A

•  
• AA: Alcoholics Anonymous
• AACP: American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy
• AAFP: American Academy of Family Physicians
• AAHA: American Association of Homes for the Aging
• AAHC: Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care
• AAHP: American Association of Health Plans
• AAMA: American Academy of Medical Administrators
• AAMC: Association of American Medical Colleges
• AAPCC: Adjusted average per capita cost
• AAPHO: American Association of Preferred Hospital Organizations
• AAPI: American Accreditation Program Inc.
• AAPPO: American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations
• AARP: American Association of Retired Persons
• ABMT: Autologous bone marrow transplant
• ACC: American College of Cardiology
• ACCME: Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education
• ACCP: American College of Clinical Pharmacy
• ACE: Angiotensin-converting enzyme
• ACG: American College of Gastroenterology
• ACGME: Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education
• ACHE: American College of Healthcare Executives
• ACPE: American College of Physician Executives
• ACR: Adjusted community rating
• ACSW: Academy of Certified Social Workers
• ACTH: Adrenocorticotropin
• ADA: Americans With Disabilities Act; American Dental Association
• AD&D: Accidental death and dismemberment
• ADG: Ambulatory diagnostic group
• ADH: Antidiuretic hormone
• ADL: Activity of daily living
• ADR: Adverse drug reactions
• ADS: Alternate delivery system
• AGPA: American Group Practice Association
• AHA: American Hospital Association; American Heart Association
• AHCCCS: Arizona Health Care Cost-Containment System
• AHCPR: Agency for Health Care Policy and Research
• AIDS: Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome
• ALL: Acute myelogenous leukemia
• ALT: Alanine aminotransferase
• AMA: American Medical Association; American Heart Association; against medical advice; advanced maternal age
• AMCP: Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy
• AMCPA: American Managed Care Pharmacy Association
• AMCRA: American Managed Care and Review Association
• AMP: Average manufacturer's price
• ANDA: Abbreviated new drug approval
• ANOVA: Analysis of variance
• APhA: American Pharmaceutical Association
• APN: Advanced Practice Nurse
• APSAC: Anisoyl-plasminogen streptokinase activator complex
• APT: Admissions per thousand
• ARC: AIDS-related complex
• ASA: Aminosalicylic acid
• ASC: Ambulatory surgical center
• ASCP: American Society of Consultant Pharmacists
• ASD: Atrial septal defect
• ASHP: American Society of Health-System Pharmacists
• ASO: Administrative services only
• AST: Aspartate aminotransferase
• AUC: Area under the time-plasma concentration curve
• AUR: Ambulatory utilization review
• AWP: Average wholesale price
• AZT: Zidovudine

B

•  
• bid: Twice daily
• BP: Blood pressure
• BSA: Body surface area
• BC/BS: BlueCross/BlueShield
• BUN: Blood urea nitrogen

C

•  
• CABG: Coronary artery bypass graft surgery
• CAD: Coronary artery disease
• CAT: Computerized axial tomography, see CT
• CBC: Complete blood count
• CBO: Congressional Budget Office
• CCO: Coordinated Care Organization
• CCU: Cardiac care unit
• CDC: Centers for Disease Control
• CEA: Cost-effectiveness analysis; carcinoembryonic antigen
• CHAMPUS: Civilian Health and Medical Program of the Uniformed Services
• CHD: Coronary heart disease
• CHF: Congestive heart failure
• CHO: Comprehensive health organization
• CIO: Chief Information Officer
• CK: Creatine phosphokinase
• CL: Total body clearance
• Cmax: Maximum concentration
• CMSA: Case Management Society of America
• CMP: Competitive medical plan
• CNS: Central nervous system
• COB: Coordination of benefits
• COBRA: Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
• CON: Certificate of need
• CPI: Consumer price index
• CPR: Cardiopulmonary resuscitation
• CPT: Current procedural terminology
• CQI: Continuous quality improvement
• CRI: CHAMPUS reform initiatives
• CSF: Cerebrospinal fluid
• CSI: Computerized severity index
• CT: Computed tomography
• CVA: Cerebrovascular accident
• CVD: Cardiovascular diseases
• CWW: Clinics without walls

D

•  
• D&C: Dilation and curettage
• DAW: Dispense as written
• DBP: Diastolic blood pressure
• DDS: Doctor of Dental Surgery
• DHHS: Department of Health and Human Services
• DMD: Doctor of Dental Medicine
• DME: Durable medical equipment
• DNA: Deoxyribonucleic acid
• DNR: Do not resuscitate
• DO: Doctor of Osteopathy
• DOH: Department of Health
• DOS: Date of service
• DPH: Doctor of Public Health
• DPM: Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
• DPR: Drug price review
• DPT: Diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis vaccine
• DRG: Diagnosis-related group
• DRR: Drug regimen review
• DSc: Doctor of Science
• DUE: Drug use evaluation
• DUR: Drug utilization review
• DVM: Doctor of Veterinary Medicine
• Dx: Diagnosis

