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.

# A
- 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	Americas 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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

# I
- 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
- JAMA	Journal of the American Medical Association
- JCAHO	Joint Commission on the Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
- JIPHF	Journal of International Public Health Forum

# K

# L
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
- SAMSHA	Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
- SCH	Sole Community Hospitals
- SCHIP	State Childrens 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
- 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
- UNICEF	United Nations Children's Fund
- USAID	United States Agency for International Development
- USP	U.S. Pharmacopeia

# V
- VIRHN	Vertically Integrated Rural Health Network

# W
- WHO	World Health Organization
- WRAIR	Walter Reed Army Institute of Research

# X

# Y

# Z