Acronyms in healthcare

The following is a partial list of 'initialisms and acronyms commonly used in health care'. The terms listed are used in the English language within the health care systems of various countries.

Health care

• AACOM—American Association of Colleges of Osteopathic Medicine
• AAHAM—American Association of Healthcare Administrative Management
• AAHP—American Association of Health Plans
• AAPCC—Average Adjusted Per Capita Cost
• AARP—American Association of Retired Persons
• ABN—Advance beneficiary notice
• ACA—Affordable Care Act
• ACGME—Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
• ACHE—American College of Healthcare Executives
• ACR—Adjusted community rating
• ACS—American Cancer Society … also American College of Surgeons
• ACU—Ambulatory care unit
• ADA—Americans with Disabilities Act … also American Diabetes Association
• ADC—Average daily census
• ADS—Alternative delivery system
• AG—Attorney General
• AGPA—American Group Practice Association
• AHA—American Hospital Association … or American Heart Association
• AHRQ—Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
• AIDS—Acquired immune deficiency syndrome
• ALJ—Administrative law judge
• ALOS—Average length of stay
• AMA—American Medical Association
• AMCRA—American Medical Care and Review Association
• ANA—American Nurses Association
• AOA—American Osteopathic Association
• AONE—American Organization of Nurse Executives
• APC—Ambulatory Payment Classification
• APG—Ambulatory Patient Group
• APR-DRG—All payer refined diagnostic related group
• ARC—American Red Cross
• ASC—Ambulatory surgery center
• ASO—Administrative services only contract

• BBA—Balanced Budget Act of 1997
• BBRA—Balanced Budget Relief Act of 1999
• BCAA—Blue Cross Association of America
• BCBSI—Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Iowa now known as Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield of Iowa
• BCLS—Basic cardiac life support
• BHAI—Behavioral Health Affiliate of Iowa
• BIA—Bureau of Indian Affairs
• BIPA—Benefits Improvement & Protection Act of 2000
• BLS—Bureau of Labor Statistics

• CAH—Critical access hospital
• Cahaba GBA—Cahaba Government Benefit Administrators, LLC (administers Medicare health insurance for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
• CAM—Complementary and alternative medicine
• CARF—Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
• CAT—Computerized axial tomography
• CBSA—Core based statistical area
• CCI—Correct coding initiative
• CCR—Cost-to-charge ratio
• CCU—Cardiac care unit
• CDC—Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (U.S.)
• CHA—Catholic Health Association
• CHAMPUS—Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
• CHAMPVA—Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Veterans Administration
• CICU—Cardiac intensive care unit
• CIPI—Capital input price index
• CISM—Critical incident stress management
• CLIA—Clinical Laboratory Improvement Act (1967) … also Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (1988)
• CMHC—Community mental health center
• CMI—Case mix index
• CMP—Competitive medical plan … also Civil monetary penalty
• CMS—Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
• COB—Coordination of benefits
• COBRA—Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
• COI—Certificate of Insurance
• CON—Certificate of Need
• COP—Condition of participation
• CORF—Comprehensive outpatient rehabilitative facility
• CPI—Consumer price index
• CPR—Customary, prevailing, and reasonable (charges) … also Cardiac pulmonary resuscitation
• CPT—Current Procedural Terminology
• CQI—Continuous quality improvement

• DEA—Drug Enforcement Administration

• DHS—Department of Human Services (Iowa)

• DMAT—Disaster Medical Assistance Team

• DME—Durable medical equipment … also Direct medical education

• DNR—Department of Natural Resources … also Do not resuscitate … also Do not report

• DRA—Deficit Reduction Act of 2005

• DRG—Diagnosis-related group

• DSA—Disproportionate share adjustment

• DSH—Disproportionate share hospital

• EBP—Evidence-based practice

• ECF—Extended care facility

• EEOC—Equal Employment Opportunity Commission

• EHR—Electronic health record

• EMR—Electronic medical record

• EMS—Emergency medical services

• EMTALA—Emergency Medical Transfer Active Labor Act

• EOB—Explanation of benefits

• EOC—Episode of care … also Emergency operations center... also Explanation of coverage

