Acronyms in healthcare

A

• A&E Accident and Emergency Department
• AAAHC Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
• AAHSA American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
• AAMA American Association of Medical Assistants
• AAMC American Association of Medical Colleges
• AAO-HNS American Academy of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery
• AAPC American Academy of Professional Coders
• AAPCC Adjusted Average per Capita Cost
• AAPS American Association of Physicians and Surgeons
• AAPI American Association of Physicians of Indian Origin
• ABMT Autologous Bone Marrow Transplant
• ACA Affordable Care Act of 2010
• ACF Administration for Children and Families
• ACHE American College of Healthcare Executives
• ACIIP Association of Clinical IVR and IWR Professionals
• ACO Accountable care organization
• ACOG American Congress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
• ACS American Cancer Society
• ACS American College of Surgeons
• ADA American Dietetic Association
• ADA American Dental Association
• ADA American Diabetes Association
• ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
• ADHD Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
• ADL Activities of Daily Living
• ADR Adverse Drug Reaction
• ADSA American Dental Society of Anesthesiology
• ADT Admission, Discharge, Transfer
• AEP Accredited Exercise Physiologist
• AFDC Aid to Families with Dependent Children
• AF Atrial Fibrillation
• AFMA African Medical Association
• AHA American Hospital Association
• AHA American Heart Association
• AHCA American Health Care Association
• AHDI Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity
• AHEC Area Health Education Center
• AHIMA American Health Information Management Association
• AHIP America's Health Insurance Plans
• AHRQ Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• AIDS acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• AIN Assistant In Nursing
• AMA American Medical Association
• AMANET African Malaria Network Trust
• AMGA American Medical Group Association
• AMIA American Medical Informatics Association
• ANA American Nurses Association
• AOA American Optometric Association
• AOA American Osteopathic Association
• AOTA American Occupational Therapy Association
• APA Administrative Procedures Act
• APA American Psychiatric Association
• APA American Pharmaceutical Association
• APA American Psychological Association
• APC Ambulatory Payment Classification
• APDRG All Patient Diagnosis Related Groups
• APHA American Public Health Association
• APHA American Protestant Hospital Association
• APTA American Physical Therapy Association
• ASA American Society of Anesthesiology
• ASC Ambulatory Surgery Center
• ASCP American Society for Clinical Pathology
• ASHICE Reporting patient's condition – Age Sex History Injury/Illness Consciousness ETA
• ASHRM American Society for Healthcare Risk Management
• ASO Administrative Service Organization
• AST Aspartate Aminotransferase
• ASTHO Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
• AWP Average Wholesale Price
• AYUSH Department of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy

B

• BBA Balanced Budget Act of 1997
• BBRA Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999
• BCA Blue Cross Association
• BCBSA Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
• BCMA Bar Code Medication Administration
• BFHI Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative
• BHCS Baylor Health Care System, Dallas, TX
• BI-RADS Breast Imaging-Reporting and Data System Atlas
• BP Blood Pressure
• BPM Beats Per Minute
• BPHC Bureau of Primary Health Care
• BPOC Bar Code Enabled Point of Care
• BRFSS Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System
• BSN Bachelor of Science in Nursing

