Common Acronyms Explained
It's no secret that the worlds of healthcare and memory care can be full of confusing acronyms. While acronyms can help make communication more concise, a conversation full of them can also feel as if you are on the outside and unable to keep up!
In order to make conversation a bit easier, we have compiled a list of common acronyms you may come across as a care partner and what they mean. We have divided the list into categories based on what area or setting you may hear or see them used.
Are there any acronyms that are not included on our list that you run into often? Let us know!
Category - Care
| Acronyms | Definition | What It Means |
|---|---|---|
| ADC/ADS | Adult Day Center/Services | |
| AL/ALF | Assisted Living/Assisted Living Facility | |
| CCRC | Continuing Care Retirement Community (Also called Lifeplan Community) | |
| CP | Care Plan | A document where you can summarize a person's health conditions, specific care needs, and current treatments |
| HCA | Home Care Agency | |
| LTC | Long Term Care | |
| NEMT | Non-Medical Emergency Transportation | |
| NH | Nursing Home | |
| SNF | Skilled Nursing Facility |
Category - Diagnosis
| Acronym | Definition | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| CVA | Cerebrovascular accident | Stroke |
| DLB | Dementia with Lewy Bodies | |
| Dx | Diagnosis | |
| FTD | Frontotemporal Degeneration | |
| LBD | Lewy Body Dementia | |
| MCI | Mild Cognitive Impairment | |
| MI | Myocardial Infarction | Heart Attack |
| PD | Parkinson's Disease | |
| PDD | Parkinson's Disease Dementia | |
| TBI | Traumatic Brain Injury | |
| TIA | Transient Ischemic Attack | Mini Stroke |
| URI | Upper Respiratory Infection | |
| UTI | Urinary Tract Infection | A bladder infection is a type of UTI |
Category - Function
| Acronym | Definition | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| ADL | Activity of Daily Living | Daily self-care activities, including bathing, dressing, toileting, transferring, continence, and eating. |
| DME | Durable Medical Equipment | Walkers, canes, shower benches, etc. |
| IADL | Instrumental Activity of Daily Living | Higher levels of functioning, such as cooking, cleaning, transportation, laundry, and managing finances. |
| OT | Occupational Therapy | |
| PT | Physical Therapy | |
| ST | Speech Therapy | Also includes cognitive training |
| WC | Wheelchair |
Category - Medical
| Acronym | Defintion | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| BP | Blood Pressure | |
| CPR | Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation | Process of attempting to restore cardiac and/or pulmonary function in the event a patient’s heart stops beating and/or the patient stops breathing. It involves a combination of rescue breathing and chest compressions and often requires the additional administration of defibrillation if CPR alone is not successful. |
| D/C | Discharge | To unenroll or leave a service |
| DNR | Do Not Resusitate | Do not do CPR if a person's breathing stops or if the person's heart stops beating |
| EMS | Emergency Medical Services | |
| ER | Emergency Room | |
| F/u | Follow-up | |
| Fx | Fracture | |
| H&P | History and Physical | Process of asking patients questions about their current and past medical problems, medication history, allergies, family history, social circumstances, and symptoms before proceeding with a physical examination. |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 | Federal law to protect sensitive patient health information from being disclosed |
| Hx | History of | |
| ICU | Intensive Care Unit | |
| N/A | Not Applicable | |
| NKA | No Known Allergies | |
| PHI | Protected Health Information | Any information in the medical record or designated record set that can be used to identify an individual and that was created, used, or disclosed in the course of providing a health care service such as diagnosis or treatment. |
| SOB | Shortness of Breath | |
| Tx | Treatment | |
| WNL | Within Normal Limits |
Category - Medication
| Acronyms | Definition | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| OTC | Over the Counter | |
| PRN | As Needed | |
| QD | Once a Day | |
| QHS | At Bedtime | |
| QID | Four Times a Day | |
| Rx | Prescription | |
| TID | Three Times a Day |
Category - Person
| Acronym | Definiton | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| LCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker | |
| LGBTQ | Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning | |
| LPN | Licensed Practical Nurse | |
| MD | Medical Doctor | |
| MSW | Master of Social Work or Medical Social Worker | |
| NP | Nurse Practitioner | |
| PA | Physician Assistant | |
| PCA | Personal Care Attendant | |
| PCP | Primary Care Physician | |
| POA | Power of Attorney | Person who can make decisions for an individual if they are unable |
| PWD/PLwD | Person with Dementia/Person Living with Dementia | |
| RD | Registered Dietician | |
| RN | Registered Nurse | |
| SLP | Speech Language Pathologist | Interchangable with Speech Therapist |
| SW | Social Worker |
Category - Resource
| Acronym | Definition | Explanation |
|---|---|---|
| I&R | Information and Referral | |
| MA | Medical Assistance (Medicaid) | |
| SSA | Social Security Administration | |
| SSDI | Social Security Disability Insurance | |
| SSI | Supplemental Security Income | |
| VA | Veterans Affairs |
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