diff --git a/NAMESPACE b/NAMESPACE
index f7a0b1c..0f79a1d 100644
--- a/NAMESPACE
+++ b/NAMESPACE
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ export(is.drugs)
 export(is.laboratory)
 export(is.physiology)
 export(lenstay)
+export(long2stname)
 export(lookup.items)
 export(new.episode)
 export(physio.distribution)
diff --git a/R/stdid.R b/R/stdid.R
index 082318a..d43210e 100644
--- a/R/stdid.R
+++ b/R/stdid.R
@@ -86,6 +86,18 @@ stname2longname <- function(stname) {
     return(code)
 }
 
+#' Convert long names to short names. 
+#' 
+#' @param l long name such as "heart rate" 
+#' @return short name character such as "h_rate"
+#' @export
+long2stname <- function(l) {
+    l <- as.character(l)
+    s <- long2stname.dict[l]
+    s[is.na(s)] <- l[is.na(s)]
+    return(s)
+}
+
 
 #' Identify the classification - classification1 
 #' 
diff --git a/R/zzz.R b/R/zzz.R
index 9750c54..6fcdbfd 100644
--- a/R/zzz.R
+++ b/R/zzz.R
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@
     longnames <- sapply(ITEM_REF, function(x) x$dataItem)
     stname2longname.dict <- longnames
     names(stname2longname.dict) <- stname
+    long2stname.dict <- reverse.name.value(stname2longname.dict)
 
     #' classification dictionary: demographic, nurse, physiology, laboratory, drugs
     class.dict_code <-  sapply(ITEM_REF, function(x) x$Classification1)
@@ -50,6 +51,7 @@
     assign("code2stname.dict" , code2stname.dict , envir=env) 
     assign("stname2code.dict" , stname2code.dict , envir=env) 
     assign("stname2longname.dict" , stname2longname.dict , envir=env) 
+    assign("long2stname.dict" , long2stname.dict , envir=env) 
     assign("class.dict_code"  , class.dict_code  , envir=env)
     assign("class.dict_stname", class.dict_stname, envir=env) 
     assign("tval.dict_code"   , tval.dict_code   , envir=env) 
diff --git a/man/lenstay.Rd b/man/lenstay.Rd
index 347bdc2..8fe7073 100644
--- a/man/lenstay.Rd
+++ b/man/lenstay.Rd
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 % Please edit documentation in R/demographics.R
 \name{lenstay}
 \alias{lenstay}
-\title{Calculate the lenght of stay in the ICU.}
+\title{Calculate the length of stay in the ICU.}
 \usage{
 lenstay(demg, units = "hours")
 }
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ data.table It is the original data.table with lenstay column (in
 difftime) appended.
 }
 \description{
-Calculate the lenght of stay in the ICU and append it to the original demographic
+Calculate the length of stay in the ICU and append it to the original demographic
 table.
 }
 
diff --git a/man/long2stname.Rd b/man/long2stname.Rd
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..8755cab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/man/long2stname.Rd
@@ -0,0 +1,18 @@
+% Generated by roxygen2: do not edit by hand
+% Please edit documentation in R/stdid.R
+\name{long2stname}
+\alias{long2stname}
+\title{Convert long names to short names.}
+\usage{
+long2stname(l)
+}
+\arguments{
+\item{l}{long name such as "heart rate"}
+}
+\value{
+short name character such as "h_rate"
+}
+\description{
+Convert long names to short names.
+}
+