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There are a lot of abbreviations in the health care industry, and it can be confusing. We’ve come up with a list of common terms you may come across or need to decode.
| 51A | Report of Alleged Abuse or Neglect |
| 51B | Investigation into Abuse or Neglect |
| 504 | Section 504 Plan |
| ABA | Adaptive Behavioral Assessment |
| ABA | Applied Behavior Analysis |
| ABH | Association for Behavioral Health |
| ABI | Acquired Brain Injury |
| ACLU | American Civil Liberties Union |
| ACT | Assertive Community Treatment |
| ADA | Americans with Disabilities Act |
| ADD | Attention Deficit Disorder |
| ADDP | The Association of Developmental Disability Providers |
| ADHD | Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder |
| ADL | Activities of Daily Living |
| AFC | Adult Family Care |
| AHP | Allied Health Professionals |
| ALF | Assisted Living Facility |
| ALS | Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis – Lou Gehrig’s Disease |
| AMTA | American Methadone Treatment Association |
| APS | Adult Protective Services |
| APRN | Advanced Practice Registered Nurse |
| ARC | Attachment, Regulation, and Competency |
| ASA | Ambulatory Surgery Center |
| ASC | American Staffing Association |
| ASD | Autism Spectrum Disorder |
| ASL | American Sign Language |
| BCBA | Board Certified Behavior Analyst |
| BCaBA | Board Certified Assistant Behavior Analyst |
| BCI | Bureau of Criminal Identification and Investigation |
| BH | Behavioral Health |
| BHDDH | Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Care, Development Disabilities and Hospitals |
| BIP | Behavior Intervention Plan |
| BRC | Background Record Check |
| BVI | Blind and Visually Impaired |
| CADC | Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor |
| CANS | Child and Adolescent Needs and Strengths Certification |
| CANTS | Child Abuse and Neglect Tracking System |
| CARF | Commission on Accreditation of Rehab Facilities |
| CBAT | Community Based Acute Treatment |
| CBFS | Community Based Field Staff |
| CBS | Community Based Services |
| CBT | Cognitive Behavioral Therapy |
| CD | Chemical Dependence |
| CDA | Certified Dental Assistant |
| CLP | Community Living Program |
| CLS | Clinical Laboratory Scientist / Technician (Medical Lab Tech) |
| CMBS | Certified Medical Billing Specialist (Medical Biller/Coder) |
| CMO | Care Management Organization |
| CMR | Certified Medical Receptionist |
| CMS | Certified Medical Secretary |
| CNA | Certified Nursing Assistant |
| CORI | Criminal Offender Record Information |
| COTA | Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant |
| CP | Cerebral Palsy |
| CPhT | Certified Pharmacy Technician |
| CPI | Crisis Prevention Intervention |
| CPI | Crisis Prevention Institute |
| CRCST | Certified Registered Central Service Technician |
| CSO | Community Service Organization |
| CST | Certified Surgical Technician, Certified Scrub Technician |
| CST | Circulating Surgical Technician/Technologist |
| CT | Cytogenetic Technologist / Cytotechnologist |
| DESE | Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (used in MA and other states) |
| DBT | Dialectical Behavior Therapy |
| DC | Direct Care |
| DCF | Department of Children and Families (MA & CT) |
| DCYF | Department of Children, Youth and Families (RI) |
| DD | Developmentally Disabled |
| DDS | Department of Developmental Services |
| DEEC | Department of Early Education and Care |
| DHHS | Department of Health and Human Services |
| DMH | Department of Mental Health |
| DMHAS | Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services |
| DMV | Division of Motor Vehicles |
| DOC | Department of Corrections |
| DOE | Department of Education |
| DOJ | Department of Justice |
| DOL | Department of Labor and Workforce Development |
| DPPC | Disabled Persons Protection Commission |
| DPT | Doctor of Physical Therapy |
| DSP | Direct Support Professional |
| Dx | Diagnosis |
| DYS | Department of Youth Services |
| EdD | Doctor of Education |
| EdM | Master of Education |
| EEC | Department of Early Education and Care |
| EMT | Emergency Medical Technician |
| EOHHS | Executive Office of Health and Human Services |
| ER | Emergency Room |
| ESSA | Every Student Succeeds Act |
| FAPE | Free Appropriate Public Education |
| FAS | Fetal Alcohol Syndrome |
| FERPA | Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act |
| FFS | Fee for Service |
| FTT | Failure to Thrive |
| HBTS | Home Based Therapeutic Services |
| HH | Hard of Hearing |
