# Glossary

## Provider

A provider is a healthcare professional who provides healthcare services to patients.
**Examples include:** doctor, physician's assistant, nurse, dentist, etc.

## Provider Location

An object that pairs a provider with a practice location to surface the availability of that provider at a specific location.

- One provider can be associated with multiple provider locations.
- A location can also be a placeholder for virtual visits.


## NPI

**National Provider Identifier (NPI)** is a HIPAA Administrative Simplification Standard.
It is a unique identification number for covered healthcare providers.

## Visit Reason

Describes the purpose of the appointment.

## Default Visit Reason

Each specialty and provider has a default visit reason.

- It determines appointment duration and calculates availability when a specific visit reason is not selected.
- A visit reason is required for retrieving availability.


## Specialty

A branch of medical practice that a patient can choose when booking an appointment.
**Examples include:** dentist, dermatologist, psychiatrist.

## Practice

An established entity that provides a set of related services and may consist of multiple providers.

## Developer Patient ID

A unique identifier used by 3rd-party developers for internal record-keeping only.
Zocdoc does not utilize this identifier.

## Insurance Carrier

A company or entity that provides insurance coverage through specific insurance plans.

## Insurance Plan

A specific offering from an insurance carrier detailing:

- Specific costs
- Areas of coverage
- In-network providers


## Client Application

An application made by the developer that faces public users and is distributed via a browser or mobile app.

## Application Server

A back-end server created by the developer to support their client application.

## Client Credentials Flow

The process in which applications obtain an access token from a backend server (also known as Machine-to-Machine authentication).

## User Actions on Client Applications

Developers building a patient booking experience where users can search for providers, view availability, and book appointments using a Zocdoc account.

## Provider Resource

A professional who performs appointments under the supervision of a bookable provider.

## Appointment Status

- `pending_booking`: The appointment request has been received but not yet confirmed.
- `confirmed`: The appointment is confirmed.
- `booking_failed`: The appointment failed to book.
- `cancelled`: The appointment is cancelled.
- `no_show`: The patient did not appear for a confirmed appointment.
- `pending_reschedule`: A reschedule request has been received but not yet confirmed.
- `rescheduled`: The appointment is rescheduled.
- `reschedule_failed`: The appointment failed to reschedule.


## Zocdoc Video Service (ZVS)

Zocdoc’s telemedicine platform enabling virtual appointments via video conferencing and other digital tools.

## Appointment Visit Type

- `in_person`: Appointment takes place in person.
- `zocdoc_video_service`: Virtual appointment on Zocdoc’s Video Service.
- `third_party_video_service`: Virtual appointment hosted by the provider.


## Waiting Room Path

Patient-facing URL for appointments using Zocdoc Video Service.

- This link must be provided to the patient to join the appointment.
- For third-party video platforms, the provider will send the link.


> **Note:** Appointment confirmation should be expected within 24 hours.


## Patient Type

Zocdoc’s best assessment of whether a patient has previously received care from a provider.
Determined based on:

- Patient self-identification during booking
- Presence of prior appointments with the provider on Zocdoc


## Allowed Visit Reason IDs

Set of Zocdoc visit reasons that *can* be scheduled for a given time slot.

- Does **not** override an excluded visit reason.


## Excluded Visit Reason IDs

Set of Zocdoc visit reasons that *cannot* be scheduled for a given time slot.

- Takes precedence over any allowed visit reason.