E

•  
• EAP: Employee assistance program
• ECF: Extracellular fluid
• ECG: Electrocardiogram (also EKG)
• EDI : Electronic Data Interchange
• EEG: Electroencephalogram
• E-mail: Electronic mail
• EMG: Electromyelogram
• EMT: Emergency Medical Technician
• EN: Enteral nutrition
• ENT: Ear, nose, and throat
• EPO: Exclusive provider organization; Erythropoietin
• EPSDTP: Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic Treatment Program
• ER: Emergency room
• ERCP: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography
• ERISA: Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
• ESR: Erythrocyte sedimentation rate

F

•  
• FASB: Financial Accounting Standards Board
• FDA: Food and Drug Administration
• FEHBP: Federal Employees Health Benefits Program
• FEV: Forced expiratory volume
• FFS: Fee for service
• FOSC: Freestanding outpatient surgical center
• FP: Family practitioner
• FSA: Flexible spending account
• FSH: Follicle-stimulating hormone
• FUO: Fever of unknown origin
• FVC: Forced vital capacity
• FY: Fiscal year

G

•  
• GAO: General Accounting Office
• GATT: General agreement on tariffs and trade
• GERD: Gastroesophageal reflux disease
• GFR: Glomerular filtration rate
• GHAA: Group Health Association of America
• GHI: Group Health Inc.,; Group Health Institute
• GI: Gastrointestinal
• GIFT: Gamese intrafallopian transfer
• GNP: Gross national product
• GP: General practitioner
• GPO: Group purchasing organization
• GPWW: Group practice without walls
• GTT: Glucose tolerance test
• GU: Genitourinary

H

•  
• Hb: Hemoglobin
• HBO: Health benefits organization
• HBV: Hepatitis B virus
• HCFA: Health Care Financing Administration
• HCHP: Harvard Community Health Plan
• HCl: Hydrochloric Acid
• Hct: Hematocrit
• HCTZ: Hydrochlorothiazide
• HDL: High-density lipoprotein
• HEDIS: Health employer data and information set
• Hg: Mercury
• HHS: Department of Health and Human Services
• HIAA: Health Insurance Association of America
• HIMA: Health Industry Manufacturers Association
• HIT: Home infusion therapy
• HIV: Human immunodeficiency virus
• HMO: Health maintenance organization
• HRT: Hormone replacement therapy
• HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration
• hs: At bedtime
• HSP: Health Service Plan
• HSO: Health Services Organization

I

•  
• IBNR: Incurred but not reported
• ICU: Intensive care unit
• IG: Inspector General
• IM: Intramuscular
• IND: Investigational new drug
• IP: Inpatient
• IPA: Individual practice organization
• ISDN: Isosorbide dinitrate
• ISN: Integrated service network
• IU: International unit
• IUD: Intrauterine device
• IV: Intravenous
• IVP: Intravenous pyelogram

J

•  
• JCAHO: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
• JV: Joint venture

K

L

•  
• LA: Long acting
• LAD: Left anterior descending coronary artery
• LCP: Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
• LDH: Lactose dehydrogenase
• LDL: Low-density lipoprotein
• LH: Luteinizing hormone
• LOS: Length of stay
• LPC: Licensed Professional Counselor
• LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse
• LTC: Long-term care

M

•  
• MAC: Maximum allowable cost
• MAMSI: Mid-Atlantic Medical Services Inc.
• MAO: Monoamine oxidase
• MAP: Mean arterial pressure
• MCCA: Medicare Catastrophic Coverage Act
• MCR: Modified community rating
• MD: Medical Doctor
• MGMA: Medical Group Management Association
• MH/SA: Mental health/substance abuse
• MI: Myocardial infarction
• MIC: Minimum inhibitory concentration
• MIS: Management information systems
• MMPI: Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
• MMR: Measles, mumps, rubella vaccine
• MOS: Medical Outcomes Study
• MPH: Master of Public Health
• MPPPA: Medical Prudent Pharmaceutical Purchasing Act
• MRI: Magnetic resonance imaging
• MS: Master of Science; Multiple sclerosis
• MSO: Management services organization
• MSS: Medical social services
• MSW: Masters in Social Work
• MTF: Military treatment facility
• MVP: Mitral valve prolapse

N

•  
• NABP: National Association of Boards of Pharmacy
• NACDS: National Association of Chain Drug Stores
• NAEHCA: National Association of Employers on Health Care Action
• NAHDO: National Association of Health Data Organizations
• NAHMOR: National Association of HMO Regulators
• NAIC: National Association of Insurance Commissioners
• NARD: National Association of Retail Druggists
• NBME: National Board of Medical Examiners
• NCPDP: National Council of Prescription Drug Programs
• NCQA: National Committee on Quality Assurance; National Committee for Quality Assurance
• NDA: New drug approval
• NDC: National Drug Code
• NG: Nasogastric
• NHI: National health insurance
• NHS: National Health Service
• NIH: National Institutes of Health
• HIMH: National Institutes of Mental Health
• NMHCC: National Managed Health Care Congress
• NMR: Nuclear magnetic resonance, usu. MRI
• NP: Nurse Practitioner
• NPA: National Prescription Audit
• NPC: National Pharmaceutical Council
• NS: Not significant
• NSAID: Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug
• NTG: Nitroglycerin

