A workers’ compensation claim is already a difficult process. Beyond the stress of injury and paperwork, you will also need to navigate a world of new world of legal and medical abbreviations. We’ve put together the following list of common abbreviations you will encounter during your workers’ comp claim. These abbreviations are frequently used in benefit letters, attorney correspondences, medical reports and documentation from the Worker’s Compensation Appeals Board.
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A
A Abrasion A & P Anterior and Posterior AA Applicant’s Attorney AADP American Association of Drugless Practitioners ACE2 Angiotensin Converting Enzyme 2 ACOEM American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine AD Administrative Director ADA Americans with Disabilities Act ADHD Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder ADJ Adjudication ADL Activities of Daily Living AED Automated External Defribrillator, Anti Epilepsy Drug AGP Aerosol Generating Procedure AHI Apnea/Hypopnea Index AHM Anaheim AI Apnea Index AIIR Airborne Infection Isolation Room (formerly known as negative pressure isolation room) AKA Above the Knee Amputation AKA Also known as ALC Alcohol ALJ Administrative Law Judge ALD Assisted Listening Device ALS Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis AMA American Medical Association AMA Guides American Medical Association Guides to the Evaluation of Permanent Impairment 5th Edition AME Agreed Medical Examiner / Agreed Medical Evaluator ANA Santa Ana AOE/COE Arising out of and in the course and scope of employment AP Attending Provider APAP Auto-titrating, self-adjusting device APF Assigned Protection Factor APL Abductor Pollicis Longus APP Application for Adjudication of Claim APR Air-Purifying Respirator (particulate respirators, gas masks) APS Attending Physician’s Statement ARD Acute Respiratory Disease ARDS Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome AROM Active Range of Motion ASR Air-Supplying Respirator ATFL Anterior Talofibular Ligament AVPU Alert, Verbal, Pain, Unresponsive AWP Average Wholesale Price AWV Average Wellness Visit AWW Average Weekly Wage -
B
B Burning BAI Beck Anxiety Inventory BAK Bakersfield BCRC Benefits Coordination & Recovery Center BDI Beck Depression Inventory BGS Bone Growth Stimulator BHS Beck Hopelessness Scale BID “Bis in Die,” Twice a day BIW Twice a week BKA Below the Knee Amputation BLMC Banner Lassen Medical Center BMI Body Mass Index BP Blood Pressure BPH Benign Prostatic Hyperplasia BPM Beats per Minute BUP Buprenorphine -
C
C/B Complicated by C/S Cervical Spine C+R Compromise and Release CABG Coronary Artery Bypass Graft Surgery CABP Coronary Artery Bypass Procedure CAD Coronary Artery Disease CAL/OSHA California Department of Occupational Safety + Health Administration CALPERS California Public Employees’ Retirement System CALSTRS California State Teachers’ Retirement System CALVCB California Victim Compensation Board CAMTUS California Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule CAPR Controlled Air Purifying Respirator CART Computer-Aided Realtime Translation CBC Complete Blood Count CBT Cognitive Behavioral Therapy CCC California Compensation Case CCP Code of Civil Procedure CCPOA California Corrections Peace Officer Association CCR California Code of Regulations CDC Center for Disease Control and Prevention CDL California Drivers License CF Conversion Factor CFRA California Family Rights Act CFS Chronic Fatigue Syndrome CHSWC Commission on Health and Safety and Workers’ Compensation CIGA California Insurance Guarantee Association CLBP Chronic Low Back Pain CLIN Clinical CMIA Confidentiality Medical Information Act CMS Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services CNA Certified Nursing Assistant CNS Central Nervous System CNSLT