Basic must-know Medical Care Terms, Abbreviations & Acronyms
Basic must-know Medical Care Terms, Abbreviations & Acronyms
Most of us have spent enough life time around medical health centers and hospitals. Medical formalities are essential part of a health center’s core system which often consists of doctor’s prescriptions, medical bills, test reports and so on. While going through any of them, have you ever wondered what those terms mean? Of course you must have been intimated about them by your health practitioner but you can’t help to notice that having a prior knowledge is so much better. Well, here is your chance then. In this blog you will find all the basic medical terms, abbreviations and acronyms that you must know from your hospital visits or health care trips.
Doctors and healthcare professionals use short forms or abbreviations for information or prescription to signify their patient’s condition, medicines to use, tests to run. It is useful to know what they mean for your own convenience.
Here are alphabetically arranged basic medical terms that you will likely find during your hospital visits:
TERM |
FULL FORM |
A&O |
Alert and Oriented |
A&W |
Alive and Well |
AA |
Amino acid |
AAPCC |
Average Adjusted Per Capita Cost |
Abd |
Abdomen |
ABG |
Arterial Blood Gas |
ABN |
Advance Beneficiary Notice |
ABX |
Antibiotics |
AC |
Before Meals |
ACA |
Affordable Care Act |
ACI |
Advancing Care Information |
ACIP |
Advisory Committee On Immunization Practices |
ACLS |
Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support |
ACO |
Accountable Care Organization |
ACR |
Adjusted Community Rating |
ACU |
Ambulatory Care Unit |
AD |
Right Ear |
Ad Lib |
At Will, As Desired |
ADC |
Average Daily Census |
ADHD |
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
ADM |
Admission, Admitted |
ADPER |
Acute Disease Prevention And Emergency Response |
ADS |
Alternative Delivery System |
AED |
Automated External Defibrillator |
AF |
Atrial Fibrillation |
AF |
Acid-fast |
AI |
Aortic Insufficiency |
AIDS |
Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome |
AIIR |
Airborne Infection Isolation Room |
AL |
Left Ear |
ALOS |
Average Length of Stay |
ALS |
Advanced Life Support |
ALS |
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis |
AMA |
Against Medical Advice |
AMA |
American Medical Association |
ANED |
Alive No Evidence of Disease |
ANP |
Advanced nurse practitioner |
AOB |
Alcohol on Breath |
APC |
Ambulatory Payment Classification |
APG |
Ambulatory Patient Group |
APHL |
Association Of Public Health Laboratories |
APM |
Alternative Payment Model |
APR-DRG |
All Payer Refined Diagnostic Related Group |
ARC |
American Red Cross |
ARDS |
Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome |
ARF |
Acute Renal Failure |
ARF |
Acute Rheumatic Fever |
ART |
Accredited Record Technician |
AS |
Aortic Stenosis |
ASAP |
As Soon As Possible |
ASC |
Ambulatory Surgery Center |
ASO |
Administrative Services Only Contract |
ASPE |
Office Of The Assistant Secretary For Planning And Evaluation |
ATLS |
Advanced Trauma Life Support |
AU |
Both Ears |
AUC |
Appropriate Use Criteria |
AXR |
Abdominal X-Ray |
BAC |
Blood Alcohol Content |
BAD |
Bipolar Affective Disorder |
BC |
Birth Control |
BE |
Barium Enema |
BID |
Bis in die (twice a day) |
BLS |
