Acronyms in healthcare

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

A list of medical abbreviations is also available.

A

 * AAHSA American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
 * AAMC	American Association of Medical Colleges
 * AAPCC adjusted average per capita cost
 * AAPS	American Association of Physicians and Surgeons
 * ABMT	autologous bone marrow transplant
 * ACS	American Cancer Society
 * ACF	administration for children and families
 * ADA American Dietetic Association
 * ADA American Dental Association
 * ADA American Diabetes Association
 * ADA	Americans with Disabilities Act
 * ADL	activities of daily living
 * ADR	adverse drug reaction
 * ADMIRAL Abciximab before Direct Angioplasty and Stenting in Myocardial Infarction Regarding Acute and Long-term follow-up
 * AFDC	aid to families with dependent children
 * AFMA	African Medical Association
 * AHA	American Hospital Association
 * AHA American Heart Association
 * AHCA	American Health Care Association
 * AHEC	area health education center
 * AHIP	America’s Health Insurance Plans
 * AHRQ	Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality
 * AMANET	African Malaria Network Trust
 * AMGA	American Medical Group Association
 * ANA	American Nurses Association
 * AOA	American Optometric Association
 * AOA   American Osteopathic Association
 * APA	Administrative Procedures Act
 * APA   American Psychiatric Association
 * APA   American Pharmaceutical Association
 * APC	ambulatory payment classification
 * APDRG	All Patient Diagnosis Related Groups
 * APHA	American Public Health Association
 * APHA  American Protestant Hospital Association
 * ASA   American Society of Anesthesiology
 * ASC	Ambulatory Surgery Center
 * ASO	Administrative Service Organization
 * ASPV Average systolic peak velocity
 * ASTHO	Association of State and Territorial Health Officials
 * AWP   average wholesale price

B

 * BBA	Balanced Budget Act of 1997
 * BBRA	Balanced Budget Refinement Act of 1999
 * BCA		Blue Cross Association
 * BCBSA	Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
 * BPHC	Bureau of Primary Health Care
 * BRFSS	Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

C

 * CAD	Coronary Artery Disease
 * CAH	Critical Access Hospital
 * CAHPS Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
 * CAP	Community Action Program or Community Access Program
 * CAT	Computerized Axial Tomography
 * CBO	Congressional Budget Office
 * CCA	Cost Consequence Analysis
 * CCHP	Consumer Choice Health Plan
 * CCU	Coronary Care Unit or Critical Care Unit
 * CDC	Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
 * CERTs Centers for Education and Research on Therapeutics
 * CEO Campaign to End Obesity
 * CHAMPUS Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
 * CHC Community Health Center
 * CHMIS Community Health Management Information System
 * CMA Cost Minimization Analysis
 * CME Continuing Medical Education
 * CMHC Community Mental Health Center
 * CMP Competitive Medical Plan
 * CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
 * CNA Certified Nursing Assistant
 * 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 or Computerized Prescription Order Entry
 * C-PORT Cardiovascular Patients Outcomes Research Team
 * CPR	Customary, Prevailing, and Reasonable or Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
 * CPT-4	Current Procedural Terminology, Forth Edition
 * CQuIPS	Center for Quality Improvement and Patient Safety
 * CRVS	California Relative Value Studies
 * CT	Computerized Tomographic (scanners)

D

 * DANAMI Danish Multicenter Randomized study on fibrinolytic therapy versus Acute Coronary Angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction
 * 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
 * DO Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
 * DRG Diagnosis Related Group
 * DSE Dobutamine stress echocardiography
 * DSH	Disproportionate Share Hospital
 * DTC Direct to Consumer
 * DUR Drug Utilization Review
 * DVM Doctor of Veterinary Medicine

E

 * EBM Evidence-Based Medicine
 * ECF extended care facility
 * EDI Electronic Data Interchange
 * EMERALD Enhanced Myocardial Efficacy and Recovery by Aspiration of Liberated Debris
 * EMS Emergency Medical Services
 * EPA Exclusive Provider Arrangement
 * EPA Environmental Protection Agency
 * EPC Evidence-Based Practice Center
 * EPSDT Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis, and Treatment Program
 * ER Emergency Room
 * ERISA Employee Retirement Income Security Act
 * ESRD End Stage Renal Disease
 * ET Expenditure Target

