Medical Abbreviations

Medical Abbreviations Medical Terminology Utah State Office of Education

Medical Abbreviations • In both written and oral communication, medical personnel use a large number of abbreviations to save time as well as to save space on forms. • Some abbreviations are immediately obvious or make sense; others are not and can be very confusing. Utah State Office of Education

Medical Abbreviations • The use of the incorrect abbreviation can result in serious problems for a patient, as well as with insurance records and processing. • If you have any concern that you will confuse someone by using an abbreviation, spell out the word instead. • It is NEVER a good idea to use your own abbreviations. Utah State Office of Education

Medical Abbreviations • Each hospital, clinic, or healthcare setting has its own list of acceptable charting abbreviations. • Be sure to request a list and use them appropriately. Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • A - assessment • a – before • ac – before meals • ADL – activities of daily living • ad lib – as desired • AIDS – acquired immuno-deficiency syndrome • am/AM – between midnight and noon • amb – ambulate, ambulatory • amt – amount Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • AP – anterior posterior • ASA – aspirin • ASAP – as soon as possible • av/AV/A-V – atrioventricular • ax – axillary • B – bilateral • bid – twice a day • BM – bowel movement • BP – blood pressure Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • BS – blood sugar OR bowel sounds OR breath sounds • Bx – biopsy • c – with • C – celsius • CA – cancer • CBC – complete blood count • CC – chief complaint • cc – cubic centimeter Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • CHF – congestive heart failure • cm – centimeter • CNS – central nervous system • c/o – complains of • CO2 – carbon dioxide • COPD – chronic obstructive pulmonary disease • CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation • CSF – cerebrospinal fluid • CT – computer tomography Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • CVA – cerebrovascular accident • CXR – chest xray • d – day • dc/DC or D/C – discontinue • DM – diabetes mellitus • DNR – do not resuscitate • DOA – dead on arrival • DOB – date of birth • DRG – diagnosis-related group Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • DVT – deep vein thrombosis • Dx – diagnosis • ECG/EKG – electrocardiogram • EEG – electroencephalogram • EMG – electromyogram • ENT – ear, nose, and throat • ER – emergency room • ETA – estimate time of arrival • ETOH – alcohol (beverage) Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • F – Fahrenheit • FBS – fasting blood sugar • FUO – fever of unknown origin • fx – fracture • g or gm – gram • GERD – gastroesophageal reflux disease • GI – gastrointestinal • gtt or gtts – drop or drops • GTT – glucose tolerance test Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • GU – genitourinary • GYN/gyn – gynecology • h – hour • HA – headache • HBV – hepatitis B virus • Hct – hematocrit • HEENT – head, eyes, ears, nose, throat • Hg – mercury • Hgb/Hb - hemoglobin Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • H2O – water • H2O2 – hydrogen peroxide • HIB – haemophilus influenzae type B • HIV – human immunodeficiency virus • H&P or HxPx – history and physical • HR – heart rate • hs – hour of sleep (bedtime) • Ht – height • Hx - history Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • ICU – intensive care unit • IDDM – insulin-dependant diabetes mellitus • I&D – incision and drainage • I&O – intake and output • IP – inpatient • IV – intravenous • K/K+ - potassium • kg – kilogram • L - left Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • L/l – liter • lb or # - pound • L&D – labor and delivery • LLQ – left lower quadrant • LMP – last menstrual period • LOC – level of consciousness or loss of consciousness • LUQ – left upper quadrant • mg or m - milligram Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • MI – myocardial infarction • ml – milliliter • Mm – millimeter • MRI – magnetic resonance imaging • Na/Na+ - sodium • N/A – not applicable • NB – newborn • NCR – no cardiac resuscitation • neg - negative Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • NKA – no known allergies • NKDA – no known drug allergies • noct – night • NPO/npo – nothing by mouth • NS – normal saline • N&V – nausea and vomiting • O2 – oxygen • OA – osteoarthritis • OB/ob - obstetrics Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • OD – overdose or right eye • oint – ointment • OP – outpatient • OR – operating room • OS – left eye • OTC – over-the-counter • OU – both eyes • OV – office visit • oz - ounce Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • p – after • P – pulse • PDR – physician’s desk reference • PE – pulmonary embolus or physical exam • Peds – pediatrics • per – by or through • PET – positron emission tomography • PK – pain killer • pm/PM – between noon and midnight Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • PMS – pre-menstrual syndrome • PO – orally, by mouth • PRN/prn – as needed • Pt/pt – patient • q – every • qam – every morning • qd/qday – every day • q_h – every (number) hour(s) • for example: q2h = every 2 hours Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • qid – four times a day • R – rectal or respirations • R – right • RA – rheumatoid arthritis • RBC – red blood cell OR red blood count • reg – regular • RICE – rest, ice, compression, and elevation • RLQ – right lower quadrant • r/o, R/O – rule out Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • ROM – range of motion • ROS – review of systems • RRR – regular rate & rhythm (referring to the heart) • RTC – return to clinic • RUQ – right upper quadrant • Rx – take OR prescription • s – without • SA – sinoatrial node • SIDS – sudden infant death syndrome Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • sig – instructions or directions • sm – small • SO – standing order OR significant other • SOAP – subjective, objective, assessment, plan • SOB – shortness of breath • sq/subcu/subq – subcutaneous • S&S – signs and symptoms • stat - immediately Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • STD – sexually transmitted disease • T – temperature • tab(s) – tablet(s) • TB – tuberculosis • tbsp – tablespoon • TCDB – turn, cough, deep breathe • temp – temperature • tid – three times a day • TM – tympanic membrane Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • TPR – temperature, pulse, and respiration • tsp – teaspoon • Tx – therapy or treatment • U – unit • UA – urinalysis • UNK – unknown • URI – upper respiratory infection • UTI – urinary tract infection • UV – ultra-violet Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • VA – visual acuity • VBAC – vaginal birth after cesarean section • VS – vital signs • VSS – vital signs stable • w/a – when awake • WBC – white blood cell OR white blood count • w/c or W/C – wheelchair • wk – week • WNL – within normal limits Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations • Wt – weight • YOB – year of birth • yr – year • > - greater than • < - less than • + - positive • - - negative • ~ - approximately • % - percent Utah State Office of Education

Common Abbreviations •  - check or checked •  - increase or increasing •  - decrease or decreasing •  - to the right •  - to the left •  - change or changed • @ - at •  - degree • ♀ - female • ♂ - male Utah State Office of Education

Medical Abbreviations