Definitions and Acronyms
Definition of Pediatric Palliative Care (PPC)
Developed by Children’s Hospice & Palliative Care Coalition’s Professional Advisory Committee, 2007
World Health Organization Definition of Palliative Care
Palliative care is an approach that improves the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problem associated with life-threatening illness, through the prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychosocial and spiritual. Palliative care:
- provides relief from pain and other distressing symptoms
- affirms life and regards dying as a normal process
- intends neither to hasten or postpone death
- integrates the psychological and spiritual aspects of patient care
- offers a support system to help patients live as actively as possible until death
- offers a support system to help the family cope during the patients illness and in their own bereavement
- uses a team approach to address the needs of patients and their families, including bereavement counseling, if indicated
- will enhance quality of life, and may also positively influence the course of illness
- is applicable early in the course of illness, in conjunction with other therapies that are intended to prolong life, such as chemotherapy or radiation therapy, and includes those investigations needed to better understand and manage distressing clinical complications.
World Health Organization Definition of Palliative Care for Children
- Palliative care for children is the active total care of the child's body, mind and spirit, and also involves giving support to the family.
- It begins when illness is diagnosed, and continues regardless of whether or not a child receives treatment directed at the disease.
- Health providers must evaluate and alleviate a child's physical, psychological, and social distress.
- Effective palliative care requires a broad multidisciplinary approach that includes the family and makes use of available community resources; it can be successfully implemented even if resources are limited. It can be provided in tertiary care facilities, in community health centers and even in children's homes.The PaCHaPCC is committed to providing information to professionals throughout the state of Pennsylvania.
Palliative care for children represents a special, albeit closely related field to adult palliative care. WHO’s definition of palliative care appropriate for children and their families is as follows: (WHO; 1998a):
Acronyms and Terms
We would like to thank the Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition of California for the development of this list of acronyms and allowing us to post it here on our PA-CHaPCC website. Please visit www.childrenshospice.org to learn more about the California Coalition and their great work and accomplishments as they strive to improve the health care system for children with life-threatening conditions and their families.
Acronyms and Terms Commonly Used in Pediatric Palliative and Hospice Care
A good website for additional medical acronyms:
http://www.medindia.net/acronym/index.asp?alpha=A&page=5
AB – Abortion
ABD – Abdomen
ABG – Arterial Blood Gases
ac – Before
ADL – Activities of Daily Living
Afebrile – No Fever
AGA – Appropriate Gestational Age
AIDS – Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
ALL – Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia
AND – Allow Natural Death (alternate to DNR)
AND – Allow Natural Death
ASD – Atrial Septal Defect
Auth. – Authorization
AV – Related to atrium/(a) and ventricles of the heart
AV – malformation A congenital anomaly of arteries and veins in the brain
AV – malformation A congenital anomaly of arteries and veins, usually in the brain
AV – shunt Arterial venous shunt used for dialysis
BID – Twice a Day
BiPAP – BiLevel Positive Airway Pressure
BM – Bowel Movement BMH – Bone Marrow HarvestC N A Certified Nurses Aide
BMT – Bone Marrow Transplant
C-PAP – Continuous Positive Air Pressure
Cardiac Cath. – Invasive procedure used to diagnose heart conditions
Cath. – Catheder or tube used for various purposes
CCS – California Children’s Services
CCVNA – Central Coast Visiting Nurses Association
CF – Cystic fibrosis
CFK – Comfort for Kids
CHCC – Children’s Hospital Central California
CHD – Congenital Heart Disease
CHDP – Child Health Disability Prevention program in Family Health Services
CHDP – Congenital Heart Disease
CHF – Congestive Heart Failture
CHLA – Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles
CHLA – Childrens Hospital Los Angeles
CHO – Children’s Hospital Oakland
CHOC – Children’s Hospital of Orange County
CHPCC – Children’s Hospice and Palliative Care Coalition
CK – Coastal Kids
CLD – Chronic Lung Disease
CLS – Child Life Specialist
CLS or CCLS – Certified’ Child Life Specialist
CMN – Children’s Miracle Network
CMS (Federal) – Centers for Medicare and Medicaid
CMS (State) – Children’s Medical Services
CP – Cerebral Palsy
CPR – Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
CPS – Children’s Protective Services
CSHCN – Children with Special Health Care Needs
CSN – Children with Special Needs (with a developmental delay/disability)
CWW – Child Welfare Worker
DD – Developmental Delay/Disability
DD – Developmental Delay
DHCS – Department of Health Care Services