C

• CABG Coronary artery bypass grafting
• CAD Coronary Artery Disease
• CAH Critical Access Hospital
• CAHPS Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
• CAM Complementary and Alternative Medicine
• CAP College of American Pathologists, Community Action Program, or Community Access Program
• CARF Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
• CAT Computerized Axial Tomography
• CBO Congressional Budget Office
• CCA Cost Consequence Analysis
• CCBTI Certified Cognitive Behavioral Training Instructor
• CCHIT Certification Commission for Healthcare Information Technology
• CCHP Consumer Choice Health Plan
• CCM Certified Case Manager
• CCRN Critical Care Registered Nurse
• CCU Coronary Care Unit
• CCU Critical Care Unit
• CDA Clinical Document Architecture
• CDif Clostridium Difficule
• CDC Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
• CDM Charge Description Master
• CDR Clinical Data Repository
• CDR Chronic Disease Register
• CDU Clinical Decisions Unit
• CERTs Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics
• CEO Campaign to End Obesity
• CHAMPUS Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
• CHAMPVA Civilian Health and Medical Program - Veterans Administration
• CHC Community Health Center
• CHER Community Health Education & Resources
• CHHA Certified Home Health Agency
• CHIME College of Health Information Management Executives
• CHF Congestive Heart Failure
• CHI Consolidated Health Informatics
• CHMIS Community Health Management Information System
• CHS Certified in Healthcare Security
• CHW Community health worker
• CICU Cardiac Intensive Care Unit
• CIS Clinical information system
• CLIA Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments Act
• CMA Cost Minimization Analysis
• CME Continuing Medical Education
• CMHC Community Mental Health Center
• CMO Career Medical Officer
• CMO Chief Medical Officer
• CMP Competitive Medical Plan
• CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• CMT Certified Medical Transcriptionist
• CN Clinical Nurse
• CNA Certified Nursing Assistant
• CNC Clinical Nurse Consultant
• CNS Central Nervous System
• COB Coordination of Benefits
• COBRA Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
• COG Council of Governments
• COI Cost of Illness Analysis
• COLA Cost of Living Allowance
• COMPASS Community Participation for Action in the Social Sector (Nigeria)
• CON Certificate of Need
• CONQUEST Computerized Needs-Oriented Quality Measurement Evaluation System
• COPC Community Oriented Primary Care
• COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
• COTH Council of Teaching Hospitals
• CPA Certified Public Accountant
• CPHA Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities
• CPI Consumer Price Index
• CPOE Computerized Physician Order Entry
• CPOE Computerized Prescription Order Entry
• CPR Customary, Prevailing, and Reasonable
• CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• CPT-4 Current Procedural Terminology, Forth Edition
• CQuIPS Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
• CRNA Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
• CRVS California Relative Value Studies
• CT Computerized Tomographic (scanners)
• CCRAS Central Council for Research in Ayurveda and Siddha

D

• DD Developmental Disability
• DDS Doctor of Dental Surgery
• DEA Drug Enforcement Agency
• DDM Doctor of Dental Medicine
• DHHS Department of Health and Human Services
• DME Durable Medical Equipment
• DMO Disease Management Organization
• DNR Do Not Resuscitate
• DO Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
• DOA Dead On Arrival
• DON Director Of Nursing
• DOS Date Of Service
• DR ABC Primary Survey – Danger Response Airway Breathing Circulation
• DRG Diagnosis Related Group
• DSH Disproportionate Share Hospital
• DSM-IV Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition
• DTC Direct to Consumer
• DUR Drug Utilization Review
• DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

E

• EBM Evidence-Based Medicine
• ECF Extended Care Facility
• ECG Electrocardiogram
• ED Emergency Department
• EDI Electronic Data Interchange
• EDON Executive Director Of Nursing
• EEG Electroencephalogram
• EEN Endorsed Enrolled Nurse
• EHR Electronic health record
• EKG Electrocardiogram
• ELS Emergency Life Support
• EMG Electromyogram
• EMR Electronic medical record
• EMS Emergency Medical Services
• EMT Emergency Medical Technician
• EMTALA Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act
• ENT Ear, Nose and Throat
• EPA Exclusive Provider Arrangement
• EPA Environmental Protection Agency
• EPC Evidence-Based Practice Center
• EPO Exclusive provider organization
• EPSDT Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program
• ER Emergency Room
• ERCP Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
• ERISA Employee Retirement Income Security Act
• ESI Employer-sponsored Insurance
• ESRD End Stage Renal Disease
• ET Expenditure Target
• ETA Estimated Time of Arrival

F

• FACCT The Foundation for Accountability
• FACS Fellow, American College of Surgeons
• FAH Federation of American Hospitals
• FAHIMA Fellow of the American Health Information Management Association
• FDA Food and Drug Administration
• FEHBP Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
• FFDCA Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act
• FIC Family of International Classifications, World Health Organization
• FICA Federal Insurance Contributions Act
• FIPH Fellow International Public Health, honoris
• FMAP Federal Medical Assistance Percentages
• FMG Foreign Medical Graduate
• FMLA Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
• FNP Family Nurse Practitioner
• FPL Federal poverty level
• FTC Federal Trade Commission
• FQHC Federally Qualified Health Center
• FY Fiscal Year
• FSA Flexible Spending Account
• FHTFetal Heart Tones

G

• GAO Government Accountability Office
• GDP Gross Domestic Product
• GHAA Group Health Association of America
• GME Graduate Medical Education
• GOS General Ophthalmic Services
• GP General Practitioner

