ADT
Abbreviation with 4 meanings
| Stands for | Admission, discharge, transfer |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 4 |
| Categories | Medical, Units & Measurements, Technology & Computing, Education & Academia |
ADT has four meanings. The most common are Admission, discharge, transfer (medical documentation) and Atlantic Daylight Time (time zone); it can also stand for Abstract data type and Associate Degree for Transfer.
Meanings of ADT at a glance
| # | ADT stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Admission, discharge, transfer | Medical › Medical Documentation |
| 2 | Atlantic Daylight Time | Units & Measurements › Time Zone |
| 3 | Abstract data type | Technology & Computing › Programming |
| 4 | Associate Degree for Transfer | Education & Academia › Academic |
1. Admission, discharge, transfer
Medical · Medical Documentation Abbreviations
Hospital system events and records that track patient movement: admitting a patient, transferring between units and discharging. ADT data drive bed boards, census and billing.
Example: ADT notification sent to PCP when patient admitted to ED.
In health IT, HL7 ADT messages broadcast these events to other systems such as labs and pharmacy. Since 2021, US hospitals participating in Medicare must send electronic ADT notifications to a patient's established care providers. In oncology ADT means androgen deprivation therapy for prostate cancer.
2. Atlantic Daylight Time
Units & Measurements · Time Zone Abbreviations
Summer time of Canada's Maritime provinces and Bermuda, three hours behind UTC, observed from the second Sunday in March to the first Sunday in November.
Example: The festival fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. ADT on the Halifax waterfront.
During ADT, Halifax is one hour ahead of New York and half an hour behind St. John's, Newfoundland. Pituffik Space Base, the former Thule Air Base in northwest Greenland, also follows Atlantic time. Puerto Rico stays on AST all year, so in summer it falls an hour behind Halifax.
3. Abstract data type
Technology & Computing · Programming Abbreviations
A data type defined by its behavior, meaning the operations it supports and their rules, rather than by its implementation. A stack, for example, is defined by push and pop whether it is built on an array or a linked list.
Example: Treat the queue as an ADT; callers shouldn't know it's backed by a ring buffer.
Barbara Liskov and Stephen Zilles formalized the concept in 1974, and it shaped the modules, interfaces and classes of later languages. In functional programming ADT more often means algebraic data type, such as Haskell's sum and product types or Rust's enums.
4. Associate Degree for Transfer
Education & Academia · Academic Abbreviations
California community college degree, created by a 2010 law, that guarantees admission to the California State University system, though not to a particular campus or major, with junior standing. The degrees are labeled AA-T or AS-T.
Example: With her ADT in psychology, she was guaranteed admission somewhere in the CSU system.
ADT holders receive priority consideration at CSU campuses for a similar major and need only 60 more units to finish a bachelor's degree. Some University of California campuses also offer pathways for ADT students. The law creating the degree is often called SB 1440.
Related abbreviations
More medical documentation abbreviations
- A/P – Assessment and plan
- AVS – After-visit summary
- Bx – Biopsy
- CBE – Charting by exception
- CC – Chief complaint
- CDI – Clinical documentation improvement
- CPOE – Computerized provider order entry
- CTM – Continue to monitor
See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →
More time zone abbreviations
- ACDT – Australian Central Daylight Time
- ACST – Australian Central Standard Time
- AEDT – Australian Eastern Daylight Time
- AEST – Australian Eastern Standard Time
- AKDT – Alaska Daylight Time
- AKST – Alaska Standard Time
- AoE – Anywhere on Earth
- ART – Argentina Time
See all 64 time zone abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.