Disenrollment – Generally used when removing a child from managed care insurance
Disenrollment – Disenrollment
DME – Durable Medical Equipment
DNR – Do Not Resuscitate
Dx – Diagnosis
EFRC – Exceptional Family Resource Center
EPSDT – Early, Periodic Screening and Diagnosis and Treatment
ESRD – End-Stage Renal Disease
ET – tube Endotracheal Tube
F/S - Full Scope Medi-Cal – has full Medi-Cal coverage – no shared cost
FE – Financially Eligible
FT – Full Term
FTT – Failure to Thrive
FX – Fracture
GI – Gastro-Intestinal
GJ – Gastrostomy-jejunostomy tube
GMCH – George Mark Children’s House
GR – Gravida (# of pregnancies)
GSW – Gun Shot Wound
GT – Gastrostomy Tube
GT – Gastronomy Tube
GU – Genitourinary
HCBS Home and Community-Based Services
Hem/Onc – Hematology/Oncology
HHA- Home Health Agency
HHA – Home Health Aide
HIV – Human Immunodeficiency Virus
ID – Infectious Diseases
ID – Identification
IDT or IDG – Interdisciplinary Team or Interdisciplinary Group
IEP – Individual Education Plan
IHO – In-Home Operations for Shift Nursing (Medi-Cal)
IHO – In-Home Operations (for Shift Nursing) (Medi-Cal)
IHSS In-home Support Services
IP – Inpatient
IPPC Initiative for Pediatric Palliative Care
IUGR Intrauterine Growth Retardation
JT Jejunostomy Tube
LCSW Licensed Clinical Social Worker
LCSW Licensed Counselor Social Worker
LEA Local Education Agency
LGA Large for Gestational Age
LLCH Children’s Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
LPCH Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital (at Stanford)
LPCH Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital
MCH Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital at Stanford
MD Doctor of Medicine
MD Muscular Dystrophy
MFT Marriage and Family Therapist
Mic-Key A type of gastrostomy tube
Mic-Key A type adaptor for a gastronomy or jejeunostomy tube
Mic-Key button A type of Mic-Key gastrostomy tube
Miller’s Miller Children’s Hospital
MS Multiple Sclerosis
MSW Medical Social Worker
MTP Medical Therapy Program (provided by CCS)
MTP Medical Therapy Program (for CCS)
MTU Medical Therapy Unit where CCS MTP services are provided
MTU Medical Therapy Unit (within CCS MTP)
N/T Non Tender
N/V Nausea and Vomiting
NC Nasal Cannula
NCM Nurse Case Manager
NCM Nurse Care Manager
NCRO Northern California Regional Office (CCS)
NCRO No. California Regional Office
NG Nasogastric
NHPCO National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization
NICU Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
NJ Nasojejeunum
NKA No Known Allergies
NL Numbered Letter – CCS policy interpretation documents for county CCS and providers
NL Numbered Letter
NMC Natividad Medical Center
NOA Notice of Action (CCS) – usually a denial
NOA Notice of Action (CCS)
NOS Not Otherwise Specified
NP Nurse Practitioner
NPO Nothing By Mouth
O2 Oxygen
OD Overdose
OD Right Eye
OP Outpatient
ORIF Open Reduction Internal Fixation
OS Left Eye
OT Occupational Therapy / Occupational Therapist
OU Both Eyes
Para # of Children
Para. Paraplegic
pc After
PC Pastoral Care
PC Palliative Care
PC Personal Computer
PCP Primary Care Provider
PDA Patent Ductus Arteriosus
PED Program End Date
PFC Partners for Children – California’s Waiver Program
PFC Partnership for Children
PFP Partnership for Parents
PHN Public Health Nurse
PPC Pediatric Palliative Care
Premie Premature Infant
PSA Program Services Agreement
PT Physical Therapy / Physical Therapist
Q “x” “time” Every specific time frame noted, i.e. Q6hr is Every 6 Hours
QD Every Day
QID Four Time a Day
Quad. Quadriplegic
Rady Rady Children’s Hospital – San Diego
RBC Red Blood Cell or Count
REQ Request
RN Registered Nurse
ROP Retinopathy of Prematurity
RX Prescription
SAB Spontaneous Abortion (miscarriage)
SAR Service Authorization Request
SARC San Andreas Regional Center
SCRO Southern California Regional Office (CCS)
SELPA Special Education Local Plan Area
SGA Small for Gestational Age
SSC Special Care Center (for CCS)
SSI Supplemental Security Income (through Social Security)
Surg. Surgery
Sutter Children’s Center at Sutter Medical Center, Sacramento
SVMH Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital
SW Social Worker
TBI Traumatic Brain Injury
TCC Tertiary Care Center
TCDB Turn, Cough, Deep Breathe
TID Three Times a Day
TL Tubal Ligation
TOF Tetralogy of Fallot
TPN Total Parenteral Nutrition
TPR, B/P Temperature, Pulse, Respirations, Blood Pressure
Trach. Cath. A catheter used to suction the trachea when a tracheotomoy is in place
Trach. Cath. Tracheal Catheter, Used to suction the trachea when a tracheotomoy is in place
TX Treatment
TX Traction
UCD University of California, Davis Children’s Hospital
UCI University Children’s Hospital at University of California Irvine
UCLA Mattel Children’s Hospital at UCLA
UCSD University of California, San Diego Children’s Hospital
UCSF University of California, San Francisco
UCSF University of California, San Francisco Children’s Hospital
URI Upper Respiratory Infection
Urine Cath. A catheterused to collect urine directly from the bladder
Urine Cath. Urine Catheter, Used to collect urine directly from the bladder
UTI Urinary Tract Infection
Vent Dep. Ventilator-Dependent
Vital Signs Temperature, Pulse, Respirations, Blood Pressure & Pain Level
W/C Wheelchair
WBC White Blood Cell or Count
WNL Withing Normal Limits
WT Weight