Basic Life Support |
BM |
Bowel Movement |
BMD |
Bone Mass Density |
BMI |
Body Mass Index |
BMR |
Basal Metabolic Rate |
BMT |
Bone Marrow Transplant |
BP |
Blood Pressure |
BPCI |
Bundled Payments For Care Improvement Initiative |
BRP |
Bathroom Privileges |
BTLS |
Basic Trauma Life Support |
BUN |
Blood Urea Nitrogen |
Bx |
Biopsy |
C |
Centigrade |
C |
Celsius |
C/F |
Chills, Fever |
C/O |
Complains of |
C/O |
Care of |
C/S |
Cesarean Section |
CA |
Cancer |
Ca |
Carcinoma |
CAA |
Care Area Assessment |
CAB |
Carotid Artery Bruit |
CABG |
Coronary Artery Bypass Graft |
CAD |
Coronary Artery Disease |
CADE |
Center For Acute Disease Epidemiology |
CAH |
Critical Access Hospital |
CAHPS |
Consumer Assessment Of Healthcare Providers And Systems |
CAM |
Complementary And Alternative Medicine |
Cap |
Capsule |
CAP |
Capsule |
CARF |
Commission On Accreditation Of Rehabilitation Facilities |
CAT |
Computerized Axial Tomography |
CBC |
Complete Blood Count |
CBD |
Common Bile Duct |
CBF |
Cerebral Blood Flow |
CBRNE |
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear And Explosive |
CBSA |
Core Based Statistical Area |
CC |
Chief Complaint |
CC |
Cubic Centimetre |
CC |
Critical Care |
CC |
Complications |
CC |
Carbon Copy |
CCI |
Correct Coding Initiative |
CCM |
Chronic Care Management |
CCR |
Cost-To-Charge Ratio |
CCU |
Cardiac Care Unit |
CDC |
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention |
CDOR |
Center For Disaster Operations And Response |
CEHRT |
Certified Electronic Health Record Technology |
CF |
Cystic Fibrosis |
CFR |
Code Of Federal Regulations |
CFT |
Complement Fixation Testing |
CHD |
Congenital Heart Disease |
CHF |
Congestive Heart Failure |
CHIP |
Children’s Health Insurance Program |
CICU |
Cardiac Intensive Care Unit |
CIN |
Clinically Integrated Network |
CIO |
Chief Information Officer |
CIP |
Critical Infrastructure Protection |
CIPI |
Capital Input Price Index |
CISM |
Critical Incident Stress Management |
CJR |
Comprehensive Care for Joint Replacement model |
CMA |
Certified Medical Assistant |
CME |
Continuing Medical Education |
CMHC |
Community Mental Health Center |
CMI |
Case Mix Index |
CMP |
Competitive Medical Plan |
CMS |
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services |
CMT |
Certified Medication Technician |
CNM |
Certified Nurse Midwife |
CNS |
Central nervous system |
CO2 |
Carbon dioxide |
COB |
Coordination Of Benefits |
COG |
Continuity Of Government |
COI |
Certificate Of Insurance |
COLD |
Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease |
CON |
Certificate Of Need |
COOP |
Continuity Of Operations |
COP |
Condition Of Participation |
COPD |
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
CORF |
Comprehensive Outpatient Rehabilitative Facility |
COVID-19 |
Coronavirus 2019 |
CP |
Cerebral Palsy |
CP |
Chest Pain |
CP |
Cerebral Palsy |
CPAP |
Continuous Positive Airway Pressure |
CPC+ |
Comprehensive Primary Care Plus |
CPCI |
Comprehensive Primary Care Initiative |
CPI |
Consumer Price Index |
CPIA |
Clinical Practice Improvement Activities |
CPR |
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation |
CPR |
Customary, Prevailing, And Reasonable |
CPS |
Composite Performance Score |
CPT |
Current Procedural Terminology |
CQI |
Continuous Quality Improvement |
CQM |
