Member association founded in 1897 that represents osteopathic physicians (DOs). AOA serves as the primary certifying body for DOs and is the accrediting agency for all osteopathic medical colleges and health care facilities. AOA’s mission is to advance the philosophy and practice of osteopathic medicine by promoting excellence in education, research, and the delivery of quality, cost-effective health care within a distinct, unified profession. AOA stands firmly behind osteopathic physicians’ ethical and professional responsibilities to patients and the medical profession.

International professional organization of psychiatrists and related medical specialists that renders services for people with mental disease, mental retardation, and substance-related disorders.

Professional organization for advancement of psychology as a science and profession and promotes health, education, and human welfare.

National standards group that formed the ASTM Committee E31 on Health Care Informatics. It published general guidelines for development of standards for health care identifiers.

National association of anesthesiologists that maintains and publishes guidelines for coding anesthesia services.

Common computer coding system used for data communications that uses 128 numbers for a set of letters and characters, leaving 128 numbers as extras in an eight-bit byte. Programmers use the extra characters to create graphic characters, applicable to specific computers. The abbreviation is commonly pronounced “AS-key.”

Federal law that provides disabled employees equal treatment regarding the “terms, conditions, and privileges” of employment including the right to a harassment-free work environment.
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Passed by Congress in 1990, this act requires that reasonable accommodation be made in public accommodations, including the workplace, for those with physical or mental disability.