H

• HAART Highly active antiretroviral therapy
• HCBS Home and Community Based Services
• HCFAP Healthcare Facilities Accreditation Program
• HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
• HCUP Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project
• HCQ Healthcare Quality
• HDHP High-deductible Health Plan
• HEDIS Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set
• HH Home Health
• HIE Health Information Exchange
• HIFA Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability
• HIM Health information management
• HIMSS Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society
• HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
• HIPC Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative
• HIPDB Healthcare Integrity and Protection Data Bank
• HIPPS Health information prospective payment system
• HISP Health Information Service Provider ^[2]
• HISPC Health Information Security and Privacy Collaboration
• HIS Health Information System
• HIT Health Information Technology
• HITECH Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act
• HITSP Healthcare Information Technology Standards Panel
• HAV, HBV, HCV Hepatitis A, B, C, respectively.
• HIV Human immunodeficiency virus
• HL7 Health Level 7
• HME Home Medical Equipment
• HMO Health Maintenance Organization
• HMSA Health Manpower Shortage Area
• HOPPS Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System
• HPI History of Present Illness
• HPSAs Health Professional Shortage Areas
• HRQL Health Related Quality of Life
• HRA Health Risk Assessment
• HRA Health Reimbursement Account
• HRH Human resources for health
• HRHIS Human resources for health information system
• HRSA Health Resources and Services Administration
• HSA Health Savings Account
• HSA Health Service Area
• HSA Health Systems Agency
• HSE Health Service Executive
• HTA Health Technology Assessment

I

• IADL Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
• IBNR Incurred But Not Reported
• ICD International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems
• ICD-9-CM International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modifications
• ICD-10-CM International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modifications
• ICD-10-PCS International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Procedure Coding System
• ICDA International Classification of Diseases, Adopted
• ICF International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health
• ICF Intermediate Care Facility
• ICN International Council of Nurses
• ICNP International Classification for Nursing Practice
• ICU Intensive Care Unit
• ICF/MR Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
• ICPC International Classification of Primary Care
• IDA Indian Dental Association
• IDN Integrated Delivery Network
• IDS Integrated Delivery System
• IHI Institute for Healthcare Improvement
• IMG International Medical Graduate
• IMO Irish Medical Organisation
• INHS Inland Northwest Health Services
• IOM Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of the Sciences
• IPA Independent Practice Association
• IPE Interprofessional Education
• IPHF International Public Health Forum
• IRM Information Resource Management
• ISN Integrated Services Network
• ITU Intensive Treatment Unit

J

• JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association
• JCAHO Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• JIPHF Journal of International Public Health Forum

K

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L

• LDH Lactic dehydrogenase
• LIS Low Income Subsidy or Laboratory Information System
• LMT Licensed Massage Therapist
• LOS Length of Stay
• LPN Licensed Practical Nurse
• LSC Life Safety Code
• LSIT Life Sciences Information Technology
• LTAC Long-Term Acute Care facility
• LTC Long Term Care
• LUPA Low Utilization Payment Adjustment
• LVN Licensed Vocational Nurse
• LVRS Lung volume reduction surgery
• LWBS Left without being seen

M

• MA Medical Assistant; Medicare Advantage
• MAAC Maximum Allowable Actual Charge
• MAF Medical Assistance Facility
• MAP Medical Audit Program
• MAPD Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan
• MAR Medication Administration Record
• MCAT Medical College Admission Test
• MCH Maternal and Child Health Program
• MCI Medical Council of India
• MCO Managed Care Organization
• MD Doctor of Medicine
• MEDLARS Medical Literature and Analysis Retrieval System
• MedPAC Medicare Payment Advisory Commission
• MEPS Medical Expenditure Panel Survey
• MET Multiple Employer Trust
• MEWA Multiple Employer Welfare Arrangement
• MDH Medicare-dependent Hospital
• MHC Managed Health Care
• MHA Master's in Health Care Administration
• MI Myocardial Infarction
• MLR Medical Loss Ratio
• MLT Medical Laboratory Technician
• MMIS Medicaid Management Information System
• MMRA Metropolitan Medical Response System
• MRHFP Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
• MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
• MRSA Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus infections
• MSA Medical Savings Account or Metropolitan Statistical Area
• MSN Master of Science in Nursing
• MT Medical Technologist
• MUA/MUPs Medically Underserved Areas/Populations

