Healthcare Acronyms

Explanation

A US federal government program created in 1992 that requires drug manufacturers to provide outpatient drugs to eligible health care organizations and covered entities (i.e., health systems serving Medicaid beneficiaries) at significantly reduced prices.

For many events, roughly 80% of the effects come from 20% of the causes

A type of EDI transaction from the HIPAA 5010 standard. It includes member enrollment information, benefits, plan subscription, and employee demographic information.

Sometimes written a & o

A two-year degree

A localized dilatation (ballooning) of the abdominal aorta exceeding the normal diameter by more than 50 percent, and is the most common form of aortic aneurysm

Formerly American Association of Blood Banks but now an international organization known only as AABB

Sometimes also abbreviated AHC.

Now merged with HIAA to form AHIP

See also See also GTE and MTS

BC/BSAs

A blood test that is performed using blood from an artery. It involves puncturing an artery with a thin needle and syringe and drawing a small volume of blood.

A standardized notice that must be issued to a Medicare beneficiary before providing certain Medicare Part B (outpatient) or Part A (limited to hospice and Religious Nonmedical Healthcare Institutions only) items or services. The ABN must be issued when:It is believed that Medicare may not pay for an item or serviceMedicare usually covers the item or serviceMedicare may not consider it medically reasonable and necessary for the patient in this particular instance

The major human blood type system which depends on the presence or absence of antigens known as A & B

An advanced practice certification for nurse practitioners, clinical nurse specialists, and specialists in advanced diabetes management by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

i.e. take 2 tablets before meals. Also written as a.c.

Short for the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA), commonly called Obamacare.

A basic analytical approach to determining the most probable/reasonable cause(s) of error by reviewing the facts associated with the incident. This analysis assists to identify causes and circumstances which can be prioritized as the basis for process improvement efforts.

An anticoagulant containing citric acid, sodium citrate and dextrose. This was formerly used primarily as a whole blood preservative, but is currently used for plateletpheresis.

Negotiates salary, raises, work hours, case load, etc. for medical education

A certification by the Baromedical Nurses Association (BNA)

One of four ligaments stabilizing the knee

An ACMA certification which is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA)

Formerly ACS

Nurse credentialing website

Also known as Division of Accreditation and Certification Operations

Canada

Also known as Adjusted Community Contract Rate

An aggregated reporting group of CRGs in 3M's Clinical Risk Grouping Software

A certification by the Association of Nurses in AIDS Care (ANAC)

Now called ACM

A two-year degree

A dangerous abbreviation which should not be used because it can be mistaken for QD (every day)

Adduct (move toward the center of the body)

Formerly known as ADD. One of the most common childhood disorders which can continue through adulthood, sypmtoms include difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior, and hyperactivity.

See also Social Security Administration (SSA)

Medicaid term

The most commonly used HL7 messaging type, used to exchange the patient state within a healthcare facility. ADT messages keep patient demographic and visit information synchronized across healthcare systems. Sometimes written Admission/Discharge/Transfer.

Title IV of the Social Security Act

A somewhat common irregular heartbeat that sometimes requires a blood thinner to be safely discharged

Usually written a/g. Seen as a lab test.

A Joint Commission (JC) accreditation program

Arizona's Medicaid program

Another name for Factor VIII, one of a number of coagulation (clotting) factors. See also AHG.

Another name for Factor VIII, one of a number of coagulation (clotting) factors. See also AHF.

A national political advocacy and trade association with about 1,300 member companies that sell health insurance coverage to more than 200 million Americans. AHIP was formed through the merger of HIAA and AAHP.

An acronym used by the Studer Group to remind staff about how to acknowledge patients and customers

A disease of the immune system caused by HIV. During the initial infection, a person may experience a brief period of influenza-like illness, typically followed by a prolonged period without symptoms. As the illness progresses, it interferes more and more with the immune system, making the person much more likely to get infections, including opportunistic infections, and tumors that do not usually affect people who have working immune systems.

Trade association

A Medicare reimbursement rate which is the opposite of an FFS rate

Amputation of the lower leg, above the knee

The arithmetic mean (traditional average) length of stay. It is calculated by See also GMLOS.

If a patient decides to leave against the advice of their doctor, they sign this form to relieve the hospital of responsibility

Commonly known as a heart attack. Results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die.