• EOMB—Explanation of Medicare Benefits

• EPA—Environmental Protection Agency

• EPO—Exclusive Provider Organization

• EPSDT—Early periodic screening diagnosis and treatment program

• ER/ED—Emergency room/emergency department

• ERISA—Employee Retirement Income Security Act

• FAQ—Frequently asked questions

• FDA—Food and Drug Administration

• FEC—Freestanding emergency center

• FEHBP—Federal Employees Health Benefits Program

• FFS—Fee for service

• FFWU—Full fever work-up

• FI—Fiscal intermediary

• FPL—Federal Poverty Level

• FQHC—Federally Qualified Health Center

• FSA—Flexible Spending Accounts

• FTC—Federal Trade Commission

• FTE—Full-time equivalent

• GAF—Geographic adjustment factor

• GAO U.S.—General Accountability Office

• GHAA—Group Health Association of America

• GME—Graduate medical education

• GPCI—Geographic practice cost index

• HANYS—Healthcare Association of New York State

• HAWK-I—Healthy and Well Kids in Iowa

• HCPCS—Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System

• HEDIS—Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set

• HEICS—Hospital emergency incident command system

• HFMA—Healthcare Financial Management Association

• HHA—Home Health Agency

• HHR—Health human resources (or health workforce)

• HHS—Health and Human Services (Federal)