Clinical Quality Measure |
CRNA |
Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist |
CV |
Cardiovascular |
CVA |
Cerebral Vascular Accident (Stroke) |
CVI |
Cerebrovascular Insufficiency |
CXR |
Chest X-Ray |
CY |
Calendar Year |
D&C |
Dilatation And Curettage |
D&E |
Dilatation And Evacuation |
D/C |
Discontinue Or Discharge |
DC |
Doctor Of Chiropractic |
DD |
Differential Diagnosis |
DDS |
Doctor of Dental Surgery |
DEA |
Drug Enforcement Administration |
DHPC |
Direct Healthcare Professional Communication |
DIFF. |
Differential Blood Count |
DJD |
Degenerative Joint Disease (Osteoarthritis) |
DM |
Diabetes mellitus |
DMAT |
Disaster Medical Assistance Team |
DME |
Durable Medical Equipment |
DME |
Direct Medical Education |
DMORT |
Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team |
DNR |
Department of Natural Resources |
DNR |
Do Not Report |
DNR |
Do Not Resuscitate |
DO |
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine |
DO |
Disorder |
DOA |
Dead on Arrival |
DOA |
Date of Admission |
DOB |
Date of Birth |
DOJ |
Department of Justice |
DOT |
Department of Transportation |
DOT |
Directly Observed Therapy |
DPI |
Bureau of Disease Prevention and Immunization |
DPM |
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine |
DPS |
Department of Public Safety |
DPT |
Diphtheria, Pertussis, Tetanus |
DRG |
Diagnosis-related Group |
DSA |
Disproportionate Share Adjustment |
DSC |
Doctor of Surgical Chiropody |
DSH |
Disproportionate Share Hospital |
DSM |
Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders |
DTR |
Deep Tendon Reflex |
DVM |
Doctor of Veterinary Medicine |
DVT |
Deep Venous Thrombosis |
Dx |
Diagnosis |
E&M |
Evaluation And Management Services |
EBL |
Estimated Blood Loss |
EBP |
Evidence-Based Practice |
EBV |
Epstein-Barr Virus |
EC |
Eye Contact |
ECASA |
Enteric Coated Acetylsalicylic Acid |
ECC |
Emergency Coordination Center |
ECC |
Emergency Cardiac Care |
ECF |
Extended Care Facility |
ECG |
Electrocardiogram |
ECMO |
Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation |
eCQM |
Electronically Specified Clinical Quality Measure |
ECT |
Electroconvulsive Therapy |
ECU |
Environmental Control Unit |
ECV |
External Cephalic Version |
EDC |
Estimated Date Of Confinement |
EDD |
Estimated Delivery Date |
EEG |
Electroencephalogram |
EENT |
Eye, Ear, Nose And Throat |
EEOC |
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission |
EGA |
Estimated Gestational Age |
EGC |
Early Gastric Cancer |
EHR |
Electronic Health Record |
EKG |
Electrocardiogram |
EMAC |
Emergency Management Assistance Compact |
EMG |
Electromyogram |
EMR |
Electronic Medical Record |
EMS |
Emergency Medical Services |
EMT |
Emergency Medical Technician |
EMTALA |
Emergency Medical Transfer Active Labor Act |
ENT |
Ear Nose And Throat |
EOB |
Explanation of Benefits |
EOC |
Emergency Operations Center |
EOC |
Episode of Care |
EOC |
Explanation of Coverage |
EOMB |
Explanation of Medicare Benefits |
EPA |
Environmental Protection Agency |
EPI-X |
Epidemic Information Exchange |
EPO |
Exclusive Provider Organization |
EPs |
Eligible Professionals |
EPSDT |
Early Periodic Screening Diagnosis and Treatment Program |
ER |
Emergency Room |
ED |
Emergency Department |
ERISA |
Employee Retirement Income Security Act |
eRx |
Electronic Prescribing |
