Dictionary
The Dictionary provides concise definitions of health economics terms, arranged alphabetically for quick reference. Use it to understand unfamiliar terminology or confirm the meaning of a specific term.
A
- Arrhythmia Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to diagnosing and treating abnormal heart rhythms, covering medication, devices, and ablation procedures.
- Assistive Technology Coverage
- A measure of the extent to which a health system provides access to assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, for those with impairments.
C
- Cardiac Device Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to implantable cardiac devices, weighing upfront device and implant costs against ongoing monitoring and replacement.
- Cardiac Resynchronization
- A device treatment for certain heart failure types that coordinates chamber contraction timing through simultaneous pacing, improving pumping efficiency.
- Connected Device
- A medical or health monitoring device with wireless connectivity, transmitting data to systems such as health records for remote monitoring.
D
- Defibrillator Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to implantable cardioverter-defibrillators, weighing device and implant cost against preventing sudden cardiac death.
- Device Therapy
- A treatment approach using an implanted or external medical device rather than medication alone, such as a pacemaker or insulin pump.
- Digital Adherence
- The degree to which patients engage with and consistently use a digital health technology, such as an app or monitoring device, as intended.
- Digital Regulation
- The body of rules governing the development, approval, and use of digital health technologies, including software-based devices and decision support tools.
E
- EVIC
- A value of information measure expressing the expected value of collecting further evidence before a technology decision, weighed against its cost.
F
- FDA
- The US Food and Drug Administration, the federal agency responsible for regulating the safety and efficacy of drugs, biologics, and devices.
H
- Heart Failure Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to heart failure diagnosis, medication, device therapy, and rehabilitation, emphasising reduced hospital readmission.
I
- Incontinence Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to urinary and faecal incontinence, covering behavioural therapy, medication, devices, and surgery.
- Insulin Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to insulin therapy, comparing formulations, delivery devices, and treatment regimens for diabetes management.
- Insulin Pump Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to insulin pump therapy, a device delivering insulin more precisely than multiple daily injections.
- Internet Of Medical Things
- The network of interconnected medical devices and health technologies collecting and exchanging data over the internet, including wearables and remote monitors.
M
- MHRA
- The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency, the UK body responsible for the safety, quality, and efficacy of medicines and devices.
- Mobile Health
- The use of mobile devices, such as smartphones, to support healthcare delivery and public health practice, from reminders to disease management.
- Mobile Health App
- A software application for use on a mobile device to support health-related goals, from wellness tracking to disease management functionality.
P
- Pacemaker Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to implantable pacemakers, weighing device and implant cost against improved quality of life for bradycardia.
- Product Model
- A decision-analytic model supporting the commercial and reimbursement strategy for a specific pharmaceutical or device, maintained by its manufacturer over the product's life.
R
- Remote Monitoring
- The use of connected devices and digital technology to track a patient's health status outside a traditional clinical setting.
S
- Smart Device Health
- A category of connected electronic devices with embedded computing capability used to monitor or manage health, from fitness trackers to medical-grade devices.
V
- Valve Replacement Economics
- The application of health economic evaluation to replacing a damaged heart valve, comparing durability, complications, and costs across device types and approaches.
W
- Wearable Data
- Health-related information collected through devices such as fitness trackers or glucose monitors, capturing physiological measures continuously over time.
- Wearable Device
- An electronic device worn on the body, such as a smartwatch, capable of continuously monitoring physiological parameters such as heart rate.
- Wearable Device Health
- The specific application of wearable device technology within healthcare, covering consumer fitness devices and clinically validated medical-grade monitoring devices.