Cipher

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Cipher (Medicine)

Cipher (pronounced: /ˈsʌɪfər/), in the context of medicine, refers to a medical code or symbol used for the purpose of concealing, recording, or transmitting medical information. The term is derived from the Arabic word "sifr", which means zero or empty.

Usage

In the medical field, a cipher is often used to maintain the confidentiality of patient information, especially in electronic health records (EHR). It is also used in the coding of diseases and health conditions in the International Classification of Diseases (ICD) system.

Related Terms

  • Code (medicine): A system of symbols and rules used to represent instructions to a computer; in medicine, it refers to a system of alphanumeric codes used to represent specific diseases and services.
  • Encryption: The process of converting information or data into a code to prevent unauthorized access.
  • Decryption: The process of converting encrypted data back into its original form, so it can be understood.
  • Health Informatics: The interdisciplinary study of the design, development, adoption, and application of IT-based innovations in healthcare services delivery, management, and planning.

Etymology

The term cipher originated from the Arabic word "sifr", which means zero or empty. It was later adopted into Latin as "cifra", which means "number". In the Middle Ages, the term was used to refer to Arabic numerals. Over time, it evolved to mean a code or a secret way of writing.

See Also

External links

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