Medical Delivery Glossary

Essential reference for healthcare logistics terminology. Clear definitions for HIPAA, STAT, cold chain, and compliance terms used in Texas medical delivery.

Quick Reference (TL;DR)

STAT: Emergency 2-hour delivery. HIPAA: Patient privacy law.Cold Chain: Temperature-controlled transport (2-8°C vaccines, -20°C frozen).Chain of Custody: Documented specimen tracking. BAA: Required contract for PHI handling. TSBP Rule §291.12: Texas delivery standards.

Updated December 2024•58 Terms•Bilingual Reference
ComplianceDeliveryTemperatureRegulatory

Compliance & Privacy Terms

HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act)

Federal law protecting patient health information privacy and security during medical transport and delivery.

Context: All medical couriers must be HIPAA-compliant when handling Protected Health Information (PHI).

Español:

HIPAA (Ley de Portabilidad y Responsabilidad de Seguros de Salud): Ley federal que protege la privacidad y seguridad de la información de salud del paciente durante el transporte y entrega médica.

PHI (Protected Health Information)

Any individually identifiable health information transmitted or maintained by covered entities.

Context: PHI includes patient names, addresses, birth dates, and medical record numbers on specimens.

Español:

PHI (Información de Salud Protegida): Cualquier información de salud identificable individualmente transmitida o mantenida por entidades cubiertas.

Chain of Custody

Documented process tracking specimen or material handling from collection to final destination.

Context: Essential for legal evidence and quality assurance in medical testing.

Español:

Cadena de Custodia: Proceso documentado que rastrea el manejo de especímenes o materiales desde la recolección hasta el destino final.

Business Associate Agreement (BAA)

Legal contract between healthcare providers and third-party service providers handling PHI.

Context: Required before any medical courier can handle PHI-containing materials.

Español:

Acuerdo de Socio Comercial (BAA): Contrato legal entre proveedores de salud y proveedores de servicios de terceros que manejan PHI.

Delivery & Logistics Terms

STAT Delivery

Emergency medical delivery service requiring immediate pickup and delivery, typically within 2 hours.

Context: Used for critical lab results, emergency blood products, or time-sensitive medications.

Español:

Entrega STAT: Servicio de entrega médica de emergencia que requiere recogida y entrega inmediata, típicamente dentro de 2 horas.

Same-Day Delivery

Medical courier service delivering items within the same business day, typically 4-8 hours.

Context: Standard for routine lab specimens, prescription deliveries, and medical supply restocking.

Español:

Entrega el Mismo Día: Servicio de mensajería médica que entrega artículos dentro del mismo día laboral, típicamente 4-8 horas.

Route Optimization

Technology-driven process to determine the most efficient delivery paths and schedules.

Context: Reduces delivery times and costs while maintaining service quality.

Español:

Optimización de Rutas: Proceso impulsado por tecnología para determinar las rutas de entrega y horarios más eficientes.

Proof of Delivery (POD)

Documentation confirming successful delivery, including recipient signature, timestamp, and GPS location.

Context: Required for compliance and billing verification in medical deliveries.

Español:

Prueba de Entrega (POD): Documentación que confirma la entrega exitosa, incluyendo firma del destinatario, marca de tiempo y ubicación GPS.

Temperature Control Terms

Cold Chain

Temperature-controlled supply chain maintaining specific temperature ranges from storage through delivery.

Context: Critical for vaccines, biologics, and temperature-sensitive medications.

Español:

Cadena de Frío: Cadena de suministro con control de temperatura que mantiene rangos específicos desde el almacenamiento hasta la entrega.

Temperature Excursion

Deviation from required temperature range that may compromise product integrity.

Context: Must be documented and reported immediately to maintain product safety.

Español:

Excursión de Temperatura: Desviación del rango de temperatura requerido que puede comprometer la integridad del producto.

Ambient Temperature Storage

Storage and transport at controlled room temperature, typically 15-25°C (59-77°F).

Context: Most pharmaceuticals and medical devices require ambient temperature control.

Español:

Almacenamiento a Temperatura Ambiente: Almacenamiento y transporte a temperatura ambiente controlada, típicamente 15-25°C (59-77°F).

Frozen Transport

Delivery service maintaining temperatures between -20°C to -10°C (-4°F to 14°F).

Context: Required for certain vaccines, plasma products, and research specimens.

Español:

Transporte Congelado: Servicio de entrega que mantiene temperaturas entre -20°C a -10°C (-4°F a 14°F).

Regulatory & Compliance Bodies

TSBP (Texas State Board of Pharmacy)

Regulatory body governing pharmacy operations and prescription delivery services in Texas.

Context: Establishes rules for medical courier services, including Rule §291.12 for delivery standards.

Español:

TSBP (Junta Estatal de Farmacia de Texas): Cuerpo regulatorio que gobierna las operaciones de farmacia y servicios de entrega de recetas en Texas.

FDA (Food and Drug Administration)

Federal agency regulating medical products, including transport and storage requirements.

Context: Sets guidelines for medical device and pharmaceutical delivery protocols.

Español:

FDA (Administración de Alimentos y Medicamentos): Agencia federal que regula productos médicos, incluyendo requisitos de transporte y almacenamiento.

DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration)

Federal agency regulating controlled substance transport and delivery protocols.

Context: Requires special licensing and security measures for controlled substance deliveries.

Español:

DEA (Administración de Control de Drogas): Agencia federal que regula el transporte de sustancias controladas y protocolos de entrega.

CLIA (Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments)

Federal standards regulating laboratory testing and specimen transport quality.

Context: Ensures specimen integrity and proper handling during medical transport.

Español:

CLIA (Enmiendas de Mejoramiento de Laboratorio Clínico): Estándares federales que regulan las pruebas de laboratorio y la calidad del transporte de especímenes.

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