O

•  
• OA: Osteoarthritis, Open access
• OBRA: Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act
• Ob/Gyn: Obstetrics/gynecology
• OC: Oral contraceptive
• OD: Overdose; Right eye
• OIG: Office of the Inspector General
• OMB: Office of Management and Budget
• OMS: Outcomes management system
• OMSB: Outcomes Management Standard Board
• ONS: Oncology Nursing Society
• ORR: Office of Research Resources
• OPHC: Office of Prepaid Health Care
• OPHCOO: Office of Prepaid Health Care Operations and Oversight
• OPM: Office of Personnel Management
• OPT: Outpatient physical therapy
• OR: Operating room
• OS: Left eye
• OSHA: Occupational Safety and Health Administration
• OTA: Office of Technology Assessment
• OTC: Over-the-counter
• OWA: Other weird arrangements

P

•  
• P&T: Pharmacy and therapeutics committee
• PA: Physicians assistant; Professional Association
• PAD: Peripheral artery disease
• PAS: Periodic acid-Schiff stain
• PBC:
• Primary biliary cirrhosis
• PBM: Pharmacy benefit management company
• PBP: Prudent buyer plan; Provider-based physician
• PCCM: Primary Care Case Manager
• PC/PM: Per contract per month
• PCM: Patient care manager
• PCN: Primary care network
• PCP: Primary care physician
• PCPM: Per contract per month
• PET: Positron emission tomography
• PG: Prostaglandin
• pH: Hydrogen ion concentration
• PHO: Physician-hospital organization
• PharmD: Doctor of Pharmacy
• PhD: Doctor of Philosophy
• PHS: Public Health Service; Physicians Health Services
• PMA: Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association
• PMPM: Per member per month
• PO: Ingest by mouth
• PORTs: Patient outcome research teams
• POS: Point of service; point of sale
• PPO: Preferred provider organization
• PPS: Prospective payment system
• PRA: Plasma renin activity
• PRO: Peer-review organization
• ProPAC: Prospective Payment Assessment Commission
• PRN: As needed
• PSRO: Professional Standards Regulatory Organization
• PsyD, LCP: Doctor of Psychology, Licensed Clinical Psychologist
• PT: Physical Therapist; Prothrombin time
• PTCA: Percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
• PTT: Partial prothrombin time
• PVB: Premature ventricular beats
• PVC: Premature ventricular contractions

Q

•  
• QA: Quality assurance; Quality assessment
• QALY: Quality adjusted life year
• qh: Every hour
• qid: Four times per day
• QM: Quality management
• QOL: Quality of life
• QRO: Quality review organization

R

•  
• R&C: Reasonable and customary
• RA: Rheumatoid arthritis
• RBC: Red blood cell
• RBRVS: Resource-based relative value scale
• RCA: Right coronary artery
• RDA: Recommended daily allowance
• RIA: Radioimmunoassay
• RNC: Registered Nurse with certified specialty in psychology
• RN: Registered Nurse
• RNA: Ribonucleic acid
• ROI: Return on investment
• RPh: Registered Pharmacist
• RQ: Respiratory quotient
• RV: Residual volume
• RVS: Relative value scale
• RWJF: Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
• Rx: Prescription

S

•  
• SBP: Systolic blood pressure
• SD: Standard deviation
• SE: Standard error
• SEM: Standard error of the mean
• SGOT: Serum glutamic-oxaloacetic transaminase
• SGPT: Serum glutamic-pyruvic transaminase
• SHMO: Social health maintenance organization
• SIDS: Sudden infant death syndrome
• SLE: Systemic lupus erythematosis
• SMSA: Standard metropolitan statistical area
• SNF: Skilled nursing facility
• SR: Sustained release
• SWOT: Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats

T

•  
• t1/2: Half-life
• TA: Technology assessment
• TB: Tuberculosis
• TC: Total cholesterol
• TIA: Transient ischemic attack
• tid: Three times per day
• TEFRA: Tax Equity and Fiscal Responsibility Act
• tmax: Time to maximum concentration
• t-PA: Tissue-type plasminogen activator
• TPA: Third-party administrator
• TPN: Total parenteral nutrition
• TQM: Total quality management
• TSH: Thyroid-stimulating hormone
• TXB: Thromboxane

U

•  
• U: Unit
• UB: Uniform billing
• UC: Usual and customary
• UCR: Usual, customary, and reasonable
• UR: Utilization review
• URAC: Utilization Review Accreditation Commission
• US: Ultrasound
• USAN: United States Adopted Names
• USP: United States Pharmacopeia
• USPCC: United States per Capita Cost
• URI: Upper respiratory infection
• URO: Utilization review organization
• UTI: Urinary tract infection

V

•  
• VA: Veterans Affairs
• VBAC: Vaginal birth after cesarean section
• VD: Venereal disease
• Vd: Volume of distribution
• VLDL: Very-low-density lipoprotein
• VSD: Ventricular septal defect

W

•  
• WBC: White blood cell
• WEDI: Workgroup on Electronic Data Interchange
• WHO: World Health Organization
• WWW: World Wide Web

Y

•  
• YTD: Year to date

  
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