Glossary of Common Healthcare Abbreviations
Efficient communication is vital for healthcare professionals in any medical setting—and that includes those working with chronic care patients. Below is a glossary of healthcare abbreviations and acronyms commonly used in care coordination settings to enhance communication and efficiency within care teams.
A
ACC | American College of Cardiology
A nonprofit medical association that awards credentials to cardiovascular specialists who meet the qualifications. Learn more.
ACO | Accountable Care Organization
A group of doctors and other healthcare providers who provide coordinated, high-quality care to their Medicare patients. Learn more.
ACP | American College of Physicians
A national organization of physicians that seeks to promote federal policy reforms that benefit the practice of internal medicine. Learn more.
ACP | Advance Care Planning
Discussing and preparing for future medical care in case the patient becomes unable to communicate their preferences. Learn more.
ADL | Activities of Daily Living
The basic tasks performed on an everyday basis that are required for independent living.
AMA | American Medical Association
A professional association and group of lobbying physicians and medical students. Learn more.
APCM | Advanced Primary Care Management
A comprehensive, team-based approach to delivering primary care that emphasizes proactive, coordinated, and patient-centered services by integrating population health strategies, data analytics, behavioral health, and more. Learn more.
APRN | Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
A licensed clinician with advanced education and clinical training, authorized to diagnose, treat, and manage care independently. Learn more.
AUDIT-C | Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test
A screening tool meant to assess alcohol-related issues and consumption habits.
AWV | Annual Wellness Visit
A preventive health assessment for Medicare beneficiaries that focuses on proactively managing overall health. Learn more.
B
BHCM | Behavioral Health Care Manager
Facilitates communication among a Collaborative Care team and acts as the lead contact for the patient. Learn more.
BHI | Behavioral Health Integration
A care management program that coordinates mental health, substance use, and primary care services to provide comprehensive, patient-centered care that addresses the full spectrum of behavioral and physical health needs. Learn more.
BMI | Body Mass Index
A screening tool that measures the ratio of a patient’s height to their weight to estimate body fat percentage.
BP | Blood Pressure
The force of circulating blood pushing against the walls of blood vessels, resulting mainly from the heart pumping blood through the circulatory system.
C
CCM | Chronic Care Management
Care coordination for patients with two or more chronic conditions expected to last at least 12 months (or until death), and that place the patient at significant risk of death, acute exacerbation or decompensation, or functional decline. Learn more.
CHI | Community Health Integration
Healthcare services integrated within community settings to enhance access, improve health outcomes, and address social determinants of health (SDOH) by linking individuals with local resources and support. Learn more.
CIN | Clinically Integrated Network
A group of healthcare providers who collaborate to improve care quality and reduce costs through shared protocols, data, and governance. Learn more.
CMS | Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
Healthcare services integrated within community settings to enhance access, improve health outcomes, and address social determinants of health (SDOH) by linking individuals with local resources and support. Learn more.
CNA | Certified Nursing Assistant
Works under the supervision of a licensed nurse to aid patients with tasks such as daily living activities and mobility. Learn more.
CNM | Certified Nurse-Midwife
An advanced practice registered nurse who focuses on gynecologic and family planning services, as well as primary care. Learn more.
CNS | Clinical Nurse Specialist
An advanced practice registered nurse (APRN) who can advise patients about specific conditions or treatment plans. Learn more.
CoCM | Collaborative Care Model
A comprehensive approach to healthcare that integrates mental and physical health services and specialists. Learn more.
CPM | Continuous Passive Motion
A type of therapy most commonly used post-surgery that allows for machines to passively move joints to promote recovery of joint range of motion.
CPT | Current Procedural Terminology
A standardized language under Level I of HCPCS that serves to correlate codes with certain healthcare services. Learn more.
D
DX | Diagnosis
The identification of a condition through an analysis of symptoms.
E
EHR | Electronic Health Records
A digital version of a patient’s overall medical history that the provider maintains on a rolling basis.
E/M | Evaluation and Management Coding
A category of CPT codes used by healthcare providers to bill for office visits, consultations, and other patient encounters. E/M code selection is based on visit type, time spent, or medical decision-making complexity. Learn More.
EMR | Electronic Medical Records
A digital version of a patient’s medical history from a single care provider.
F
FFS | Fee for Service
A traditional healthcare reimbursement model where providers are paid separately for each service or procedure delivered. Common in Medicare and private insurance, Fee-for-Service rewards volume over outcomes and remains foundational in billing systems that use CPT and HCPCS codes. Learn more.
FQHC | Federally Qualified Health Center
A community-based provider that delivers primary care in underserved areas, supported by federal funding and enhanced Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement. Learn more.
G
GAD-7 | Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7
A diagnostic tool used to screen patients for symptoms of anxiety disorders in primary care settings. Learn more.
GNA | Geriatric Nursing Assistant
Assists elderly patients with daily living activities and tracks any changes in physical and mental health status. Learn more.
GP | General Practitioner
A healthcare professional who serves as the main point of contact for routine medical issues and can refer patients to specialists as needed. Also commonly referred to as a “primary care provider.”
