CD-ROM 

Compact Disk, Read Only Memory. A device used for storing large amounts of information, the equivalent of about 220,000 pages of text.

CDS

Clinical Decision Support. Information regarding a patient, his or her health problems, and alternative tests/treatments used to aid a clinician in diagnosis and treatment. Also referred to as Clinical Decision Support Systems (CDSS).

Circuit Switched Network

Also may be called line switching and dial-up service, this network temporarily links multiple channels between multiple points that permits the user to exclusive use of an open channel to exchange information.

Clinical Information System

Relating exclusively to the information regarding the care of a patient, rather than administrative data, this hospital-based information system is designed to collect and organize data.

Coaxial Cable

A single or dual transmission wire covered by an insulating layer, a shielding layer, and an outer jacket. Because it contains a high bandwidth, this cable may be a broadband carrier with the ability to transmit data, voice, and video.

CODEC

Coder-Decoder. A device that converts a digital signal to an analog signal at one end of transmission, and back again to a digital signal at the opposing end.

Communication Multiplexer

An instrument that permits data from multiple, lower speed communication lines to share a single higher speed communication path.

Compatibility

Refers to the ability of two pieces of hardware (a personal computer and a printer, for example) to work together. Standards, published specifications of procedures, equipment interfaces, and data formats are essential to decreasing and possibly eventually extinguishing incompatibility.

Compression Ratio

The ration of the number of bits in an original image to the number in a compressed version of that image. For example, a compression ratio of 3:1 would signify a compressed image with a third of the number of bits of the original image.

Compressed Video

Video images that have been processed to reduce the amount of bandwidth adequate for capturing the necessary information so that the information can be sent over a telephone network.

Computed Radiography (CR)

A system of creating digital radiographic images that utilizes a storage phosphor plate (instead of film) in a cassette. Once the plate is exposed, a laser beam scans it to produce the digital data which are then translated to an image.

Computer-based Patient Record (CPR)

A compilation in electronic form of individual patient information that resides in a system designed to provide access to complete and accurate patient data, alerts, reminders, clinical decision support systems, links to medical knowledge, and other aids.

Computer Conferencing

Communications within groups through computers, or the use of shared computer files, remote terminal equipment, and telecommunications channels for two-way communication.

Connectivity

The ability to send and receive information between two locations, devices, or business services.