ESF |
Emergency Support Functions |
F |
Fahrenheit |
F/C |
Fever, Chills |
FAQ |
Frequently Asked Questions |
FAS |
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
FB |
Foreign Body |
FBS |
Fasting Blood Sugar |
FDA |
Food And Drug Administration |
FEC |
Freestanding Emergency Center |
FEF |
Forced Expiratory Flow |
FEHBP |
Federal Employees Health Benefits Program |
FEMA |
Federal Emergency Management Agency |
FFS |
Fee For Service |
FFWU |
Full Fever Work-Up |
FHR |
Fetal Heart Rate |
FI |
Fiscal Intermediary |
FL |
Femur Length |
FM |
Fetal Movement |
FMG |
Foreign Medical Graduate |
FNA |
Fine Needle Aspiration |
FOBT |
Fecal Occult Blood Testing |
FPL |
Federal Poverty Level |
FQHC |
Federally Qualified Health Center |
FRC |
Functional Residual Capacity |
FROM |
Free Range Of Motion |
FSA |
Flexible Spending Accounts |
FSE |
Fetal Scalp Electrode |
FSH |
Follicle Stimulating Hormone |
FT |
Full Term |
FTC |
Federal Trade Commission |
FTE |
Full-Time Equivalent |
FX |
Fracture |
FY |
Fiscal Year |
GA |
Gestational Age |
GAF |
Geographic Adjustment Factor |
GAO |
General Accountability Office |
GB Viz. |
Gall Bladder Visualization |
GC |
Gonococcal, Gonorrhea |
GH |
Growth Hormone |
GHAA |
Group Health Association Of America |
GHRH |
Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone |
GI |
Gastrointestinal |
GLT |
Glucose Loading Test |
GME |
Graduate Medical Education |
GP |
General Practitioner |
GPCI |
Geographic Practice Cost Index |
GPRO |
Group Practice Reporting Option |
GSW |
Gunshot Wound |
GTT |
Glucose Tolerance Test |
GTT |
Drop-Liquid Measurement |
GTT |
Glucose Tolerance Test |
GU |
Genitourinary |
H&P |
History And Physical Examination |
H/O |
History of |
H20 |
Water |
HA |
Headache |
HA |
Hemolytic Anemia |
HAC |
Hospital-Acquired Condition |
HAI |
Hospital-Associated Infection |
HAN |
Health Alert Network |
HAV |
Hepatitis A Virus |
HAZMAT |
Hazardous Material |
Hb |
Hemoglobin |
HBV |
Hepatitis B Virus |
HC |
Head Circumference |
HCC |
Hierarchical Condition Categories |
HCFAC |
Health Care Fraud and Abuse Control |
HCPCS |
Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System |
HCPLAN |
Health Care Payment Learning and Action Network |
HCV |
Hepatitis C Virus |
HDL |
High Density Lipoprotein |
HDV |
Hepatitis D Virus |
HEDIS |
Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set |
HEICS |
Hospital Emergency Incident Command System |
HEPA |
High-Efficiency Particulate Air |
HERT |
Hospital Emergency Response Team |
HFMA |
Healthcare Financial Management Association |
Hgb |
Hemoglobin |
HHA |
Home Health Agency |
HHR |
Health Human Resources |
HHSC |
Health and Human Services Commission |
HIAA |
Health Insurance Association Of America |
HICPAC |
Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee |
HICS |
Hospital Incident Command System |
HIE |
Health Information Exchange |
HIM |
Health Information Management |
HIPCs |
Health Insurance Purchasing Cooperatives |
HIPPS |
Health Insurance Prospective Payment System |
HIT |
Health Information Technology |
HITECH |
Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health Act |
HIV |
Human Immunodeficiency Virus |
HLSEM |
Homeland security and emergency management |
HMO |
Health maintenance organization |
HOPD |
Hospital Outpatient Department |
HPA |
