When a vendor says “RAG”
Ask which sources can be retrieved, how access controls apply and whether an answer lets a reviewer trace its supporting evidence.
Free Reference Guide — 115 Terms
Healthcare AI glossary.
Clear language. Better decisions.
Give clinical, product and engineering teams a shared vocabulary. Explore AI and health-tech definitions with healthcare context, then use better questions to evaluate a proposal, demo or architecture decision.
115+Terms defined
6Categories
A–ZFull alphabet
A vocabulary for decisions
A useful definition changes the question you ask.
When a demo is called “agentic”
Ask which tools it can invoke, which actions change records and where approval, audit history and recovery sit.
When a model looks accurate
Ask what was measured, which cases were excluded and how performance differs across your actual workflows and users.
When someone says “FHIR-ready”
Ask which version, profiles, resources and operations your workflow needs. A shared standard does not remove access and mapping work.
Turn a shared vocabulary into a shared plan.
Use the implementation playbook to connect these terms to workflow selection, evaluation and rollout decisions.
Sample Entries
Here's a taste of what's inside
Every term gets a plain-language definition plus a healthcare-specific context section that tells you why it matters for your organization.
A
AI & Machine Learning
Agentic AI
An advanced class of AI systems composed of autonomous agents that pursue goals, coordinate multi-step workflows, adapt to changing conditions, and take action across multiple systems — with minimal human intervention at each step.
In a healthcare workflow, ask what tools the system may use, what it may change and when a person must approve an action. Autonomy is a design choice, not evidence that a workflow is safe.
R
Regulatory & Compliance
FDA PCCP (Predetermined Change Control Plan)
A regulatory framework that allows manufacturers of AI-enabled medical devices to pre-authorize specified algorithm updates without submitting a new marketing application for each change.
FDA guidance describes planned modifications, the method for developing and validating them, and an impact assessment. Changes must stay within the authorized plan. Read the FDA guidance ↗
R
AI & Machine Learning
RAG (Retrieval-Augmented Generation)
An architecture that combines a large language model with a retrieval system that pulls relevant, authoritative information from a curated knowledge base at query time — grounding responses in verified sources.
RAG is the leading approach for reducing hallucination in healthcare AI. Instead of relying solely on training data, a RAG system retrieves the latest clinical guidelines...
🔒 Download the full glossary to read more
F
Data & Interoperability
FHIR R4
The current mandatory standard for healthcare data interoperability in the United States. FHIR defines how clinical data is structured, accessed, and exchanged through RESTful APIs.
FHIR R4 is the data access layer for healthcare AI. By July 2026, ONC requires EHRs to expose real-time access to patient data...
🔒 Download the full glossary to read more
H
Clinical AI
Hallucination (AI Hallucination)
When an AI model generates output that is factually incorrect, fabricated, or unsupported by its data, but presents it with the same confidence as accurate information.
The most dangerous AI risk in healthcare. An ambient documentation tool might fabricate a medication the patient never mentioned...
🔒 Download the full glossary to read more
Z
Infrastructure & Security
Zero-Trust Architecture
A security model based on 'never trust, always verify' — every user, device, and connection must be authenticated and authorized for every action, even inside the network.
Zero-trust is the modern security standard for healthcare AI infrastructure. Every API call verified, every connection encrypted...
🔒 Download the full glossary to read more
6 categories. 26 letters. One shared vocabulary.
AI & Machine Learning
35+ terms
Clinical AI
15+ terms
Data & Interoperability
22+ terms
Regulatory & Compliance
18+ terms
Infrastructure & Security
16+ terms
Business & Operations
9+ terms
Why healthcare leaders bookmark this glossary
🎯
Plain language, not academic jargon
Written for decision-makers who need to understand AI without a PhD in machine learning. Every definition is clear, concise, and actionable.
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Healthcare-specific context for every term
Generic AI glossaries don't tell you why RAG matters for clinical decision support or what FHIR R4 means for your AI agents. This one does.
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A starting point for governance conversations
Understand regulatory vocabulary, then confirm current applicability with your qualified advisers. A definition is not a compliance determination.
👥
Share it across your organization
Drop it in the #ai-strategy Slack channel. Give it to every department head. When everyone speaks the same language, decisions happen faster.
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Vendor conversation cheat sheet
Know what questions to ask when a vendor says "agentic AI" or "FHIR-native." This glossary gives you the vocabulary to evaluate claims critically.
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Beautifully designed, print-friendly
Color-coded categories, clean typography, and a professional layout that looks as good printed on your desk as it does on screen.
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