| Acronym | Full Name | Description |
|---|---|---|
| ASAPS | Application Submission And Processing System | Automated system the state and Federal Governments used in the past to process HPSAs. |
| CCD | Census Civil Division | A subdivision of a county. |
| CT | Census Tract | Automated subdivision of a county. |
| CMS | Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services | Process all Medicare and Medicaid claims. |
| CNP | Certified Nurse Practitioner | Registered nurses that have completed advanced training. |
| CNM | Certified Nurse-Midwife | An advanced nurse whose specialties are midwifery and nursing. |
| CHC | Community Health Center | Accepts all patients; Federally and state supported, often called an FQHC. |
| DHHS | Department of Health and Human Services | The main Federal agency involved in U.S. healthcare. |
| Dr. | Doctor | |
| DO | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine | A professional medical degree that is similar to MD. |
| FP | Family Practice | |
| FTE | Full Time Equivalent | 40 PC hours = 1FTE. |
| GP | General Practice | |
| GEO | Geographic HPSA | A designation recognizing a shortage of primary care services to the general population within an isolated geographical area. |
| HPSA | Health Professional Shortage Area | An area that is considered underserved in medical services by the Federal Government. The three cohorts are Primary Care, Dental and Mental Health. |
| HRSA | Health Resources and Services Administration | An agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services to which HPSA applications are submitted. |
| IM | Internal Medicine | |
| IMR | Infant Mortality Rate | Deaths under 1 year of age per 1,000 live births. |
| LBW | Low Birth Weight | <2,500 gram newborn. |
| LOW INC | Low Income HPSA or Population Designation | HPSA based on poverty or a shortage of clinical services to a specific population group. |
| MUA | Medically Underserved Area | |
| MUP | Medically Underserved Population | |
| MHPSA | Mental Health Professional Shortage Area | HPSA designation based on a shortage of psychiatrists or 'core mental health workers'. |
| MCD | Minor Civil Division | Subdivision of a county such as a village or township. |
| NHSC | National Health Service Corps | Provides scholarships for medical students, as well as loan forgiveness for medical doctors and Advanced Practitioners; in return, grads must work in HPSAs. |
| NSC | Nearest Source of Care | Nearest source of non-designated care outside of the Rational Service Area (RSA) |
| NSGH | Nursing Home | |
| OB/GYN | Obstetrics and Gynecology | |
| PED | Pediatrician | |
| PA | Physician Assistant | |
| POP CTR | Population Center | Largest population MCD, CT, or CCD within the RSA. |
| PC | Primary Care | FP, GP, IM, OB/Gyn, PED, Geriatrics |
| PCO | Primary Care Officer | Approves HPSAs at the state level; every state has one. |
| PCP | Primary Care Physician | FP, GP, IM, OB/GYN, PED, Geriatrics |
| RSA | Rational Service Area | A geographic area encompassing the medical service area, with consideration for socioeconomic barriers. |
| RN | Registered Nurse | |
| RNP | Registered Nurse Practitioner | |
| RHC | Rural Health Clinic | A Federally certified clinic that allows for heightened Medicare and Medicaid reimbursement. It must be rural, have an Advanced Practitioner on site during RHC hours, and the clinic must initially be located in a HPSA or MUA. |
| SA | Service Area | A geographic area encompassing the medical service area, with consideration for socioeconomic barriers. |
| VA | Veterans Affairs | Hospital or clinic that serves only U.S. military veterans and their families. |