AA: Anesthesiologist’s Assistant
AAHA: American Association of Homes for the Aging
AAHSA: American Association of Homes and Services for the Aging
AAMD: American Academy of Medical Directors
AAN: American Academy of Nursing
AAP: American Academy of Pediatrics
AAP: Association of American Physicians
ABMM: American Board of Medical Management
ABS: American Board of Surgery
ACCME: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
ACF: Administration for Children and Families
ACHA: American College of Hospital Administrators
ACNG: Association for Children’s Nutritional Growth
ACYF: Administration on Children, Youth and Families
ADA: American Dietetic Association
ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act
ADAMHA: Alcohol, Drug Abuse, and Mental Health Administration
ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder
ADFS: Alternative Delivery and Financing System
ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
ADI: acceptable daily intake
ADS: Alternative Delivery System
A-EMT: Advanced emergency medical technician
AFS: Alternative Financing System
AHA Guide: Guide to the Health Care Field
AHA: American Hospital Association
AHCPR: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
AHP: Allied Health Professional
AID: Artificial Insemination by Donor
AIDS: Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
AL: Alcohol and Other Drug Dependence Services
ALOS: Average Length of Stay
ALR: American Law Reports
ALR: American Law Reports
ALS: Advanced Life Support
AMA: American Medical Association
AMH: Accreditation Manual for Hospitals
AmJur: American Jurisprudence
AMRA: American Medical Record Association
APHA: American Public Health Association
APO: Adverse Patient Occurrence
ART: Accredited Record Technician
BCBSA: Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
BHCAG: Buyers Health Care Action Group
BMI: Body Mass Index
BNDD: Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs
BPR: Business Process Reengineering
CACFP: Child and Adult Care Food Program
CAHEA: Committee on Allied Health Education and Accreditation
CAT Scan: Computed Tomography Imaging (see also CT Scan)
CCC: Council on Clinical Classifications
CCRC: Continuing Care Retirement Communities
CCU: Cardiac Care Unit
CDC: Centers for Disease Control
CEO: Chief Executive Officer
CEPA: Children’s Environmental Protection Act
CER: Capital Expenditure Review
CHAP: Community Health Accreditation Program
CHC: Community Health Center
CHI: Consumer Health Informatics
CHINS: Community Health Information Networks
CHIP: Children’s Health Insurance Program
CHN: Community Health Network
CHP: Comprehensive Health Planning
CII: Child Immunization Initiative
CISN: Community Integrated Service Networks
CISNET: Committee on International Science, Engineering and Technology
CJS: Corpus Juris Secundum
CMHC: Community Mental Health Service Program
CMP: Competitive Medical Plan
CMSA: Coal Mine Safety Act
CNPP: Center for Policy Promotion
COBRA: Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act of 1985
CONAPP: Committee on Nutrition of the American Academy of Pediatrics
COO: Chief Operating Officer
CPG: Clinical Practice Guidelines
CPHA: Commission on Professional and Hospital Activities
CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
CQI: Continuous Quality Improvement
CQM: Continuous Quality Management
CQMS: Cost Quality Management System
CRNA: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
CS: Central Service Department
CT Scan: Computed Tomography Imaging
CVS: Chorionic Villus Sampling
CVT: Cardiovascular Technologist
DATTA: Diagnostic and Therapeutic Technology Assessment Program
DC: Doctor of Chiropractic
DCG: Diagnostic Cost Groups
DEA: Drug Enforcement Administration
DHEW: Department of Health, Education and Welfare
DHHS: Department of Health and Human Services
DMA: Director of Medical Affairs
DME: Durable Medical Equipment
DMO: Disease Management Organization
DO: Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine
DOC: Department of Commerce
DOL: Department of Labor
DOTS: Directly Observed Treatment Short-course
DPT: Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus
DR: Diagnostic Radiology Services
DRG: Diagnosis Related Group
DSS: Decision Support System
DT: Dietetic Technician
EAP: Employee Assistance Program
ECG: Electrocardiogram
ED: Emergency Department
EEG: Electroencephalogram
EFNEP: Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program
EKG: Electrocardiogram