• HHSC—Health and Human Services Commission

• HIAA—Health Insurance Association of America

• HIM—Health information management

• HIPAA—Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

• HIPCs—Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperatives

• HIPPS-Health Insurance Prospective Payment System

• HMO—Health maintenance organization

• HPB—Historic payment basis

• HPCI—Health Policy Corporation of Iowa

• HPSA—Health Professional Shortage Area

• HQRM—Healthcare quality and resource management

• HSR—Hospital-specific rate

• IAHSA—Iowa Association of Homes and Services for the Aging

• ICD—International Classification of Diseases

• ICF/MR—Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded

• ICN—Iowa Communications Network

• ICS—Incident command system

• ICU—Intensive care unit

• IDIA—Iowa Department of Inspections and Appeals

• IDN—Integrated Delivery Network

• IDPH—Iowa Department of Public Health

• IDS—Integrated delivery system

• IFMC—Iowa Foundation for Medical Care

• IHA—Iowa Hospital Association

• IHC—Iowa Healthcare Collaborative

• IHHCC—Iowa Hospital Home Care Council

• IHERF—Iowa Hospital Education & Research Foundation

• IHI—Institute for Healthcare Improvement

• IHO—Iowa Hospice Organization

• IHS—Indian Health Services

• IME—Indirect Medical Education … also Iowa Medicaid Enterprise

• IMGMA—Iowa Medical Group Management Association

• IMS—Iowa Medical Society

• INA—Iowa Nurses Association

• IOM—Institute of Medicine

• IOMA—Iowa Osteopathic Medical Association

• IONL—Iowa Organization of Nurse Leaders

• IPA—Independent Practice Association

• IPF—Inpatient psychiatric facility

• IRB—Institutional review board

• IRF—Inpatient rehabilitation facility

• ISMP—Institute for Safe Medication Practices

• ITC—Iowa Trauma Coordinators

• LAMA—Left against medical advice

• LCD—Local coverage determinations

• LOS—Length of stay

• LSA—Legislative Service Agency

• LTC—Long-term care

• MA—Medicare Advantage

• MAC—Medicare Administrative Contractor

• MB—Market basket

• MBI—Market basket index

• MCO—Managed care organization

• MDA—Muscular Dystrophy Association

• MDC—Major Diagnostic Category

• MDH—Medicare Dependent Hospital

• MDS—Minimum Data Set

• MedPAC—Medicare Payment Advisory Commission

• MEI—Medical economic index

• MFS—Medicare fee schedule

• MGCRB—Medicare Geographic Classification Review Board

• MLP—Mid-level practitioner

• MMA—Medicare Modernization Act of 2003

• MOB—Medical office building

• MRI—Magnetic resonance imaging

• MSA—Metropolitan statistical area

• MSO—Management service organization

• MUA—Medically underserved area

• MUP—Medically underserved population

• MVPS—Medicare volume performance standard

• NB—Newborn

• NBC—Nuclear, Biological, Chemical

• NCD—National coverage determination

• NCQA—National Committee for Quality Assurance

• NDMS—National Disaster Medical System

• NF—Nursing facility

• NIC—Neonatal intensive care

• NICU—Neonatal intensive care unit

• NIH—National Institutes of Health

• NIMS—National Incident Management System

• NLRB—National Labor Relations Board

• NP—Nurse practitioner

• NPI—National Provider Identifier

• NQF—National quality forum

• OASIS—Outcome and Assessment Information Set

• OBRA—Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act

• ODS—Organized delivery system

• OIG—Office of Inspector General

• OMB—Office of Management and Budget

• OPO—Organ procurement organization

• OPP—Out-of-pocket payments

• OR—Operating room

• OSHA—Occupational Safety and Health Administration

• OT—Occupational therapy

• OTC—Over-the-counter

• PA—Physician assistant

• PACS—Picture archiving and communication system

• PCN—Primary care network

• PCP—Primary care physician

• PDL—Prescription drug list

• PDP—Prescription drug plan

• PET—Positron emission tomography

• PFFS—Private fee-for-service

• PHN—Public health nurse

• PHO—Physician hospital organization

• PHS—Public health services

• POS—Point of service

• PPE—Personal protective equipment

• PPI—Producer price index

• PPO—Preferred provider organization

• PPRC—Physician Payment Review Commission

• PPS—Prospective payment system

• PRO—Peer review organization

• PRRB—Provider reimbursement review board

• PSO—Provider sponsored organization

• PT—Physical therapy

• QA—Quality assurance

• QI—Quality improvement

• QIO—Quality improvement organizations

• RBRVS—Resource-based relative value scale

• RHC—Rural health clinic

• RPB 6—Regional Policy Board 6 (AHA)

• RUGs—Resource utilization groups

• RVS—Relative value scale

• RVU—Relative value unit

• SCH—Sole community hospital

• SCHIP—State Children's Health Insurance Program

• SEIU—Service Employees International Union

• SMDA—Safe Medical Devices Act (1990)

• SNF—Skilled nursing facility

• SNS—Strategic National Stockpile

• SPECT—Single-photon-emission computerized tomography

• SSA—Social Security Administration

• SSI—Supplemental Security Income

• TPA—Third-party administrator or third-party administration

• TQI—Total quality improvement

• TQM—Total quality management

• TRHCA—Tax Relief and Health Care Act of 2006

• UB-04—Uniform Billing Form, modified in 2004

• UB-92—Uniform Billing Form, modified in 1992

• UC—Urgi Center

• UCR—Usual, customary and reasonable (charges)

• UR—Utilization review

• USPHS—United States Public Health Service

• VA—Veterans Administration

• VHA—Voluntary Hospitals of America

• WHO—World Health Organization

• WIC—Women and infant children program

• WMD—Weapons of mass destruction

Medical

• Abd.—Abdominal

• ACLS—Advanced cardiac life support

• AED—Automated external defibrillator

• AF—Atrial fibrillation

• AI—Aortic insufficiency

• AIDS—Acquired immune deficiency syndrome

• ALS—Advanced life support

• AMA—Against medical advice

• ANP—Advanced nurse practitioner

• ART—Accredited record technician

• AS—Aortic stenosis

• ATLS—Advanced trauma life support

• BE—Barium enema

• BLS—Basic life support

• BMR—Basal metabolism rate

• BP—Blood pressure

• BTLS—Basic trauma life support

• BUN—Blood urea nitrogen

• Ca—Carcinoma

• CADAC—Certified alcohol and drug abuse counselor

• CBC—Com5ount

• CC—Chief complaint

• CISM—Critical incident stress management

• CNM—Certified Nurse Midwife

• CNS—Central nervous system

• CPR—Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

• CRNA—Certified registered nurse anesthetist

• CVA—Cerebrovascular accident, a stroke

• CVI—Cerebrovascular insufficiency

• DC—Doctor of Chiropractic

• DD—Differential diagnosis

• DDS—Doctor of Dental Surgery

• DIFF.—Differential blood count

• DO—Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine

• DNR—Do not resuscitate; also Do not report

• DPM—Doctor of Podiatric Medicine

• DPT—Diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus

• D&C—Dilatation and curettage

• D&E—Dilatation and evacuation

• DSC—Doctor of Surgical Chiropody

• DVM—Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

• ECU—Environmental control unit

• EEG—Electroencephalogram

• EENT—Eye, ear, nose and throat

• EKG, ECG—Electrocardiogram

• EMG—Electromyogram

• EMS—Emergency medical service

• EMT—Emergency medical technician

• ENT—Ear nose and throat

• FACHE—Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives

• FBS—Fasting blood sugar

• FMG—Foreign medical graduate

• FSH—Follicle-stimulating hormone

• GB viz.—Gall bladder visualization

• GC—Gonococcal, gonorrhea

• GI—Gastrointestinal

• GP—General practitioner

• GU—Genitourinary

• Hgb.—Hemoglobin

• ICN—Intermediate care nursery

• IM—Intramuscular

• IP—Intraperitoneal

• IV—Intravenous

• IVP—Intravenous pyelogram (urogram)