N

• NACo National Association of Counties
• NACCHO National Association of County and City Health Officials
• NASHP National Academy for State Health Policy
• NASMD National Association of State Medicaid Directors
• NCD Non-communicable disease
• NCHS National Center for Health Statistics
• NCQA National Committee for Quality Assurance
• NDC National Drug Code
• NEJM New England Journal of Medicine (standard PubMed abbreviation is N Engl J Med)
• NGA National Governors Association
• NGC National Guidelines Clearinghouse
• NwHIN Nationwide Health Information Network^[3]
• NHS National Health Service
• NHSC National Health Savings Corps
• NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
• NIH National Institutes of Health
• NIMH National Institute of Mental Health
• NIOSH National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health
• NKDA No Known Drug Allergies
• NLM National Library of Medicine
• NMA Nigerian Medical Association
• NMF Nigerian Medical Forum
• NP Nurse Practitioner
• NPRM Notice of Proposed Rulemaking
• NPS National Pharmaceutical Stockpile
• NRHA National Rural Health Association
• NUM Nurse Unit Manager

O

• OAA Old Age Assistance
• OASDHI Old Age Survivors, Disability, and Health Insurance Program
• OB/GYN Obstetrician/Gynecologist
• OBRA Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
• OD Overdose or the right eye (from the Latin)
• ODS Organized Delivery System
• OMB Office of Management and Budget
• OPD Outpatient Department
• OPHP Office of Public Health Preparedness
• OS The left eye (from the Latin)
• OSHA Occupational Health and Safety Administration

P

• PA Physician Assistant
• PACU Post Anesthesia Care Unit
• PAHO Pan American Health Organization
• PBM Pharmacy Benefits Manager
• PCA Personal Care Assistant
• PCCM Primary Care Case Management
• PCP Primary Care Physician
• PCT NHS Primary Care Trust
• PDI Professional Development Institute
• PDP Prescription Drug Plan
• PDQS Partnership Defined Quality of Service
• PHC Primary health care
• PHI Protected Health Information
• PHO Physician-Hospital Organization
• PHS Public Health Service
• PIAPHP Partners in Information Access for Public Health Professionals
• PICC Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter
• PICU Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
• POC Point of Care
• POS Place of Service
• PMPM Per Member Per Month
• PMP Per Million Population
• PPA Preferred Provider Arrangement
• PPO Preferred Provider Organization
• PPS Prospective Payment System
• PSN Provider Sponsored Network
• PSO Provider Sponsored Organization

Q

• QALY Quality-Adjusted Life Year
• QAPI Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program
• QARI Quality Assurance Reform Initiative
• QD Each day, usually in prescriptions.
• QIO Quality Improvement Organization
• QISMC Quality Improvement System for Managed Care
• QuICQuality Interagency Coordination Task Force

R

• RAN Rural Area Computer Network
• RAP Request for Anticipated Payment
• RBRVS Resource-Based Relative Value Scale
• RCT Randomized Clinical Trial or Randomized Controlled Trial
• RD Registered Dietician
• RFE Reason For Encounter
• RHC Rural Health Clinic
• RICE Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation (Alternatively) Rest, Immobilize, Cool, Elevate
• RIS Radiology Information System
• RRC Rural Referral Centers
• RUG Resource Utilization Groups
• RWJF Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• RN Registered Nurse
• RMO Resident Medical Officer
• RHIT Registered Health Information Technician
• RHIA Registered Health Information Administrator
• RHIO Regional Health Information Organization

S

• SAMPLE Signs/Symptoms, Allergies, Medications, Past history, Last meal, Events leading up to (First aid secondary survey questions)
• SAMSHA Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
• SBA Skilled Birth Attendant
• SCH Sole Community Hospitals
• SCHIP State Children's Health Insurance Program
• SEP Special Enrollment Period
• SDMC Statistical and Data Management Center
• SFDA State Food and Drug Administration
• SGR Sustainable Growth Rate
• SHEA State Health Expenditure Account
• SJA St John Ambulance
• SOB Shortness of Breath
• SNF Skilled Nursing Facility
• SNIP Strategic National Implementation Process
• SNP Special Needs Plan
• SSF Sjögren's Syndrome Foundation
• SSI Supplemental Security Income
• SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor

T

• TANF Temporary Assistance for Needy Families
• TCD Transcranial Doppler
• TPA Third Party Administrator or tissue plasminogen activator
• TTHS Tiny, Tiny Head Syndrome
• Tx Treatment

U

• UAP Unlicensed assistive personnel
• UCH UnitingCare Health
• UNICEF United Nations Children's Fund
• USAID United States Agency for International Development
• USP U.S. Pharmacopeia
• URAC Utilization Review Accreditation Commission

V

• VIRHN Vertically Integrated Rural Health Network

W

• WHO World Health Organization
• WHRN Whole Health Resource Network
• WISN Workload Indicators of Staffing Needs
• WRAIR Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

X

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Y

This section is empty. You can help by adding to it.

Z