Hypothalamic Suppression Test |
HPAI |
Highly pathogenic avian influenza |
HPB |
Historic payment basis |
HPCI |
Health Policy Corporation of Iowa |
HPHS |
High-Performing Health System |
HPI |
History of Present Illness |
HPSA |
Health Professional Shortage Area |
HQRM |
Healthcare Quality and Resource Management |
Hr |
Hour |
HR |
Heart Rate |
HRSA |
Health Resources and Services Administration |
HS |
Hour of Sleep |
HSR |
Hospital-Specific Rate |
HTN |
Hypertension |
I & O |
Intake & Output |
I&D |
Incision & Drainage |
I&O |
Intake And Output |
IAC |
Iowa Administrative Code |
IAHSA |
Iowa Association Of Homes And Services For The Aging |
IBD |
Inflammatory Bowel Disease |
IBS |
Inflammatory Bowel Syndrome |
IBW |
Ideal Body Weight |
IC |
Incident Commander |
ICC |
Incident Command Center |
ICD |
International Classification of Diseases |
ICF/MR |
Intermediate Care Facility for the Mentally Retarded |
ICN |
Intermediate Care Nursery |
ICP |
Infection Control Professional |
ICP |
Intracranial Pressure |
ICS |
Incident Command System |
ICU |
Intensive Care Unit |
ID |
Infectious Diseases |
IDAC |
Infectious Disease Advisory Committee |
IDALS |
Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship |
IDDM |
Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus |
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 |
IHERF |
Iowa Hospital Education & Research Foundation |
IHHCC |
Iowa Hospital Home Care Council |
IHI |
Institute for Healthcare Improvement |
IHS |
Indian Health Services |
IM |
Intramuscular |
IMA |
Indian Medical Association |
IME |
Indirect Medical Education |
In Vitro |
In the Laboratory |
In vivo |
In the Body |
IOASE |
In-Office Ancillary Services Exception |
IOM |
Institute of Medicine |
IP |
Intraperitoneal |
IP |
In-patient |
IPA |
Independent Practice Association |
IPAB |
Independent Payment Advisory Board |
IPF |
Inpatient Psychiatric Facility |
IPF |
Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis |
IPPS |
Medicare Hospital Inpatient Prospective Payment System |
IQ |
Intelligence Quotient |
IRB |
Institutional Review Board |
IRF |
Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility |
ISMP |
Institute for Safe Medication Practices |
IU |
International Units |
IU |
International Units |
IUI |
Intrauterine Insemination |
IUP |
Intrauterine Pregnancy |
IUPC |
Intrauterine Pressure Catheter |
IV |
Intravenous |
IVF |
In Vitro Fertilization |
IVIG |
Intravenous Immune Globulin |
IVP |
Intravenous Pyelogram (Urogram) |
IVP |
Intravenous Push |
JCV |
JC Virus |
JIC |
Joint Information Center |
JRA |
Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis |
JT |
Joint |
JVD |
Jugular Venous Distension |
KS |
Kaposi Sarcoma |
KUB |
Kidney, Ureter, Bladder |
LAD |
Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency |
LAMA |
Left Against Medical Advice |
LBP |
Lower Back Pain |
LBW |
Low Birth Weight |
LCD |
Local Coverage Determinations |
LIH |
Left Inguinal Hernia |
LLL |
Left Lower Lobe |
LLQ |
Left Lower Quadrant |
LMS |
Learning Management System |
LOF |
Loss of Fluid |
LOS |
Length of Stay |
LPC |
Licensed Professional Counselor |
LPHA |
Local Public Health Agency |
LPN |
Licensed Practical Nurse |
LPT |
Licensed Physical Therapist |
LRN |
Laboratory Response Network |
LSA |
Legislative Service Agency |
LTC |
Long-Term Care |