EMC: Emerging and other Communicable Diseases Surveillance and Control
EMCRO: Experimental Medical Care Review Organization
EMS or EMSS: Emergency Medical Service System
EMT: Emergency Medical Technician
EP: Emergency Physician
EPA: Environmental Protection Agency
EPO: Exclusive Provider Organization
EPSDT: Early and Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program
ERID: Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases
ESRD: End-Stage Renal Disease
ETS: Environmental Tobacco Smoke
FA: Functional Administration
FACHA: Fellow of the American College of Hospital Administrators
FACHE: Fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives
FACPE: Fellow of the American College of Physician Executives
FCC: Federal Communications Commission
FCH: Family Care Home
FDA: Federal Drug Administration
FDA: Food and Drug Administration
FE: Frozen Embryo
FEC: Free-standing emergency center
FFS: Fee-for-Service
FMC: Foundation for Medical Care
FNS: Food and Nutrition Services
FP: Family Practice
FSA: Flexible Spending Account
FTC: Federal Trade Commission
FTE: Full-time Equivalent
FTT: Failure to Thrive
GAO: General Accounting Office
GB: Governing Body
GDP: Gross Domestic Product
GDP: Gross National Product
GI: Gastroenterology
GME: Graduate Medical Education
GMENAC: Graduate Medical Education National Advisory Committee
GP: General Practitioner
HAD: Health Care Alternatives Development
HBV: Hepatitus B Virus
HCFA: Health Care Financing Administration
HCO: Health Care Organization
HCQIA: Health Care Quality Improvement Act
HEDIS: Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set
HEW: Department of Health, Education and Welfare
HHS: Department of Health and Human Services
HIAA: Health Insurance Association of America
HIS: Hospital Information System
HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
HMO: Health Management Organization
HMRC: Health Management Research Center
HON: Health on the Net Foundation
HPA: Health Policy Agenda for the America People
HPHC: Harvard Pilgrim Health Care
HRA: Health Record Analyst
HRAs: Health Risk Appraisals
HRO: High Reliability Organization
HT: Histologic Technician/Technologist
IA: Intra-arterial
IADL: Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale
IC: Infection Control
ICCS: International Classification of Clinical Services
ICD: International Classification of Diseases
ICF: Intermediate Care Facility
ICP: Interdisciplinary Care Plan
ICU: Intensive Care Unit
IG: Inspector General
IHCA: Individual Health Care Account
IHR: International Health Regulations
IM: Implementation Monitoring
IM: Internal Medicine
IMC: Indigent Medical Care
IMD: Institution for Mental Diseases
IMF: International Monetary Fund
INSERM: Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (French Institute of Health and Medical Research)
INSPEAR: International Network for the Study and Prevention of Emerging Antimicrobial
IQ: Intellectual Quadrant
IRB: Institutional Review Board
IS: Information System
ISN: Integrated Service Networks
ITREID: International Training and Research in Emerging Infectious Diseases
IVF: In Vitro Fertilization
JAMA: Journal of American Medical Association
JCAH: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Hospitals
JCAHO: Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
KCF: Key Clinical Findings
LAN: Local Area Network
LAV: Lymphadenopathy-Associated Virus
LDRS: Labor-Delivery-Recovery Suites
LHEG: Local Healthcare Executive Group
LO: a Learning Organization
LOS: Length of Stay
LP: Legal Periodicals
LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse
LTC: Long-term Care
LTCF: Long-term Care Facility
LVN: Licensed Vocational Nurse
M&E: Monitoring and Evaluation
MA: Medical Assistant
MA: Medical Audit
MAP: Medical Audit Program
MAS: Management and Administrative Services
MCAT: Medical College Admission Test
MCES: Medical Care evaluation Study
MD: Doctor of Medicine
MDC: Major Diagnostic Category
Medi-Cal: Medicaid in California
MGMA: Medical Group Management Association
MI: Medical Illustrator
MIG: Medicare Insured Group
MIS: Management Information System
MMA: Medical Management Analysis
MMR: Measles, Mumps, Rubella
MMWR: Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (US CDC)
MRA: Medical Record Administrator
MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
MS: Medical Staff
MSDs: Musculoskeletal Disorders
MSO: Medical Staff Organization
NACHRI: National Association of Children’s Hospitals and Related Institutions, Inc.