• LPC—Licensed professional counselor

• LPN—Licensed practical nurse

• LPT—Licensed physical therapist

• LVN—Licensed vocational nurse

• MD—Doctor of Medicine

• mEq.—Milliequivalent

• MHA—Master of Hospital Administration Master of Health Administration

• MHSA—Master of Health Services Administration

• MI—Myocardial infarction; also Mitral insufficiency or Mental institution

• MOM—Milk of magnesia

• Mono—Mononucleosis

• MPA—Master of Public Administration

• MPH—Master of Public Health

• MS—Mitral stenosis; also Master of Science or Medical scientist

• MSN—Master of Science in Nursing

• MSW—Master of Social Work

• N—Normal

• NB—Newborn

• ND—Doctor of Naturopathic Medicine

• OB-GYN—Obstetrics and gynecology

• OD—Doctor of Optometry

• O.D.—Right eye

• O.S.—Left eye

• PA—Physician assistant; also Posterior–anterior

• P&A—Percussion and auscultation

• PALS—Pediatric advanced life support

• PAT—Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia

• PBI—Protein-bound iodine

• Ped.—Pediatrics; also Pediatrician

• pH—Expression of acidity or alkalinity. pH 7 is neutral;above 7 alkalinity increases; below 7 acidity decreases.

• Preemy—Premature infant

• PSA—Prostate-specific antigen

• RAD—Radiation-absorbed dose

• RBC—Red blood count

• SC—Subcutaneous

• SCIC—Significant change in condition

• SICU—Surgical intensive care unit

• SIDS—Sudden infant death syndrome

• SOB—Short of breath

• START—Simple triage and rapid transport

• Stat.—Immediately

• STD—Sexually transmitted disease

• T&A—Tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy

• TB—Tuberculosis

• Temp.—Temperature

• VD—Venereal disease

• VDRL—Serology

• WBC—White blood count

Disaster preparedness

• ACIP—Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices

• ADPER—Acute disease prevention and emergency response

• AIIR—Airborne infection isolation room

• APHL—Association of Public Health Laboratories

• CADE—Center for Acute Disease Epidemiology

• CBRNE—Chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive

• CDOR—Center for disaster operations and response

• CIO—Chief information officer

• COG—Continuity of government

• COOP—Continuity of operations

• CIP—Critical infrastructure protection

• DOT—Department of Transportation

• DMAT—Disaster medical assistance team

• DMORT—Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team

• DPI—Bureau of Disease Prevention and Immunization

• DPS—Department of Public Safety

• ECC—Emergency coordination center

• EMAC—Emergency Management Assistance Compact

• EOC—Emergency operations center

• EPI-X—Epidemic information exchange (national list serve)

• ER—Emergency room

• ESF—Emergency support functions

• ESF06—Mass care emergency support function

• ESF08—Health and medical services support function

• FEMA—Federal Emergency Management Agency

• HAN—Health Alert Network

• HAZMAT—Hazardous material

• HEPA—High-efficiency particulate air

• HHS—U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

• HERT—Hospital emergency response team

• HICPAC—Hospital infection control practices advisory committee

• HICS—Hospital incident command system

• HLSEM—Homeland security and emergency management

• HPAI—Highly pathogenic avian influenza

• IAC—Iowa Administrative Code

• IC—Incident commander

• ICC—Incident command center

• ICP—Infection control professional

• ICS—Incident command system

• IDAC—Infectious disease advisory committee

• IDALS—Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship

• IISN—Iowa Influenza Surveillance Network

• JIC—Joint information center

• LMS—Learning management system

• LPHA—Local public health agency

• LRN—Laboratory Response Network

• ME—Medical examiner

• MMRS—Metropolitan medical response system

• NIMS—National Incident Management System

• NIPP—National Infrastructure Protection Plan

• NNDSS—Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System

• NRP—National Response Plan

• PAPR—Personal air-purifying respirator

• PPE—Personal protective equipment

• SARS—Severe acute respiratory syndrome

• SEOC—State emergency operations center

• SME—State medical examiner

• SNS—Strategic National Stockpile

• TSA—Transportation Security Administration

• UHL—University of Iowa Hygienic Laboratory

• VAERS—Vaccine adverse events reporting system

• VFC—Vaccines for Children

• VMBIP—Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project

• WMD—Weapon of mass destruction

External links

• Smart Define - Healthcare Related Abbreviations