Continuity-Clinical Document Architecture and Continuity of Care Documents

In the healthcare industry, a very common term that comes up is the concept of a C-CDA or CCD. These acronyms C-CDA and CCD stand for Consolidated-Clinical Document Architecture and Continuity of Care Document respectively. It is common that they are seen as interchangeable terms however this is not the case.  The Consolidated-Clinical Document Architecture is actually a framework to be followed in the creation of electronic documents via XML (Extensible Markup Language) that are transmitted over the internet typically via Direct based messaging services. The concept of a Continuity of Care Document or CCD can include electronic documents that conform to the framework of a C-CDA but also include paper based records commonly seen in a doctor’s office which do not conform to C-CDA.