RHC
Abbreviation with 2 meanings
| Stands for | Right heart catheterization |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 2 |
| Categories | Medical |
RHC has two meanings. It stands for Right heart catheterization (cardiology) or Rural health clinic (hospital).
Meanings of RHC at a glance
| # | RHC stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Right heart catheterization | Medical › Cardiology |
| 2 | Rural health clinic | Medical › Hospital |
1. Right heart catheterization
Medical · Cardiology Abbreviations
Procedure in which a catheter is passed through a vein into the right atrium, right ventricle and pulmonary artery to measure pressures, cardiac output and oxygen saturations. It is required to diagnose pulmonary hypertension and helps evaluate heart failure, shunts and transplant candidacy.
Example: RHC: mean PA pressure 38 mmHg, PCWP 10, PVR 5.2 Wood units, consistent with precapillary pulmonary hypertension.
The balloon-tipped pulmonary artery catheter was introduced by Jeremy Swan and William Ganz in 1970, hence "Swan-Ganz catheter." Pulmonary hypertension is now defined by a mean pulmonary artery pressure above 20 mmHg at rest. Vasoreactivity testing with inhaled nitric oxide during RHC identifies the minority of PAH patients who respond to calcium channel blockers.
2. Rural health clinic
Medical · Hospital Abbreviations
Medicare-certified clinic in a rural, medically underserved area that receives special payment rates for primary care. Nurse practitioners, physician assistants or nurse-midwives must be on staff for a large share of operating hours.
Example: Seen at RHC for follow-up; referral sent to cardiology 80 miles away.
Created by the Rural Health Clinic Services Act of 1977 to improve access in rural areas. Clinics may be independent or owned by hospitals. In cardiology RHC means right heart catheterization, a procedure unrelated to the clinic type.
Related abbreviations
More cardiology abbreviations
- RBBB – Right bundle branch block
- RCA – Right coronary artery
- RCM – Restrictive cardiomyopathy
- RFA – Radiofrequency ablation
- RHD – Rheumatic heart disease
- RRR – Regular rate and rhythm
- RV – Right ventricle
- RVH – Right ventricular hypertrophy
See all 229 cardiology abbreviations →
More hospital abbreviations
- PICU – Pediatric intensive care unit
- PPE – Personal protective equipment
- QI – Quality improvement
- RACE – Rescue, alarm, contain, extinguish
- RRT – Rapid response team
- SCN – Special care nursery
- SDS – Safety data sheet
- SDU – Step-down unit
See all 89 hospital abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.