NAL: National Agricultural Library
NAQAP: National Association of Quality Assurance Professionals
NBME: National Board of Medical Examiners
NCHC: National Coalition on Health Care
NCI: National Cancer Institute
ND: Naturopathic Medicine
NET: Nutrition Education and Training
NF: National Formulary
NGT: Nominal Group Technique
NHANES: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey
NIAID: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases
NIDDK: National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive & Kidney Diseases
NIH: National Institute of Health
NII: National Information Infrastructure
NIOSH: the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
NLM: National Library of Medicine
NLMA: National Labor Management Association
NM: Nuclear Medicine Services
NMR Scanning: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Scanning
NMRI: Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Imaging
NOEL: No Observable Effect Level
NP: Nurse Practitioner
NRCRDA: National Research Council Recommended Dietary Allowances
NTD: Neural Tube Defect
OBRA: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
ODMH: Ohio Department of Mental Health
ODRC: Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction
ODYS: Ohio Department of Youth Services
OMB: Office of Management and Budget
OMD: Doctor of Oriental Medicine
OMR: Online Medical Record
OP: Outpatient
OPA: Organ Procurement Agency
OPHS: Office of Public Health and Science
OR: Operating Room
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Act
OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
OT: Occupational Therapist
OTA: Office of Technology Assessment
OTC Drug: Over the Counter Drug
P&L: Profit and Loss Statement
P&T: Pharmacy and Therapeutics
PA: Physician Advisor
PA: Physician Assistant
PAC: Preadmission Certification
PAT: Preadmission Testing
PCA: Patient Care Audit
PCB: Polychlorinated Biphenyl
PCC: Primary Care Center
PCM: Patient Care Manager
PCU: Patient Care Unit
PDD: Presidential Decision Directive
PDR: Physicians’ Desk Reference
PDSA: Plan, Do,Study, Act cycle
PH: Pharmaceutical Services
PHN: Public Health Nurse
PHO: Physician-Hospital Organization
PHO: Public Health Organization
PHS: Public Health Service
PHSA: Public Health Service Act
PIP: Periodic Interim Payment
PLM: Product Line Management
PM: Post Mortem
PNP: Pediatric Nurse Practitioner
POMR: Problem-Oriented Medical Record
POR: Problem-Oriented Record
POS: Point of Scale
POS: Point of Service Option (Health Care Plan)
POS: Point of Service Plan
PPO: Preferred Provider Organization
PPS: Prospective Payment System
PRO: Peer Review Organization
Project ASSIST: American Stop Smoking Interventional Study for Cancer Prevention
PSA: Public Service Announcements
PSRO: Professional Standards Review Organization
PTSD: Post Traumatic Stress Disorder
PTSM: Plant, Technology, and Safety Management
QAP: Quality Assurance Program
QC: Quality Control
QM: Quality Management
QRB: Quality Review Bulletin
QRM: Quality and Resource Management
QWL: Quality of Working Life Movement
RD: Registered Dietitians
RMI: Repetitive motion injuries
RN: Registered Nurse
RRA: Registered Review Committee
RRC: Residency Review Committee
RSI: Repetitive strain injury
RT: Respiratory Therapist
RVS: Relative Value Scale
RVU: Relative Value Unit
SES: Socio-economic Status
SIDS: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
SM: Surrogate Mother
SMI: Supplementary Medical Insurance
SNF: Skilled Nursing Facility
SNP: School Nurse Practitioner
SO: Social Work Services
SPC: Statistical Process Control
SPSS: Statistical Package for the Social Sciences
SSA: Social Security Administration
STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease
TB Unit: Tuberculosis Unit
TEFRA: Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act
TPA: Third Party Administrator
TPR: Third Party Reimbursement
TQA: Total Quality Management
TQM: Total Quality Management
UCC: Uniform Commercial Code
UHDDS: Uniform Hospital Discharge Data Set
UN: United Nations
UNICEF: United Nations Children’s Fund (formerly United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund)
UR: Utilization Review
USDA: United States Department of Agriculture
VAD: Ventricular Assist Device
VCJD: Variant Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease
VHA: Veterans Health Administration
WHO: World Health Organization
WIC: Women, Infants, and Children
YMCA: Young Men’s Christian Association
YWCA: Young Women’s Christian Association
ZEBRA: Zero Balanced Reimbursement Account