F

 * FACCT	The Foundation for Accountability
 * FAH	Federation of American Hospitals
 * FDA	Food and Drug Administration
 * FEHBP	Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
 * FICA	Federal Insurance Contributions Act
 * FIPH	Fellow International Public Health, honoris
 * FMG	Foreign Medical Graduate
 * FNP	Family Nurse Practitioner
 * FPL	Federal Poverty Level
 * FTC	Federal Trade Commission
 * FTT Fibrinolysis Therapy Trialists
 * FQHC	Federally Qualified Health Center
 * FY	Fiscal Year

G

 * GAP Government Accountability Office
 * GDP Gross Domestic Product
 * GHAA Group Health Association of America
 * GME Graduate Medical Education
 * GOS General Ophthalmic Services
 * GP General Practitioner
 * GUSTO Global Use of Strategies to Open Occluded Coronary Arteries in Acute Coronary Syndromes

H

 * HCBS	Home and Community Based Services
 * HCFA	Health Care Financing Association (Precursor to CMS)
 * HCUP-QIs	Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project Quality Indicators
 * HEDIS	Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set
 * HIFA	Health Insurance Flexibility and Accountability
 * HIPAA	Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
 * HIPC	Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperative
 * HMO	Health Maintenance Organization
 * HMSA	Health Manpower Shortage Area
 * HPSAs	Health Professional Shortage Areas
 * HRQL	Health Related Quality of Life
 * HRSA	Health Resources and Services Administration
 * HSA	Health Systems Agency; Health Savings Account or Health Service Area
 * HTA	Health Technology Assessment

I

 * IADL	Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
 * IBNR	Incurred But Not Reported
 * IC Intracoronary
 * ICD-9-CM	International Classification of Diseases Version 9, Clinical Modifications
 * ICDA	International Classification of Diseases, Adopted
 * ICF	Intermediate Care Facility
 * ICH Intracranial hemorrhage
 * ICU	Intensive Care Unit
 * ICF/MR	Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded
 * ICPC	International Classification of Primary Care
 * IHI	Institute for Healthcare Improvement
 * IMG	International Medical Graduate
 * IOM	Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of the Sciences
 * IPA	Independent Practice Association
 * IPHF International Public Health Forum
 * ISN	Integrated Services Network

J

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

L

 * LIS	Low Income Subsidy
 * LOS	Length of Stay
 * LPN	Licensed Practical Nurse
 * LSC	Life Safety Code
 * LTC	Long Term Care
 * LVEF Left ventricular ejection fraction
 * LVN	Licensed Vocational Nurse
 * LVRS	Lung Volume Reduction Surgery

M

 * MA	Medicare Advantage
 * MAAC	Maximum Allowable Actual Charge
 * MAF	Medical Assistance Facility
 * MAP	Medical Audit Program
 * MAPD	Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug Plan
 * MBG Myocardial blush grade
 * MCE Myocardial contrast echocardiography
 * MCAT	Medical College Admission Test
 * MCH	Maternal and Child Health Program
 * MCO	Managed Care Organization
 * 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
 * MMIS	Medical Management Information System
 * MMRA	Metropolitan Medical Response System
 * MRHFP	Medicare Rural Hospital Flexibility Program
 * MRI	Magnetic Resonance Imaging
 * MSA	Medical Savings Account or Metropolitan Statistical Area
 * MUA/MUPs	Medically Underserved Areas/Populations

N

 * NACo National Association of Counties
 * NACCHO National Association of County and City Health Officials
 * NCHS National Center for Health Statistics
 * NASHP National Academy for State Health Policy
 * NASMD National Association of State Medical Directors
 * NCQA National Committee for Quality Assurance
 * NEJM New England Journal of Medicine (standard PubMed abbreviation is N Engl J Med)
 * NGA National Governors Association
 * NGC National Guidelines Clearinghouse
 * 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
 * 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
 * NRMI National Registry of Myocardial Infarction