Consult COB Coordination of Benefits COLA Cost of Living Adjustment CoLA County of Los Angeles COT Cotinine COPD Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease COVID-19 Corona Virus Disease 2019 caused by SARS-CoV-2 CPAP Continuous Positive Airway Pressure CPL Conditional Payment Letter CPR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation CPT Current Procedural Terminology CQI Continuous Quality Improvement CR Creatinine CRPS Complex Regional Pain Syndrome CT Computerized Topography CT Cumulative Trauma CTB Catastrophic Time Bank CTE Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy CTO Compensated Time Off CTS Carpal Tunnel Syndrome CV Curriculum Vitae CVA Cerebral Vascular Accident CVC Combined Valve Chart CVO Central Valley Occupational CWCR California Worker’s Compensation Reporter -
D
DA Defense Attorney DA District Attorney DC Doctor of Chiropractic DC Date of Consult DBE Diagnosed Based Estimate DDD Degenerative Disk Disease DEPO Deposition DEU Disability Evaluation Unit DFEC Diminished Future Earning Capacity DFEH Department of Fair Employment and Housing DFR Doctor’s First Report DHCS Department of Healthcare Services DIR Department of Industrial Relations DIR Director of Industrial Relations DM Diabetes Mellitus DME Durable Medical Equipment DO Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine DOB Date of Birth DOH Date of Hire DOI Date of Injury DOL Date of Loss DOR Declaration of Readiness to Proceed DOS Date of Service DOSH Division of Occupational Safety and Health DPT Doctor of Physical Therapy DR Declaration of Readiness to Proceed DRE Diagnosed Related Estimate DRG Diagnosis-Related Groups DSM Diagnostic and Statistic Manual of Mental Disorders DVT Deep Vein Thrombosis DWC Division of Workers Compensation DWC-1 Claim Form DWD Death Without Dependents Unit Dx Diagnosis -
E
E Ecchymosis EAMS Electronic Adjudication Management System EBG California Drivers License EBM Evidence Based Medicine ECAB Employees’ Compensation Appeals Board ECMO Extracorporeal Membrane Oxygenation EDD Employment Development Department EDDP 2-ethylidene-1,5-dimethyl-3,3-diphenylpyrrolidine EDS Excessive Daytime Sleepiness EE Employee EEG Electroncephalogram EEOC Equal Employment Opportunity Commission EFJA Essential Functions Job Analysis EIDL Enhanced Industrial Disability Leave EHFRs Elastomeric Half-Facepiece Respirators EHW Employee Health & Wellness EKG Electrocardiogram EKHS EK Health Services EMG Electromyography ENT Ear Nose & Throat EOB Explanation of Benefits EOG Electro-oculogram EOMI Extra Ocular Movements Intact EOR Explanation of Review EPAP Expiratory Positive Airway Pressure ER Emergency Room ER Employer ESI Express Scripts Inc ESRD End-Stage Renal Disease ESS Epworth Sleepiness Scale ETOH Ethanol/Alcohol EUR Eureka -
F
F & A Findings and Award FACS Fellow American College of Surgeons FAS Functional Acuity Score FCE Functional Capacity Evaluation FCR Flexor Carpi Radius FD Full Duty FDA Food and Drug Administration FDL Final Determination Letter FEC Future Earning Capacity FECA Federal Employees Compensation Act FEHA Fair Employment and Housing Act FELA Federal Employer’s Liability Act FEV1 Forced Expiratory Volume in the first second FFR Filtering Facepiece Respirator (includes N95 masks) FHX Family History FLMA Family and Medical Leave Act FM Future Medical FMC Future Medical Care FRE Fresno FRP Functional Restoration Program FTY Fentanyl FVC Forced Vital Capacity -
G
GA General Anesthesia GAD Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale GAF Global Assessment of Functioning GAL Guardian Ad Litem GCS Glasgow Coma Scale GERD Gastro Esophageal Reflux Disease GINA Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act GL Glutaraldehyde -
H
