FaceTime or telephone that allow patients with limited mobility or other physical limitations to receive treatment without presenting in person; billed the same as an in-person visit.

Prescribing Safety Checks

Real-time alerts provided by an EHR to prevent handwritten prescription errors, including warnings for drug allergy conflicts, drug-drug conflicts, and incorrect medication dosing.

Encounter Form

A form used in a medical practice for coding and billing purposes, handled when the patient checks out with the clerical medical assistant to schedule follow-ups and tests before leaving.

Encounter

Any instance where a patient presents for an appointment with a provider; it constitutes a billable service and includes a patient diagnosis for the visit.

Outpatient Encounter

A clinical visit that includes billing and coding for services rendered in an outpatient setting.

Inpatient Encounter

A clinical visit that includes billing and coding for services rendered in an inpatient setting.

Outpatient Diagnostic Testing

Tests performed generally in an outpatient setting to help a provider diagnose a patient's condition, such as lab work, X-rays, stress tests, and pulmonary function tests.

Outpatient Procedures

Minor surgical operations where a patient presents to the hospital and is discharged a few hours later, including tonsillectomies, colonoscopies, arthroscopic surgeries, and myringotomies.

Insurance Referral

A formal documentation and approval process submitted to a patient's health insurance company (required by HMO plans) allowing evaluation and treatment by a medical specialist.

Referral Letter

A formal document generated to finalize the specialist referral process and notify the patient of approval.