O

 * OAA	Old Age Assistance
 * OASDHI	Old Age Survivors, Disability, and Health Insurance Program
 * OAT Occluded artery trial
 * OBRA	Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
 * ODS	Organized Delivery System
 * OMB	Office of Management and Budget
 * OPD	Outpatient Department
 * OPHP	Office of Public Health Preparedness
 * OSHA	Occupational Health and Safety Administration

P

 * PA Physician Assistant
 * PAHO Pan American Health Organization
 * PAMI Primary angioplasty in Acute Myocardial Infarction
 * PASSION Paclitaxel-Eluting Stent versus Conventional Stent in Myocardial Infarction with ST-Segment Elevation
 * PBM Pharmacy Benefits Manager
 * PCCM Primary Care Case Management
 * PCI Percutaneous coronary intervention
 * PCP Primary Care Physician
 * PCT NHS Primary Care Trust
 * PDI Professional Development Institute
 * PDP Prescription Drug Plan
 * PDQS Partnership Defined Quality of Service *
 * PHO Physician-Hospital Organization
 * PHS Public Health Service
 * PIAPHP Partners in Information Access for Public Health Professionals
 * PMPM Per Member Per Month
 * PPA Preferred Provider Arrangement
 * PPCI Primary percutaneous coronary intervention
 * PPO Preferred Provider Organization
 * PPS Prospective Payment System
 * PRAGUE PRimary Angioplasty in patients transferred from General community hospitals to specialized PTCA Units with or without Emergency fibrinolysis
 * PSN Provider Sponsored Network
 * PSO Provider Sponsored Organization
 * PTCA Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Q

 * QALY	Quality Adjusted Life Year
 * QAPI	Quality Assessment and Performance Improvement Program
 * QARI	Quality Assurance Reform Initiative
 * QIO	Quality Improvement Organization
 * QISMC	Quality Improvement System for Managed Care
 * QuIC	Quality Interagency Coordination Task Force

R

 * RAN	Rural Area Computer Network
 * RAPPORT Reopro And Primary PTCA Organization and Randomized Trial
 * RBRVS	Resource-Based Relative Value Scale
 * RCT	Randomized Clinical Trial or Randomized Controlled Trial
 * RFE	Reason for encounter
 * RHC	Rural Health Clinic
 * RIKS-HIA Register of Information and Knowledge about Swedish Heart Intensive care Admissions
 * RRC	Rural Referral Centers
 * RUG Resource Utilization Groups
 * RWJF	Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

S

 * SAMSHA	Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
 * SCH	Sole Community Hospitals
 * SCHIP	State Children’s Health Insurance Program
 * SDMC	Statistical and Data Management Center
 * SESAMI Sirolimus-Eluting Stent Versus Bare-Metal Stent in Acute Myocardial Infarction
 * SFDA State Food and Drug Administration
 * SHEA	State Health Expenditure Account
 * SK Streptokinase
 * SNF	Skilled Nursing Facility
 * SSI	Supplemental Security Income
 * SSRI	Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
 * STRATEGY Single High Dose Bolus Tirofiban and Sirolimus Eluting Stent vs. Abciximab and Bare Metal Stent in Myocardial Infarction study
 * STEMI ST elevation myocardial infarction
 * STOP-AMI Stent versus Fibrinolysis for Occluded coronary arteries in patients with Acute Myocardial Infarction

T

 * TANF Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
 * TAPAS Thrombus Aspiration in Percutaneous coronary intervention following Acute myocardial infarction Study.
 * TFG TIMI flow grade
 * TIMI Thrombolysis in Myocardial Infarction
 * TMPG TIMI myocardial perfusion grade
 * TPA	Third Party Administrator
 * TPA Tissue plasminogen activator
 * TUBE Totally Unnecessary Breast Examination
 * TVR Target vessel revascularization

U

 * UNICEF	United Nations Children's Fund
 * USAID	United States Agency for International Development
 * USP	U.S. Pharmacopeia

V

 * VIRHN	Vertically Integrated Rural Health Network

W

 * WHO	World Health Organization
 * WRAIR	Walter Reed Army Institute of Research