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Health Care Acronyms 

The health care industry is full of acronyms. Some are easier to identify than others. Some acronyms are so familiar that no one remembers what it stands for. This section will provide an alphabetical list of acronyms to help you as a member of the health care industry keep the acronyms clear.

Please use the letter index below to assist you in finding definitions for acronyms and abbreviations.

A    B    C    D    E    F    G    H    I    J    K    L    M    N    O    P    Q    R    S    T    U    V    W    X    Y    Z


Categories:

A – Associations O – Other Organizations
BF – Business or Financial Terms OHAC – OHA Committees
C – Colleges OHAD – OHA Divisions
D – Diseases OHAI – OHA Initiatives
G – Government OHMS – OHMS related abbreviations
HC – Hospital / Health Care U – Unions
L – Legislation


A

AAHP Association of Allied Health Professionals
A
AAP Attendance Awareness Program
OHMS
ABI Acquired Brain Injury
D
ACAATO Association of Colleges of Applied Arts and Technology
A
ACAHO Association of Canadian Academic Healthcare Organizations
A
ACCP Association of Casualty Care Personnel
A
ACGIH American Conference of Government Industrial Hygienists
O
ACH Acute Care Hospitals
HC
ACHE American College of Health Executives
C
ACMOH Associate Chief Medical Officer of Health
G
ACPEWC Actual Cost Per Equivalent Weighted Case
BF
ACTH Association of Canadian Teaching Hospitals
A
ACW Ambulatory Care Weights
BF
ADM Assistant Deputy Minister
G
ADPCO Association of Discharge Planners Coordinators of Ontario
A
AFA Alternative Financing Arrangements
BF
AFP Alternate Financing and Procurement
BF
AFP’s Alternative Funding Plans
HC
AHA Alberta Hospital Association
A
AHA American Hospital Association
A
AHHRMO Association of Healthcare Human Resources Managers of Ontario
A
AHQ Association of the Hospitals of Quebec
A
AHSCs Academic Health Science Centres
HC
ALC Alternate Level Care
HC
ALOS Acute Length of Stay
HC
ALPHA Association of Local Public Health Agencies
A
AMA American Medical Association
A
AMO Association of Municipalities of Ontario
A
AODA Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act
L
AOHC Association of Ontario Health Centres
A
APP Alternate Payment Plan
BF
ASHRAE American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers
O

B


BBP Balanced Budget Plan
BF
BLG Borden Ladner Gervais LLP
O
BOT Back Office Transformation
BF
BPAC Benefit Plans Advisory Committee
OHAC
BRAT Bioterrorism Response Advisory Team
G

C


CADTH Canadian Agency for Drugs and Technologies in Health
O
CAEP Canadian Association of Emergency Physicians
A
CAER Community Awareness Emergency Response
HC
CAHO Council of Academic Hospitals of Ontario (Formerly OCOTH)
O
CAMH Centre for Addiction and Mental Health
O
CAW Canadian Auto Workers Union
U
CBRN Chemical/Bio/Radiological/Nuclear
HC
CCAC Community Care Access Centre
O
CCC Complex Continuing Care
HC
CCEP Canadian Centre for Emergency Preparedness
O
CCH Chronic Care Hospitals
HC
CCHSA Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation
O
CCHSE Canadian College of Health Service Executives
C
CCO Cancer Care Ontario
O
CDA Canadian Diabetic Association
A
CDC Center for Disease Control (Atlanta)
G
CEEP Centre of Excellence in Emergency Preparedness
O
CGSB Canadian General Standards Board (Gov. of Canada)
G
CHA Canadian Healthcare Association
A
CHAC Catholic Health Association of Canada
A
CHC Community Health Centre
HC
CHCO Catholic Health Corporation of Ontario
O
CHES Canadian Healthcare Engineering Society
O
CHI Canada Health Infoway (MOHLTC Lab)
G
CHIMA Canadian Health Information Management Association
A
CHO Comprehensive Health Organization
HC
CHSC Certified Health & Safety Consultant
OHMS
CICA Canadian Institute of Chartered Accountants: Standards of reporting health care and post-employment benefits on financial statements
O
CIH Certified Industrial Hygienist (USA)
OHMS
CIHI Canadian Institute for Health Information
O
CMA Canadian Medical Association
A
CMC Canadian Management Centre (Partner for on-line learning)
O
CMLTO College of Medical Laboratory Technologist of Ontario
C
CMOH Chief Medical Officer of Health
G
CMRTO College of Medical Radiation Technologists of Ontario
C
CNO College of Nurses of Ontario
C
COACH Canada's Health Informatics Association

