NASA Procedures and Guidelines
This Document is Obsolete and Is No Longer Used. Check the NODIS Library to access the current version: http://nodis3.gsfc.nasa.gov
NPR 7120.11 Eff. Date: November 01, 2011 Cancellation Date: August 03, 2021	NASA Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) Implementation
| TOC | Preface | Chapter1 | Chapter2 | Chapter3 | Chapter4 | AppendixA | AppendixB | AppendixC | AppendixD | AppendixE | ALL |

Appendix A. Definitions

Chief Medical Officer (CMO): A medical doctor assigned to designated NASA Centers by the Agency Chief Health and Medical Officer (CHMO) who serves as the delegated Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA) for that Center.

Dissenting Opinion: A Dissenting Opinion is a disagreement with a decision or action that is based on a sound rationale (not on unyielding opposition) that an individual judges is of sufficient importance that it warrants a specific review and decision by higher-level management, and the individual specifically requests that the dissent be recorded and resolved by the Dissenting Opinion process.

Health: The physiological, psychological, dental status, and well-being of an individual.

Health and Medical Technical Authority (HMTA): HMTA implements the responsibilities of the Office of the Chief Health and Medical Officer (OCHMO) to assure that Agency health and medical policy, requirements, and technical standards are addressed in program/project management, when applicable and appropriate. HMTA provides independent oversight of all health, medical, and crew performance matters that either arise in association with the execution of NASA programs or projects, or are embedded in NASA programs or projects.

Medical: The care and treatment of an individual for illness or injury.

Permissible Outcome Limits (POL): An acceptable maximum decrement or change in physiological or behavioral parameter, as the result of exposure to the space environment. A biological/clinical parameter is measured.

Space Permissible Exposure Limits (SPEL): The quantifiable limit of exposure to a space flight factor over a given length of time. A physical/chemical agent is being measured.

Technical Authority (TA): TAs are part of NASA's system of checks and balances and provide independent oversight of programs and projects in support of safety and mission success through the selection of individuals at delegated levels of authority. These individuals are the TAs. TA delegations are formal and traceable to the Administrator. Individuals with TA are funded independently of a program or project.

Technical Standards: NASA documents that contain common and repeated use of rules, conditions, guidelines, or characteristics for products or related processes and production methods and related management system practices.

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