| HHA | Home Health Aid |
| H&P | History and Physical |
| HI | Hearing Impaired |
| HIPAA | Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act |
| HIV | Human Immunodeficiency Virus |
| HT | Histology Technologist |
| HUD | Department of Housing and Urban Development |
| ICBAT | Intensive Community Based Acute Treatment |
| ICU | Intensive Care Unit |
| ID | Intellectual Disability |
| IDEA | Individuals with Disabilities Education Act |
| IEP | Individualized Education Program |
| IGH | Intensive Outpatient Program |
| IP | Inpatient |
| IOP | Intensive Group Home |
| ISP | Individual Service Plan |
| LCADC | Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor |
| LCMHC | Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor |
| LCSW | Licensed Clinical Social Worker |
| LEA | Local Education Agency |
| LICSW | Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker |
| LMFT | Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist |
| LMHC | Licensed Mental Health Clinician |
| LOC | Level of Care |
| LPN | Licensed Practical Nurse |
| LSP | Licensed School Psychologist |
| LSW | Licensed Social Worker |
| LTC | Long Term Care |
| LTR | Long Term Residential |
| LTSS | Long Term Services and Supports |
| LVN | Licensed Vocational Nurse |
| MA | Medical Assistant |
| MAAPS | Massachusetts Association (of 766) Approved Private Schools |
| MAHS | Master of Arts in Human Services |
| MAP | Medication Administration Program |
| MAR | Medication Administration Record |
| MD | Doctor of Medicine |
| MD | Muscular Dystrophy |
| MEd | Master of Education |
| MHW | Mental Health Worker |
| MRC | Medical Records Clerk |
| MRT | Medical Records Technician |
| MS | Multiple Sclerosis |
| MSEd | Master of Science in Education |
| MSN | Master of Science in Nursing |
| MSSW | Master of Science in Social Work |
| MSW | Master of Social Work |
| MT | Medical Technician |
| MTSS | Multi-Tiered System of Supports |
| NAMI | National Alliance for the Mentally Ill |
| NCIC | National Crime Information Center |
| NF | Nursing Facility |
| NI | Neurologically Impaired |
| NP | Nurse Practitioner |
| OCD | Obsessive Compulsive Disorder |
| OP | Outpatient |
| OIG | Office of Inspector General |
| OSHA | Occupational Safety & Health Administration |
| OT | Occupational Therapy |
| OTR/L | Occupational Therapist, Registered/Licensed |
| PA | Physician Assistant |
| PAC | Proactive Alternatives for Change |
| PA-C | Physician Assistant-Certified |
| PASS | Personal Assistance Services and Supports |
| PBS | Positive Behavior Support |
| PHP | Patient Hospitalization Program |
| PMT | Physical & Psychological Management Training |
| PRN | As Needed |
| PROACT | Professional Assault Crisis Training |
| PT | Physical Therapy |
| PTA | Physical Therapist Assistant |
| PTSD | Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder |
| RBT | Registered Behavior Technician |
| RDMS | Registered Diagnostic Medical Sonographer (Ultrasound Tech) |
| RES-ED | Residential – Educational |
| RFP | Request for Proposal |
| RIDE | Rhode Island Department of Education |
| RN | Registered Nurse |
| RRT | Registered Respiratory Therapist |
| RTI | Response to Intervention |
| SED | Serious Emotional Disturbance |
| SEIS | Special Education Information System (varies by state) |
| SLP | Speech-Language Pathologist |
| SLPA | Speech-Language Pathology Assistant |
| SMI | Serious Mental Illness |
| SNAP | Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (Food Stamps) |
| SNF | Skilled Nursing Facility |
| SOAR | SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery |
| S.O.L.V.E. | Strategies of Limiting Violent Episodes |
| SOP | Standard Operating Procedure |
| SORI | Sex Offender Registry Information |
| SPED | Special Education |
| SSA | Social Security Administration |
| SSDI | Social Security Disability Income |
| SSI | Supplemental Security Income |
| STARR | Stabilization, Assessment, and Rapid Reintegration |
| TA | Teaching Assistant |
| TANF | Temporary Assistance for Needy Families |
| TBI | Traumatic Brain Injury |
| TCI | Therapeutic Crisis Intervention |
| TCU | Transitional Care Unit |
| TDD | Telecommunications Device for the Deaf |
| TJC | The Joint Commission |
| Tx | Treatment |
| VA | Veterans’ Administration |
| VI | Visually Impaired |
| VNA | Visiting Nurse Association |
| VNHS | Veterans’ Mental Health Services |
| VRS | Vocational Rehabilitation Services |
| WIC | Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children |
| WRAP | Wellness Recovery Action Plan |