OLD - Canadian Organization for the Advancement of Computers in Health
A
COFM Council of Ontario Faculties of Medicine
O
COS Chief of Staff
HC
COU Council of Ontario Universities
O
COUPN Council of Ontario University Programs in Nursing
O
CPD Collaborative Patient-Centered Care
HC
CPSI Canadian Patient Safety Institute
O
CPSO College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario
C
CQI Continuous Quality Improvement
BF
CRSP Canadian Registered Safety Professionals
OHMS
CSHP Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists
A
CSSE Canadian Society of Safety Engineering
O
CTAS Canadian Triage Acuity Scale
HC
CUOE Canadian Union of Operating Engineers
U
CUPE Canadian Union of Public Employees
U


D


DHC District Health Council
G
DM Deputy Minister
G
DSC Diagnostic Services Committee (OHA/OMA/MOHLTC)
OHAC


E


EAP Employee Assistance Program
OHMS
ECO Emergency Coordination Centre
HC
ECPEWC Expected Cost Per Equivalent Weighted Case
BF
EDCDP Emergency Department Coverage Demonstration Program
HC
ED-GIM Emergency Department – General Internal Medicine
HC
EDOC Emergency Department Overcrowding Committee
OHAC
EEGAP Expert Employee Group Advisory Panel
OHAC
EHC Extended Health Coverage
OHMS
EHR Electronic Health Record
HC
ELD CAP Beds “Elderly Capital Assistance Program” Beds
HC
EMAT Emergency Medical Assistance Team
HC
EMS Emergency Medical Services
HC
EMU Emergency Management Unit
HC
EPIC Engaging People. Improving Care

O

EOC Emergency Operations Centre (TEOC- Toronto Emergency Operations)
HC
ESA Employment Standards Act
L


F


FCM Federation of Canadian Municipalities
G
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency (USA)
G
FIPPA Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act
L
FOI Freedom of Information
L
FRI Febrile Respiratory Illness
D
FTE Full Time Equivalent
BF


G



GTAA Greater Toronto Airports Authority
O
GCE Governance Centre of Excellence
OHAI


H


H5N1 Flu strain affecting poultry stocks
D
HAAO Hospital Auxiliaries Association of Ontario
A
HAAs Hospital Accountability Agreements
HC
HAPS Hospital Annual Planning Submissions
HC
Hazmat Hazardous Materials
HC
HCA Hospital Corporations of America
A
HBAM Health Based Allocation Model

HC

HCHSA Health Care Health and Safety Association – present name is Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare
OHMS
HCOHSA Health Care Occupational Health and Safety Association
OHMS
HCPRA Health Care Public Relations Association Canada
A
HCRSA Hospital Community Respiratory Services Alliance
HC
HCW Health Care Workers
HC
HEICS The Hospital Emergency Incident Command System
HC
HEMC Health Emergency Management Committee
OHAC
HERS Hospital Employee Relations Services
OHAD
HERT Hospital Emergency Response Training
HC
HETF Hospital Efficiency Task Force
G
HFA Home for the Aged
HC
HHES Healthy Hospital Employee Survey
OHMS
HHI Healthy Hospital Initiative
OHMS
HHR Health Human Resources
HC
HIMSS Healthcare Information Management and Systems Society
O
HIROC Healthcare Insurance Reciprocal of Canada
OHMS
HIS Hospital Information System
BF
HLDAA Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act
L
HMRI Hospital Medical Records Institute
O
HOCC Hospital On-Call Coverage (for physicians)
HC
HOCFA Hospital On-Call Funding Agreement
HC
HOODIP Hospitals of Ontario Disability Insurance Plan
OMHS
HOOGLIP Hospitals of Ontario Group Life Insurance Plan
OHMS
HOOPP Hospitals of Ontario Pension Plan
O
HOOVLIP Hospitals of Ontario Voluntary Life Insurance Plan
OHMS
HPARB Health Professions Appeal and Review Board
L
HPPA Health Protection and Promotion Act
L
HPRAC Health Professions Regulatory Advisory Council
G
HRDC Human Resources Development Canada
G
HRT Health Results Team
HC
HSAC Health & Safety Advisory Committee
OHAC
HSIA Health Systems Improvement Act
L
HSMR Hospital Standardized Mortality Rate
HC
HSO Health Service Organization
HC