LTCH |
Long-Term Care Hospital |
LTSS |
Long Term Social Services |
LUL |
Left Upper Lobe |
LUQ |
Left Upper Quadrant |
LV |
Left Ventricle |
LVN |
Licensed Vocational Nurse |
MA |
Medicare Advantage |
MAC |
Medicare Administrative Contractor |
MACPAC |
Medicaid And Chip Payment And Access Commission |
MB |
Market Basket |
MBI |
Market Basket Index |
MCO |
Managed Care Organization |
MD |
Doctor of Medicine |
MD |
Muscular Dystrophy |
MDA |
Muscular Dystrophy Association |
MDC |
Major Diagnostic Category |
MDD |
Maximum Daily Dose |
MDH |
Medicare Dependent Hospital |
MDP |
Measure Development Plan |
MDS |
Minimum Data Set |
ME |
Medical Examiner |
MedPAC |
Medicare Payment Advisory Commission |
MEI |
Medicare Economic Index |
mEQ. |
Milli Equivalent |
MFS |
Medicare Fee Schedule |
mg |
Milli Gram |
MHI |
Mental Health Integration |
MI |
Myocardial Infarction |
MIPS |
Merit-Based Incentive Payment System |
ML |
Milliliter |
MLP |
Mid-Level Practitioner |
MLR |
Minimum Loss Rate |
MMA |
Medicare Modernization Act Of 2003 |
MMRS |
Metropolitan Medical Response System |
MOB |
Medical Office Building |
MOM |
Milk Of Magnesia |
MONO |
Mononucleosis |
MPA |
Master Of Public Administration |
MPH |
Master Of Public Health |
MR |
Mental Retardation |
MRI |
Magnetic Resonance Imaging |
MS |
Mitral Stenosis |
MS |
Multiple Sclerosis |
MSA |
Metropolitan Statistical Area |
MSN |
Master Of Science In Nursing |
MSO |
Management Service Organization |
MSW |
Master Of Social Work |
MUA |
Medically Underserved Area |
MUP |
Medically Underserved Population |
MVA |
Motor Vehicle Accident |
MVA |
Motor Vehicle Accident |
MVPS |
Medicare Volume Performance Standard |
N/V |
Nausea or Vomiting |
N/V |
Nausea Vomiting |
NAD |
No Acute Distress |
Nat/O |
Birth |
NB |
Newborn |
NBC |
Nuclear, Biological, Chemical |
NCD |
National Coverage Determination |
n-CoV |
Novel coronavirus |
NCQA |
National Committee For Quality Assurance |
ND |
Doctor Of Naturopathic Medicine |
NDMS |
National Disaster Medical System |
NF |
Nursing Facility |
NIC |
Neonatal Intensive Care |
NICU |
Neonatal Intensive Care Unit |
NIDDM |
Non-Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus |
NIH |
National Institutes Of Health |
NKDA |
No Known Drug Allergies |
NM |
Neuromuscular |
NNDSS |
Nationally Notifiable Disease Surveillance System |
NP |
Nurse Practitioner |
NPI |
National Provider Identifier |
NPO |
Nothing By Mouth |
NPRM |
Notice of Proposed Rule Making |
NQF |
National Quality Forum |
NQS |
National Quality Strategy |
NRP |
National Response Plan |
NTG |
Nitroglycerin |
NVD |
Normal Vaginal Delivery |
O2 |
Oxygen |
OASIS |
Outcome And Assessment Information Set |
OB-GYN |
Obstetrics And Gynecology |
OBRA |
Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act |
OCD |
Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
OCM |
Oncology Care Model |
OCP |
Oral Contraceptive Pill |
OCR |
Office For Civil Rights |
OD |
Doctor Of Optometry |
OD |
Right Eye |
ODS |
Organized Delivery System |
OGTT |
Oral Glucose Tolerance Test |
OIG |
Office Of The Inspector General |
OMB |
Office Of Management And Budget |
ON |
Optic Neuritis |
ONC |
Office Of The National Coordinator For Health Information Technology |
OPD |
Outpatient Department |
OPO |
Organ Procurement Organization |
OPP |
Out-Of-Pocket Payments |