H
HCC | Hierarchical Condition Category
Medicare risk adjustment model used to estimate future healthcare costs based on a patient’s documented chronic conditions and demographics. Learn more.
HCPCS | Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
A standardized set of codes divided into two main levels used to report healthcare services and supplies to insurers for billing purposes. Learn more.
HEDIS | Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set
A standardized set of performance measures developed by NCQA to evaluate healthcare quality, access, and outcomes across health plans, provider networks, and care organizations. Learn more.
HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
Federal law that protects sensitive health information from being disclosed without the patient’s explicit consent.
I
ICD-10 | International Classification of Diseases
A standardized system of alphanumeric codes used to classify diagnoses, symptoms, and conditions for medical billing, risk adjustment, and quality reporting. Learn more.
IDN | Integrated Delivery Network
A healthcare system that unifies hospitals, clinics, and providers under shared administration to coordinate care and manage costs. Learn more.
IPA | Independent Practice Association
A network of independent healthcare providers that contracts collectively with payers while allowing each member to retain ownership of their own practice. Learn more.
IPPE | Initial Preventive Physical Exam
A preventive visit that serves to promote good health through disease detection and prevention. Also referred to as the “Welcome to Medicare” visit. Learn more.
L
LCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker
A licensed mental health professional trained to provide therapy, assessments, and care coordination. Learn more.
M
MCO | Managed Care Organization
A healthcare network that coordinates services and controls costs through fixed payments and provider contracts. Learn more.
MDM | Medical Decision Making
The complexity of clinical judgment used by providers to diagnose, assess, and manage patient care. It is a foundational component in selecting CPT codes for Evaluation and Management (E/M) billing and reimbursement. Learn more.
MRI | Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Method of medical imaging that produces detailed images of internal structures within the human body.
MSO | Management Services Organization
An entity that handles the non healthcare-related work required to run a medical practice, such as revenue cycle management or accounts payable. Learn more.
N
NP | Nurse Practitioner
A nurse with advanced education and clinical training who is able to perform many of the same duties as a physician. Learn more.
NPP | Non-Physician Practitioner
A healthcare provider who is not a physician but can practice with or under the supervision of a licensed physician. Learn more.
P
PA | Physician Assistant
A healthcare professional who can provide patient care while working under the supervision of a licensed physician. Learn more.
PCM | Principal Care Management
Tailored care coordination focused on patients with a single high-risk chronic condition. Learn more.
PCMH | Patient-Centered Medical Home
A care delivery model used in primary care that emphasizes long-term patient-provider relationships, care coordination, and whole-person health management. Learn more.
PCP | Primary Care Provider
A healthcare professional who serves as the main point of contact for routine medical issues and can refer patients to specialists as needed. Also commonly referred to as a “general practitioner.”
PHQ-9 | Patient Health Questionnaire-9
A diagnostic tool used to screen patients for symptoms of depression in primary care settings.
PIN | Principal Illness Navigation
Care management that helps patients better understand their condition and guide them through the healthcare system.
PPP | Public-Private Partnership
An agreement between one or more public and private entities that puts forth mutual responsibilities in the promotion of shared interests.
PSH | Past Surgical History
A record that details a patient’s past surgical procedures.
PTSD | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
A mental health condition involving severe anxiety, nightmares, or flashbacks that stems from a traumatic or stressful event.
Q
QD | Once a Day
Indicates that a medication should be taken once a day.
QHP | Qualified Health Professional
A Qualified Health Professional (QHP) is a licensed or credentialed clinician authorized to provide or supervise specific healthcare services, often for billing, compliance, or care coordination purposes. Learn more.
QID | Four Times a Day
Indicates that a medication should be taken four times a day.
QMB | Qualified Medicare Beneficiary
A Medicare patient who qualifies for financial assistance with their Part A and Part B premiums, based on limited income and resources. Learn more.
R
RAF | Risk Adjustment Factor
A numerical score assigned to a Medicare beneficiary that predicts their expected healthcare costs based on documented conditions and demographics. Learn more.
RN | Registered Nurse
A provider who works alongside physicians, administering physical exams and educating patients about their symptoms and treatment plans.
RPM | Remote Physiological Monitoring
Monitor and capture health data from patients remotely, facilitating real-time care management and adjustments to treatment plans. Learn more.
RTM | Remote Therapeutic Monitoring
Utilizes technology and real-time data to monitor and manage patient therapy remotely. Learn more.
RVU | Relative Value Unit
A standardized measure used to quantify the value of medical services for billing and reimbursement. Learn more.
S
SDOH | Social Determinants of Health
Utilizes technology and real-time data to monitor and manage patient therapy remotely. Learn more.
SNF | Skilled Nursing Facility
A facility that contains the staff and equipment needed to provide skilled nursing care, skilled rehabilitation, and other health-related services. Learn more.
T
TCM | Transitional Care Management
Focuses on providing support and continuity of care for patients transitioning from a hospital setting to other care environments. Learn more.
V
VBC | Value-Based Care
Outcome-focused care model that rewards providers for improving patient health and coordinating care effectively. Learn more.