Sometimes called AAP

Also written A/N

Online query to 5% sample

Formerly American Dietetic Association

An order similar to DNR or DNAR

A test using x-ray technology and a contrast agent (dye) to see the body's blood vessels to study narrow, blocked, enlarged or malformed arteries or veins, including brain, heart, abdomen and legs

An annual notice from a Medicare plan which includes any changes in coverage, costs, or service area that will be effective in January.

A job title or an acronym for a program name (ANP Program)

A certification by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)

A certification by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)

A certification by the Oncology Nursing Certification Corporation (ONCC)

Also written as A/P

The CMS method of paying for facility outpatient services. Non-Medicare insurances primarily utilize CPT codes instead.

A comparative database which includes commercial health plans, Medicare, and Medicaid

A backronym

Typically includes Nurse Practitioners (NPs) and Physician Assistants (PAs)

A protocol, developed by IBM, which computer programs can use to communicate over a network. APPC is at the application layer in the OSI model, it enables communications between programs on different computers, from portables and workstations to midrange and host computers.

A certification by the Hospice and Palliative Nurses Association (HPNA) in association with the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

An NP certification by the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC)

A tax credit, provided by the Affordable Care Act, assisting qualified individuals in paying for health insurance through the Marketplace. Advance payments of the tax credit can be used by qualified individuals at the time of purchase on the Marketplace to lower monthly premium costs. If the amount of advance credit payments you get for the year is less than the tax credit you're due, you'll get the difference as a refundable credit when you file your federal income tax return. If your advance payments for the year are more than the amount of your credit, you must repay the excess advance payments with your tax return. Also sometimes called premium tax credit.

Measures the ability of the blood to clot properly. Values used in combination with other tests. See also PTT, INR, or PT.

Changed to APHSA

Formerly known as the Ambulatory Quality Alliance

Also written as A/R

AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) Related Complex/Conditions

Epic's incentive program which coincides with implementation of their software.

Phone system with automated routing

A dangerous abbreviation which should not be used because it can be mistaken for QD (every day)

An educational, research, and scientific association of physicians organized to raise the standards of the medical practice of anesthesiology and to improve patient care. ASA also created the Physical Status Classification System for pre-anesthetized patients:ASA Physical Status 1 - A normal healthy patientASA Physical Status 2 - A patient with mild systemic diseaseASA Physical Status 3 - A patient with severe systemic diseaseASA Physical Status 4 - A patient with severe systemic disease that is a constant threat to lifeASA Physical Status 5 - A moribund patient who is not expected to survive without the operationASA Physical Status 6 - A declared brain-dead patient whose organs are being removed for donor purposes

Epic's emergency department information system application

See also ANSI

See also ANSCII

A business providing computer-based services to customers over a network. For example, health systems may provide access to their EHR to community providers.

As in Attending Physician

A dangerous abbreviation which should not be used because it can be mistaken for QD (every day)

McAfee

A document, typically printed out of an HIS, such as Epic, at the time of discharge

Drug prices

A test that can be carried out quickly and easily in an emergency department. The test can help diagnose some abdominal conditions. It is not a useful investigation for most abdominal conditions. Small and large bowel obstructions, volvulus and malrotations can be diagnosed by AXR. Renal, urethral and bladder stones can sometimes be identified on plain x-ray, although it is usual now to use CT as a first line investigation to confirm clinical suspicion.

AIDS drug therapy

Typically, a 4-year degree at an accredited university or college

A Meditech acronym

A performance metric used in the Bed Control Department. Bed Assignment Time is the elapsed time between the initial request for admission and the assignment of that patient to an inpatient bed.

As in Lean/Six Sigma Black Belt

A certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Registry

A 1997 act. Sometimes abbreviated 'BBA 97'

A 1999 act

The Barbara Davis Center for Childhood Diabetes specializes in type 1 diabetes research and care for children and adults. The Center is part of the University of Colorado School of Medicine and is located on the Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora, CO.

An Epic Master File which is a subset of the Chronicles database (Epic's integrated production database)

Sometimes known as Beneficiary and Earnings Data Exchange System

See also BMAD

EDB Bene Alpha File

From SPACE System

A Joint Commission (JC) accreditation program

A dosage. i.e. take these antibiotics bid (twice daily)

See also EDW

A 2000 act

The name of a portable ventilator manufactured by Respironics Corporation and is just one of many ventilators that can deliver BPAP.