OPPS |
Medicare Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System |
OPV |
Oral Polio Vaccine |
OR |
Operating Room |
OS |
Left Eye |
OSA |
Obstructive Sleep Apnea |
OSHA |
Occupational Safety And Health Administration |
OT |
Occupational Therapy |
OTC |
Over The Counter |
OU |
Both Eyes |
P |
Pulse |
P&A |
Percussion And Auscultation |
p.o. |
per os (by mouth) |
P4P |
Pay For Performance |
PA |
Physician Assistant |
PA |
Posterior-Anterior |
PA |
Patient |
PACS |
Picture Archiving And Communication System |
PALS |
Pediatric Advanced Life Support |
PAP |
Pulmonary Artery Pressure; Papanicolaou Test |
PAP |
Pulmonary Artery Pressure; Papanicolaou Test |
PAPR |
Personal Air-Purifying Respirator |
PAT |
Paroxysmal Atrial Tachycardia |
PBI |
Protein-Bound Iodine |
PC |
After Meals |
PCMH |
Patient-Centered Medical Home |
PCN |
Primary Care Network |
PCN |
Penicillin |
PCORI |
Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute |
PCP |
Primary Care Physician |
PD |
Parkinson’s Disease |
PDL |
Prescription Drug List |
PDP |
Prescription Drug Plan |
PE |
Pulmonary Embolism |
Ped. |
Pediatrics |
PEEP |
Positive End Expiratory Pressure |
PET |
Positron Emission Tomography |
PFFS |
Private Fee-For-Service |
PFPMs |
Physician Focused Payment Models |
PFS |
Medicare Physician Fee Schedule |
pH |
Acidity or Alkalinity |
PHN |
Public Health Nurse |
PHO |
Physician Hospital Organization |
PHS |
Public Health Service |
PID |
Pelvic Inflammatory Disease |
PIH |
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension |
PKD |
Polycystic Kidney Disease |
PMPM |
Per-Member/Per-Month |
PMS |
Premenstrual Syndrome |
PNS |
Peripheral Nervous System |
PNV |
Prenatal Vitamins |
PO |
per os (by mouth) |
POS |
Point of Service |
Post-Op |
Postoperative (After Surgery) |
PPACA |
Patient Protection And Affordable Care Act |
PPE |
Personal Protective Equipment |
PPI |
Producer Price Index |
PPO |
Preferred Provider Organization |
PPRC |
Physician Payment Review Commission |
PPS |
Prospective Payment System |
PQRS |
Physician Quality Reporting System (CMS) |
Preemy |
Premature Infant |
Pre-Op |
Preoperative (Before Surgery) |
PRN |
As Needed |
PRO |
Peer Review Organization |
PRRB |
Provider Reimbursement Review Board |
PSA |
Prostate-Specific Antigen |
PSO |
Provider Sponsored Organization |
PT |
Patient |
PT |
Physical Therapy |
PTAC |
Professional And Technical Advisory Committee |
PTSD |
Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
q.i.d. |
Four times daily |
q2h |
Every 2 hours |
q3h |
Every 3 Hours |
QA |
Quality Assurance |
qam |
Every morning |
QCDR |
Qualified Clinical Data Registry |
qd |
Once a day |
QE |
Qualified Entity |
qh |
Once every hour |
qhs |
At bedtime |
QI |
Quality Improvement |
qid |
Four times a day |
QIO |
Quality Improvement Organization |
qod |
Every other day |
QP |
Qualifying APM Professional |
qpm |
Every Evening |
QRDA |
Quality Reporting Document Architecture |
QRUR |
Quality And Resource Use Reports |
RA |
Rheumatoid Arthritis |
RA |
Right Atrium |
RA |
Rheumatoid Arthritis |
RAC |
Recovery Audit Contractor |
RAD |
Radiation-Absorbed Dose |
RAD |
Reactive Airway Disease |
RBC |
Red Blood Count |
RBC |
Red Blood Cell |
RBRVS |
Resource-Based Relative Value Scale |
RDI |
Recommended Daily Intake |
RDS |
Respiratory Distress Syndrome |