HA Hyaluronic Acid HAM-A Hamilton Anxiety Rating Scale HAM-D Hamilton Depression Rating Scale HCO Health Care Organization HCP Health Care Personnel HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System HEENT Head, Eyes, Ears, Nose, and Throat HEP Home Exercise Program HEPA High Efficiency Particulate Air HICN Health Insurance Claim Number HIPPA Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act HIV Human Immunodeficiency Virus HMO Healthcare Maintenance Organization HNP Herniated Nucleus Pulposus HR Heart Rate HR Human Resources HX History -
I
I & A Information and Assistance Office IARC International Agency for Research on Cancer ICAC International Chiropractic Association of California ICD International Classification of Diseases ICU Intensive Care Unit IDE Industrial Disability Evaluator IDL Industrial Disability Leave IDL/S Industrial Disability Leave with Supplementation IDR Industrial Disability Retirement IIP Injury Illness Prevention Program IMAGE Imaging (i.e. x-ray, scans) IMC Industrial Medical Council IME Independent Medical Examiner IME Independent Medical Evaluation IMR Independent Medical Review IMRO Independent Medical Review Organization IND Indemnity IOH Institution of Occupational Hygenists IP Interphalangeal Joint IPAP Inspiratory Positive Airway Pressure IRO Independent Review Organization IT Intrathecal IW Injured Worker -
J
JA Job Analysis JPA Joint Powers Authorities JSA Job Safety Analysis JVD Jugular Venous Distension -
K
K One Thousand KDMC Kaweah Delta Medical Center KET Ketamine KFH Kern Foundation Hospital KUB Kidneys, Ureters and Urinary Bladder KCERA Kern County Employees Retirement Association KOJ Kaiser on the Job KPOJ Kaiser Permanente on the Job -
L
L/S Lumbar Spine L Lesion LAB Laboratory LAC Laceration LACERA Los Angeles County Employees Retirement Association LACERS Los Angeles City Employees Retirement System LAE Left Atrial Englargement LAO Los Angeles LBO Long Beach LBP Lower Back Pain LC Labor Code LDW Last Day Worked LDW Light Duty Work LEFS Lower Extremity Functional Scale LEI Lower Extremity Impairment LESI Lumbar Epidural Steroid Injection LTR Letter LHC Left Heart Catherterization LO Lights Out LOA Leave of Absence LOC Loss of Consciousness LOI Letter of Instruction LOS Length of Stay LOV Last Office Visit LP Life Pension LT Last Time LTLDA Limited Term Light Duty Assignment LVH Left Ventricular Hypertrophy LVN Licensed Vocation Nurse -
M
M Male M/L Medical-Legal MAA Medical Access Assistant MAC Monitored Anesthesia Care MAE Mobile Assistive Equipment MAO Medical Assistive Equipment MBB Medical Branch Block MBI Medicare Beneficiary Provider MD Medical Doctor MDD Major Depressive Disorder MDE Multidisciplinary Evaluation MDM Medical Decision Making MDR Marina Del Rey MDT Multiple Disabilities Table MEEAC Medical Evidence Evaluation Advisory Committee MERS-Cov Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (emerged in 2012) MET Metabolic Energy Testing MI Myocardial Infarction MLOA Medical Leave of Absence MLST Multiple Sleep Latency Test MMI Maximum Medical Improvement MOA Memorandum of Agreement MOD Modified Duties MOU Memorandum of Understanding MPN Medical Provider Network MPQ McGill Pain Questionnaire MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging MSA Medicare Set-Aside MSA Merit Salary Adjustment MSC Mandatory Settlement Conference MSD Musculoskeletal Disorders MSP Medicare Secondary Payer MSPRP Medicare Secondary Payer Recovery Portal MTUS Medical Treatment Utilization Schedule MVA Motor Vehicle Accident -
N
N Numbness Tingling NCM Nurse Case Manager NCPDP National Council of Prescription Drug Programs NCQA National Committeefor Quality Assurance NCV Nerve Conduction Velocity NDC National Drug Code NDI Neck Disability Index NDI Non Industrial Disability Insurance NKDA No Known Drug Allergies NKP No Known Problems NIOSH National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health NI Nitrate NIT Notice of Intention to Impose Sanctions NLT No Last Time NNT Number Needed to Treat NOAA Notice of Adverse Action NOR Notice of Representation NOV Next Office Visit NPD Noteworthy Panel Decision NREM Non-Rapid Eye Movement NSAID Non-Steriodal Anti-Inflammatory Drug -
