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