REM |
Rapid Eye Movements |
RF |
Risk Factor |
RHC |
Rural Health Clinic |
RHD |
Rheumatic Heart Disease |
RUL |
Right Upper Lobe |
RUQ |
Right Upper Quadrant |
RV |
Right Ventricle, Residual Volume |
RVS |
Relative Value Scale |
RVU |
Relative Value Unit |
Rx |
Prescription, Treatment |
RXN |
Reaction |
S |
Without (Sans) |
S/S |
Signs and Symptoms |
SAB |
Spontaneous Abortion |
SAMHSA |
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration |
SARS |
Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome |
SBO |
Small Bowel Obstruction |
SBS |
Shaken Baby Syndrome |
SC |
Subcutaneous |
SC/SQ |
Subcutaneous |
SCH |
Sole Community Hospital |
SCHIP |
State Children’s Health Insurance Program |
SCIC |
Significant Change In Condition |
SEIU |
Service Employees International Union |
SEOC |
State Emergency Operations Center |
SGR |
Sustainable Growth Rate |
SICU |
Surgical Intensive Care Unit |
SIDS |
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome |
SMDA |
Safe Medical Devices Act (1990) |
SME |
State Medical Examiner |
SNF |
Skilled Nursing Facility |
SNP |
Special Needs Plan |
SNS |
Strategic National Stockpile |
SOB |
Shortness of Breath |
SPECT |
Single-Photon-Emission Computerized Tomography |
SSA |
Social Security Administration |
SSI |
Supplemental Security Income |
START |
Simple Triage And Rapid Transport |
STAT |
Immediately |
Stat. |
Immediately |
STD |
Sexually Transmitted Disease |
STHP |
Short Term Health Plan |
SX |
Symptoms |
T |
Temperature |
T&C |
Type And Cross (Blood) |
TAB |
Tablet |
TAH |
Total Abdominal Hysterectomy |
TB |
Tuberculosis |
TBI |
Traumatic Brain Injury |
TCPI |
Transforming Clinical Practice Initiative |
Temp. |
Temperature |
TGA |
Transient Global Amnesia |
TIN |
Tax Identification Number |
TIW |
Three Times A Week |
TLC |
Total Lung Capacity |
TMA |
Transitional Medical Assistance |
TPA |
Third-Party Administrator |
TPA |
Tissue Plasminogen Activator |
TPA |
Total Parenteral Alimentation |
TPR |
Temperature, Pulse, Respiration |
TQI |
Total Quality Improvement |
TQM |
Total Quality Management |
TRHCA |
Tax Relief And Health Care Act Of 2006 |
TSA |
Transportation Security Administration |
UA |
Urinalysis |
UC |
Urgi Center |
UC |
Ulcerative Colitis |
UCR |
Usual, Customary And Reasonable |
UE |
Upper Extremity |
UO |
Urine Output |
UR |
Utilization Review |
URI |
Upper Respiratory Infection |
US |
Ultrasound |
USOH |
Usual State Of Health |
USPHS |
United States Public Health Service |
UTI |
Urinary Tract Infection |
VA |
Veterans Administration |
VAERS |
Vaccine Adverse Events Reporting System |
VB |
Vaginal Bleeding |
VBAC |
Vaginal Birth After Caesarean Section |
VBP |
Hospital Value-Based Purchasing |
VBPM |
Value-Based Payment Modifier |
VD |
Venereal Disease |
VDRL |
Serology |
VF |
Ventricular Fibrillation |
VFC |
Vaccines For Children |
VH |
Vaginal Hysterectomy, Hallucination |
VHA |
Voluntary Hospitals Of America |
VIP |
Voluntary Interruption Of Pregnancy |
VM |
Value-Based Payment Modifier |
VMBIP |
Vaccine Management Business Improvement Project |
VS |
Vital Signs |
VSS |
Vital Signs Stable |
WB |
Whole Blood |
WBC |
White Blood Cell |
WHO |
World Health Organization |
WIC |
Women And Infant Children Program |
WNL |
Within Normal Limits |
WT |
Weight |
XRT |
External Radiation Therapy |