O
OA Osteoarthritis OAK Oakland OBN Outcomes Based Network OCERS Orange County Employees Retirement System OCR Optical Character Recognition OD Office of Director ODG Official Disability Guidelines ODI Oswestry 3.0 Disability Index OMFS Official Medical Fee Schedule OMSQ Orebro Musculoskeletal Questionnaire ONX Oxnard OP Occipitoposterior Position OR Operating Room ORM Ongoing Responsibility for Medicals ORTHO Orthopedic OSA Obstructive Sleep Apnea OSAS Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome OSHA Occupational Safety and Health Administration OSIP Office of Self-Insurance Plans OT Occupational Therapy OTC Over the Counter OTOC Ordered taken off calendar OV Office Visit OWCP Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs OWO Off Work Order OX Oxidants (Bleach) -
P
P Pain P+P Policy and Procedure Manual P & S Permanent and Stationary PA Physician’s Assistant PAP Positive Airway Pressure PAPR Power Air Purifying Respirator PBM Pharmacy Benefit Management PCI Percutaneous Coronary Intervention PDMP Prescription Databases PDN Personal Benefit Network PDV Present-Day Value PC Priority Conference PD Permanent Disability PDA Permanent Disability Advance PDR Permanent Disability Rating PDRS Permanent Disability Rating Schedule PERL Public Employee’s Retirement Law PFJ Patellofemoral Joint PFT Pulmonary Function Test pH pH Ph. D. Doctor of Philosophy PHI Personal Health Information PI Permanent Intermittent PI Personal Injury PI Private Investigator PIC Peripherally Inserted Catheter PICC Peripherally Inserted Central Catheter PIP Proximate Interphalangeal PJ Presiding Judge PMD Power Mobility Device PMFSH Past Medical,Social & Family History PMHx Past Medical History PO By month POA Power of Attorney POB Parts of Body POC Plan of Care POC Clinical Point of Care POM Pomona POR Proof of Representation POS Positive POV Power Operated Vehicles PPD Partial Permanent Disability PPE Personal Protective Equipment PPO Preferred Provider Organization PR-2 Progress Report PR-3 Permanent and Stationary Report PR-4 Permanent and Stationary Report PRN Pro Re Nata, when necessary PROs Peer Review Organizations PSD Proposed Settlement Date PSHx Past Sympotom History PSS Perceived Stress Scale PT Physical Therapy PTA Percutaneous Transluminal Angioplasty PTA Post Traumatic Amenesia PTC Pre-Trial Conference PTCS Pre-Trial Conference Statement PTD Permanent Total Disability PTHS Post Traumatic Head Syndrome PTP Primary Treating Physician PTSD Post Traumatic Stress Disorder PVD Peripheral Vascular Disease PAWLJ Presiding Workers Compensation Appeals Board Judge PWCJ Presiding Workers Compensation Judge -
Q
QA Quality Assurance QIW Qualified Injured Worker QME Qualified Medical Examiner QTY Quantity -
R
R Radiation R Rash RA Rated Age RAD Reactive Airwaves Disease RC Rotator Cuff RCP Respiratory RDG Redding RDOMP Reasonable Degree of Medical Probability Recon Reconsideration Reg. Regulation REM Rapid Eye Movement RFA Request for Authorization RFI Request for Information RHD Rheumatic Heart Disease RIV Riverside RN Registered Nurse RO Regional Office ROM Range of Motion ROS Review of Systems RR Respiratory Rate RSD Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy RTW Return to Work RTWC Return to Work Coordinator RTWSS Return to Work Services Sector RU Rehabilitation Unit RU-91 Description of Employees’ Job Duties Form RU-94 Offer of Alternative or Modified Work Form Rx Prescription -
S