I


IAA Interim Accountability Agreement
HC
IAPA Industrial Accident Prevention Association
A
ICD-10 International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems developed by the World Health Organization
HC
ICES Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences
O
IHI Institute of Healthcare Improvement
O
IHSP Integrated Health Service Plan
G
ILI Influenza-like Illness
D
IMS Incident Management System
HC
IPBA Integrated Population Based Allocation
BF
IPC Information and Privacy Commissioner/Ontario
G
IPCC Inter-professional Collaborative Care
HC
ISMP Institute for Safe Medication Practices
O
IT Information Technology
BF


J


JAMA Journal of the American Medical Association
O
JCAHO Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
O
JEPP Joint Emergency Preparedness Program
HC
JHSC Joint Health and Safety Committee
OHMS
JILMC Joint Industry Labour/Management Council
OHAC
JPPC Joint Policy and Planning Committee
G


L


LHINs Local Health Integration Networks
G
LHSIA Local Health System Integration Act
L
LOS Length of Stay
HC
LTC Long-Term Care
HC
LTD Long-Term Disability
OHMS



MAC Medical Advisory Committee
HC
MCI Mass Casualty Incidents
HC
MCSCS Ministry of Community Safety and Correctional Services
G
MIS Management Information System
BF
MMWR Mortality and Morbidity Weekly Report
OHMS
MOHLTC Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care
G
MPIR (also known as PIR) Ministry of Public Infrastructure and Renewal
G
MRI Ministry of Research and Innovation
G
MSD Muskoskeletal Disorders
OHMS
MTCU Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
G
MTS Medical Transport Service
HC
MYF Multi-Year Funding
BF


N


NACRS National Ambulatory Care Reporting System
HC
Naylor Committee The National Advisory Committee on SARS and Public Health
G
NEAT Non-Emergency Ambulance Transportation
HC
NEER New Experimental Experience Rating
OHMS
NEJM New England Journal of Medicine
O
NFPA National Fire Protection Association
A
NH Nursing Homes
HC
NIF New Initiatives Fund
BF
NIH National Institutes of Health
G
NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Health & Safety
O


O


OACCAC Ontario Association of Community Care Access Centres
A
OACRS Ontario Association of Children’s Rehabilitation Services
A
OAML Ontario Association of Medical Laboratories
A
OANHSS Ontario Association of Non-Profit Homes & Services for Seniors
A
OAOA Ontario Ambulance Operators Association
A
OAR Ontario Association of Radiologists
A
OARNA Ontario Association of Registered Nursing Assistants
A
OCCI Ontario Case Costing Initiative
G
OCDM Ontario Cost Distribution Methodology
BF
OCFP Ontario College of Family Physicians
C
OCHU Ontario Council of Hospital Unions
U
OCIPEP Office of Critical Infrastructure Protection and Emergency Preparedness
G
OCOTH (Now called CAHO) Ontario Council of Teaching Hospitals
O
OCSA Ontario Community Support Association
A
OCUPRS Ontario Council of University Programs in Rehabilitation Sciences
O
ODA Ontario Dental Association
A
OHA Ontario Hospital Association
A
OHHA Ontario Health-care Housekeepers’ Association
A
OHHCPA Ontario Home Health Care Providers’ Association
A
OHIMA Ontario Health Information Management Association
A
OHIP Ontario Health Insurance Plan
G
OHMS Organizational Health Management Services
OHAD
OHPA Ontario Health Providers Alliance
O
OHPIP Ontario Health Pandemic Influenza Planning
HC
OHRS Ontario Health Reporting System
HC
OHS Occupational Health Services
OHMS
OHTAC Ontario Health Technology Advisory Committee (for hospital and community)
HC
OICAH Ontario Interdisciplinary Council for Aging and Health
O
OLIS Ontario Laboratories Information Systems
HC
OLTCA Ontario Long Term Care Association
A
OMA Ontario Medical Association
A
OMHRS Ontario Mental Health Reporting System
HC
ONA Ontario Nurses’ Association
U
ONTLA Ontario Legislature
L
OPA Ontario Pharmacists’ Association
A
OPS Operation Planning Committee
OHAC
OPSEU Ontario Public Service Employees’ Union
U
ORLSP Ontario Regional Laboratory Services Planning
HC
ORNGE Ontario’s provider of aero medical transport (formerly Ontario Air Ambulance Services Corporation)
O
OSACH Ontario Safety Association for Community and Healthcare (Formerly HCHSA)
O
OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration (USA)
OHMS
OWHC Ontario Women’s Health Council
O


