ACRONYMS Introduction:
The most important fact about acronyms and professional jargon is that it is not necessary for any of this work. In fact, the use of acronyms and jargon can interfere with effective communication and leave people feeling excluded and inadequate. Everyone who is not familiar with the acronyms and jargon have a right to expect the use of common, understandable language.
AA Alcoholics Anonymous
AAA Area Agency on Aging
AARP American Association of Retired Persons
ADAAG Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines
AAAAM Area Agency on Aging Association of Michigan
ADA Americans with Disabilities Act
ADAPT Americans with Disabilities for Attendant Programs Today
FY Fiscal Year
GF/GP General Fund/General Purpose
HAB Habilitation Waiver (Used under Community Mental Health for people with developmental disabilities)
HCBS Home and Community-Based Service Waiver in Michigan it is also called MIChoice
HFA Home for the Aged
HI Hearing Impaired
HUD Housing and Urban Development
IADLs Instrumental Activities of Daily Living
ICF/MR Intermediate Care Facility for people with mental retardation
I&R Information and Referral (Specialist)
IL Independent Living
ILP Independent Living Plan
IPS/IPP Individual Plan of Service/Independent Program Plan
JFA Justice for All (a disability rights list serve)
LTCLong Term Care
LTCOP Long Term Care Ombudsman Program
MA Medical Assistance (Medicaid)
MACIL Michigan Association of Centers for Independent Living
MCB Michigan Commission for the Blind
MCDC Michigan Commission on Disability Concerns
MCQC Michigan Campaign for Quality Care
MD Muscular Dystrophy
MQCCC (MQC3) Michigan Quality Community Care Council
MDRC Michigan Disability Rights Coalition
MFP Money Follows the Person
MH Mental Health
MI Mental Illness
MiCASSA Medicaid Community Attendant Services & Supports Act
PT Physical Therapist
RCSC Real Choice Systems Change (Federal grant)
SCI Spinal Cord Injury
SDA State Disability Assistance
SGA Substantial Gainful Activity
SILC State Independent Living Council
SSI Social Security Income
SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance
SSA Social Security Administration
TA Technical Assistance
UCP United Cerebral Palsy
CIL Organizational Acronyms CILs Centers for Independent Living
AACIL Ann Arbor CIL (Ann Arbor area)
BWCIL Blue Water CIL (Port Huron Area)
CACIL Capital Area CIL (Lansing Area)
CC Community Connections (Benton Harbor Area)
CILMM CIL of Mid-Michigan (Midland Area)
DAKC Disability Advocates of Kent County (Grand Rapids Area)
DC Disability Connection (Muskegon Area)
DRC Disability Resource Center (Kalamazoo Area)
C/W CIL Detroit/Wayne CIL (Detroit area)
JCIL Jackson CIL (Jackson area)
LCIL Lakeshore CIL (Holland Area)
NMAIL Northern Michigan Alliance for IL (Traverse City area)
O/M CIL Oakland & Macomb CIL (Oakland and Macomb county area)
SAIL Superior Alliance for IL (Marquette area)
TDN The Disability Network (Flint Area)
Medical Acronyms you may see in Nursing Home Charts *Please note—the Independent Living Philosophy does not support using diagnoses or medical labels as a means of defining people. These labels and terms do not in any way predict success in transitioning out of the nursing facilities. They are being provided here to help you understand the jargon that may be used by medical staff and doctors. Educating yourself about the language they use will make you a better advocate for yourself and others.
AMA Against Medical Advice
ABT Antibiotic
A&O X 3 Alert & Oriented to person, place, and time
HS Hour of sleep (a prescription might be taken QHS or at bedtime)
IDDM Insulin Dependent Diabetes Mellitus
LOC Level of Care
LOS Length of Stay
MI Myocardial Infarct (Heart Attack)
NKMA No known medical allergies
NPO Nothing by mouth
ORIF Open Reduction Internal Fixation (usually refers to hip fracture with surgery to correct it, but can refer to other bone breaks with surgery to correct)
S/P Status Post (as in S/P MI—or status after heart attack)
TIA Transient Ischemic Attack (often called a min-stroke)
TID Three times per day
UTI Urinary tract infection
VS Vital Signs (chart may say VS WNL or vital signs within normal limits)
WNL Within normal limits
W/C Wheelchair
For a more exhaustive list of medical abbreviations see: http://www.metrokc.gov/health/famplan/clinicguide/chart_ab.doc or
http://ombudsman.myflorida.com/CertManual/RefMaterial/Medical%20Records%20Abbreviations.pdf