S Without, Swell S + W Serious and Willful SA Sleep Apnea SAC Sacramento SAL Salinas SaO2 % of normal oxygen level in the blood SARS-CoV-2 Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 previously provisionally named 2019 novel coronavirus or 2019-nCoV (Lai, Shih 2020) it is a positive-sense, single-stranded RNA virus belonging to the genus Betacoronavirus (ß-coronavirus) SARS-CoV- Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (emerged in 2002) SAS Sleep Apnea Syndrome SATF Substance Abuse Treatment Facility- Corcoran SAWW State Average Weekly Wage SBA Santa Barbara SBR San Bernardino SC Status Conference SCIF State Compensation Insurance Fraud SCL-90-R Symptom Checklist 90 Revised SCS Spinal Cord Stimulator SDI State Disability Insurance SDT Subpena Duces Tecum SFO San Francisco SG Specific Gravity SHx Symptom History SIBTF Subsequent Injuries Benefit Trust Fund SIF Subsequent Injuries Fund SIG Write, label SIJ Sacroiliac Joint SIU Special Investigations Unit SJDB Supplemental Job Displacement Benefit SJO San Jose SLB Short Leg Brace SLO San Luis Obispo SLR Straight Leg Raise SMART Specific Measurable Achievable Realistic Time-Based SOAP Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan SOL Statute of Limitations SNRI Serotonin and Norepinephrine Reuptake Inhibitor SPB State Personnel Board SPC Single Point Cane SRO Santa Rosa SSA Social Security Administration SSD Social Security Disability SSDB Social Security Disability Benefits SSDI Social Security Disability Insurance SSI Social Security Income SSN Social Security Number SSRI Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor STIP Stipulations and Request for Award STK Stockton STUDY Study (i.e. electrodiagnostic studies) Subro Subrogation SURG Surgery Sx Surgical -
T
T Tender T/S Thoracic Spine TAT Turnaround Time TAV Telephone Appointment Visit TBI Traumatic Brain Injury TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine TD Temporary Disability Benefits TDP Transitional Duty Program TENS Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation TF-CBT Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy TFCC Triangular Fibrocartilage Complex TIA Transient Ischemic Attack TID Three Times per Day TKR Total Knee Replacement TLSO Thoracolumbosacral Orthosis TMD Temporo Mandibular Joint Disorder TMJ Temporomandibular Joint TMST Treadmill Stress Test TMWA Temporary Modified Work Assignment TOC Transfer of Care TPA Third Party Administrator TPD Temporary Partial Disability TPI Trigger Point Injection TRA Tramadol TSA Total Settlement Amount TTD Total Temporary Disability TTP Tenderness to Palpation Tx Treatment TXMT Treatment -
U
U Ulcer U & C Usual and Customary UDT Urine Drug Testing UAN Uniformed Assigned Name UEBTF Uninsured Employers Benefit Trust Fund UEF Uninsured Employers Fund UEI Upper Extremity Impairment UI Unemployment Insurance UIM Underinsured Motorist Coverage UMBI Uninsured Motorist Bodily Injury UMC Uninsured Motorist Coverage UMP Uninsured Motorist Property Damage UNRLT Unrelated UR Utilization Review URO Utilization Review Organizations UTD Urine Drug Screening Test UTI Urinary Tract Infection -
V
VNO Van Nuys VTED Venuous Thromboembolic Disease VR Vocational Rehabilitation VRMA Vocational Rehabilitation Maintenance Allowance VRTWC Vocational + Return to Work Counselor -
W
WBAT Weightbearing as Tolerated WC Workers’ Compensation WCAB Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board WCALJ Workers’ Compensation Administrative Law Judge WCIRB Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau WCJ Workers’ Compensation Judge WCMSA Workers’ Compensation Medicare Set-Aside Arrangement WCMSAP WCMSA Portal WFL Within Functional Limits WHO Wrist Hand Orthosis, World Health Organization WMSD Work-Related Musculoskeletal Disorders WNL Within Normal Limits WPI Whole Person Impairment WRAPP Work-Related Asthma Prevention Program WRCRC Workers’ Compensation Review Contractor -
X
X Times XR X-Ray