HCW

Medical abbreviation · Hospital

HCW stands for Healthcare worker, a hospital abbreviation.

Anyone working in a healthcare setting with potential exposure to patients or infectious materials, including clinicians, technicians, environmental staff and students. The term is common in infection control and occupational health.

Example: HCW exposure: 4 staff unmasked during aerosol procedure, symptom monitoring started.

Usage notes

Public health guidance on vaccinations, exposures and return to work is often written for HCWs. Hospitals track influenza vaccination rates among HCWs. Some sources prefer "healthcare personnel" (HCP), the CDC's usual term.

Related abbreviations

More hospital abbreviations

• EVS – Environmental services
• FQHC – Federally qualified health center
• FSED – Freestanding emergency department
• HAC – Hospital-acquired condition
• HAI – Healthcare-associated infection
• HCAHPS – Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems
• HH – Home health
• ICF/IID – Intermediate care facility for individuals with intellectual…
• ICU – Intensive care unit
• IMCU – Intermediate care unit
• IP – Inpatient
• IPC – Infection prevention and control

See all 89 hospital abbreviations →

Edited by the AbbreviationList.com team. Spotted an error or a missing meaning? Contact us.

This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.