IBM data communications protocol

Removal of the lower leg below the knee

Department of Labor (DOL)

Implies a designation of doctor in some areas. Also abbreviated BMed or MB.

Milestone patients sometimes need to reach before being ready to discharge

Also abbreviated MBBS

Also written CB, ChB, MBChB, or MB ChB.

See also Medicare Part B (PTB or MEDB)

Implies a designation of doctor in some areas. Also abbreviated BM or MB.

A set of seven or eight blood chemical tests which is one of the most common lab tests ordered by health care providers. The BMP provides key information regarding fluid and electrolyte status, kidney function, blood sugar levels, and response to various medications and other medical therapies.

Social Security Number (SSN)

HI/SMI online in HCFA

A discharge planning initiative with eight risk factors which would qualify a patient for increased discharge planning focus

Considered one of the vital signs

Epic's decision support which notifies clinicians when they need to tend to important tasks, such as reviewing a patient's allergies, writing orders, and completing charting. Sometimes known as Best Practice Advisories.

Also known as Blanket Purchase Agreement

A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) mode used during noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. It delivers a preset inspiratory positive airway pressure (IPAP) and expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP)

A performance metric used in the Bed Control Department. Bed Placement Time is the elapsed time between the initial request for admission and the actual placement of patient in the inpatient bed.

See also Medicare Part B (PTB or MEDB)

A type of diet ordered for hospital patients

Also abbreviated BSc

Also abbreviated BS

Also abbreviated BSM

Also abbreviated BSN

Also abbreviated BSPh

Also abbreviated BScM

Also abbreviated BSnN

Also abbreviated BScPh

See also Medicare Part B (PTB or MEDB)

Most states require social workers to pass a licensing exam

Epic functionality which logs access (and attempts) to sensitive EMR records. Sometimes written break-the-glass.

Lab test for infection and antibiotic sensitivity

A certification by the American Society for Clinical Pathology (ASCP) Board of Registry

Pronounced "cabbage," a surgery also known as coronary artery bypass surgery, heart bypass, or bypass surgery. A surgical procedure performed to relieve angina and reduce the risk of death from coronary artery disease.

See also CWF

Arteries supplying blood to the heart become hard or narrow with cholesterol/plaque

Formerly FSCM

Formerly Consumer Assessment of Health Plans Study or Consumer Assessments of Health Plans Survey. See also HCAHPS.

A secure system implemented by CDPH for electronic disease reporting and surveillance

A California survey

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

From JCAHO

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

For Joint Commission (JC) accreditation

Also known as Common Accounting Number

i.e. one capsule at bedtime

A certification by the American Board of Perianesthesia Nursing Certification, Inc. (ABPANC)

Software

Also known as Computer Assisted Software Engineering

A Microfilm/Microfiche system

A CAT Scan, also known as a CT Scan, is non invasive and uses special x-ray equipment and computers to produce cross-sectional images of the area being scanned, sometimes using contrast material to produce multiple images of the body's interior. Reveals more details than x-rays.

Sometimes written CA-UTI

Also abbreviated ChB

A panel of tests to check the levels of various cells in the blood; certain levels could prevent advancement of care plan (e.g. white blood cells need to be below level 10)

A certification by the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT)

Brief assessment measure used to evaluate changes in academic skills over time (i.e., progress monitor).

By OACT

A psychotherapeutic approach which addresses dysfunctional emotions, maladaptive behaviors and cognitive processes, and contents through a number of goal-oriented, explicit systematic procedures

A care team collaborating on the patient

Patient's main concern

Also written CCs (Complications & Comorbidities)

Usually refers to liquid med dosages or fluid volumes excreted/removed from the body

A department at Children's Hospital Colorado specializing in pediatric hematology, oncology, and bone marrow transplants

A division of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

An ASHA certification

A certification by ACDIS

A reference for a specific patient population (often DRG) designed to assist clinicians and patients in making appropriate healthcare decisions. CCGs are typically focused on the entire span of treatment, whereas Care Pathways typically emphasize timing and medical milestones to progress a patient through an IP visit.

An HMO owned by Children's Hospital of Wisconsin

a.k.a. Medicare (CMS) Provider Number

A certification by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

Sometimes written Continuous Care Retirement Community

A certification by the American Association of Critical-Care Nurses (AACN)

An HCUP/AHRQ tool

An effort to bring primary care closer to communities

Also known as ICU (Intensive Care Unit)