P


PAIRO Professional Association of Interns and Residents of Ontario
U
PAVRO Professional Administrators of Volunteer Resources of Ontario
A
PDST Planning Decision Support Tool
G
PEP Provincial Emergency Plan
G
PEP Paper Elimination Project
OHAC
PHA Public Hospitals Act
L
PHCC Physician Hospital Care Committee (OHA/OMA/MOHLTC)
OHAC
PHHRS Provincial Health Human Resources Strategy Unit
OHAD
PHHRSAG Provincial Health Human Resources Strategic Advisory Group
OHAC
PHIPA Personal Health Information Protection Act
L
PHRP Physician-Hospital Relationship Project
G
PHRWG Physician Hospital Relationship Working Group
OHAC
PIDAC Provincial Infections Diseases Advisory Committee
G
PIPEDA Personal Information Protection and Electronic Documents Act
L
PIR Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal
G
PISC Pandemic Influenza Supply Chain
HC
PPA Policy and Public Affairs
OHAD
PS&CB Patient Safety & Clinical Best Practices
OHAD
PSAC Public Service Alliance of Canada
U
PS Council Patient Safety Leadership Council
OHAC
PSLRTA Public Sector Labour Relations Transition Act
L
PTAC Patient Transfer Authorization Centre
HC


Q


QCIPA Quality of Care Information Protection Act
L
QMP-LS Quality Management Program – Laboratory Services
HC


R


RCEC Regional Council Executive Committee
OHAC
RCPSC Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada
O
RFP Request for Proposal
BF
RFQ Request for Qualifications
BF
RGHPI OHA Reference Group on Hospital Physician Issues
OHAC
RHPA Regulated Health Professions Act
L
RIM Record & Information Management Committee
OHAC
RIW Resource Intensity Weights
HC
RM Risk Management
BF
RNAO Registered Nurses’ Association of Ontario
A
RPNAO Registered Practical Nurses Association of Ontario
A
ROH and ROHT Registered Occupational Hygienist (Technician) (Canada)
OHMS
ROMA Rural Ontario Municipal Association
A
RTW Return to Work
OHMS


S


SAA Service Accountability Agreement
L
SARS Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
D
SCFEA Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs
G
SEIU Service Employees’ International Union
U
SEMD Safety Engineered Medical Devices
HC
SEMS Safety Engineered Medical Sharps
HC
SHPAG Small Hospitals Provincial Advisory Committee
OHAC
SHRM Strategic Human Resources Management
OHAD
SMC Senior Management Committee
OHAC
SRN Small, Rural and Northern Hospitals
HC
STD Short-Term Disability
OHMS
STEMI Program ST- Elevation Myocardial Infarction Program
HC
SUMED Single-use medical device
HC
SWOT Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities and Threats
BF


T


TASHN Toronto Academic Science Health Network (formally TAHSC)
HC
TCF The Change Foundation
O
TEMP ( also TMPC) Toronto Emergency Measures Planning Committee
HC
TEOC Toronto Emergency Operations Centre
HC
TIMT Toronto Institute of Medical Technology
O
TML Toronto Medical Laboratories (a private-public partnership)
HC
TPD Therapeutic Products Directorate
HC
TQM Total Quality Management
BF


V


VON Victorian Order of Nurses
O


W


WCDM World Conference on Disaster Management
HC
WERS Web Enabled Reporting System
BF
WHO World Health Organization
HC
WSIB Workplace Safety and Insurance Board
OHMS
WTIS Wait Time Information System
HC
WTS Wait-Time Strategy Advisory Committee
OHAC

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