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.

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This list is incomplete; you can help by expanding it.

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## Contents

* 1 A
* 2 B
* 3 C
* 4 D
* 5 E
* 6 F
* 7 G
* 8 H
* 9 I
* 10 J
* 11 K
* 12 L
* 13 M
* 14 N
* 15 O
* 16 P
* 17 Q
* 18 R
* 19 S
* 20 T
* 21 U
* 22 V
* 23 W
* 24 X
* 25 Y
* 26 Z

## A

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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## I

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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* 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

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

## V

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* VIRHN Vertically Integrated Rural Health Network

## W

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

## X

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## Y

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## Z

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