It can be confusing trying to follow a conversation between medical professionals, and can often times feel as though they are speaking a completely different language. Something as simple as “HA” could leave you guessing, and wondering if you might be dying, when in reality your medical professional was just noting you have a headache. It’s professional jargon that can be decoded.
Whether you’re just starting medical school or you are a patient wanting to understand what your doctor is saying about you, this is a definitive list of medical abbreviations meant to help you understand more of the jargon used within the healthcare industry.
- a.c.: Before meals. Meaning take medicine before meals.
- AKA: Above knee amputation.
- Anuric: Not producing urine.
- BAC: Blood alcohol concentration.
- BBT: Basal body temperature.
- BCP: Birth control pill.
- bid: Two times daily. Meaning take medicine twice a day.
- BKA: Below knee amputation.
- BM: Bowel movement.
- BMT: Bone marrow transplant.
- BMP: Basic metabolic panel.
- BP: Blood Pressure.
- BPM: Beats per minute.
- BW: Birth weight, or body weight.
- Bx: Biopsy.
- Cath: Catheter.
- Cap: Capsule.
- CBC: Complete blood count.
- CBT: Cognitive behavioral therapy.
- CC: Chief complaint. A patient’s number one concern.
- CCU: Critical care unit.
- C&S: Culture and sensitivity. A test to detect infection.
- CMT: Certified medical technician.
- CNS: Central nervous system.
- COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. Slow progression of an obstruction of airflow in or out of the lungs.
- CP: Cerebral palsy, or cleft palate.
- CVA: Cerebrovascular accident. A stroke.
- CXR: Chest x-ray.
- DBP: Diastolic blood pressure.
- DC: Discontinue, or discharge.
- DJD: Degenerative joint disease.
- DNR: Do not resuscitate.
- DOA: Dead on arrival.
- DOE: Dyspnea on exertion. Shortness of breath.
- DTR: Deep tendon reflexes. This is the test doctors do when they hit their patient’s knee with a small rubber hammer.
- DVT: Deep venous thrombosis. Blood clot.
- FUO: Fever of unknown origin.
- ECF: Extended care facility.
- EENT: Ear, eye, nose, throat.
- EMS: Emergency medical services.
- ER: Emergency room.
- FX: Fracture.
- GI: Gastrointestinal.
- GYN: Gynecology.
- HA: Headache.
- HAV: Hepatitis A Virus.
- HBV: Hepatitis B Virus.
- HCP: Health care professional.
- HF: Heart failure.
- hgb: Hemoglobin.
- HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus.
- h/o: History of.
- H&P: History and physical.
- HR: Heart rate.
- HRT: Hormone replacement therapy.
- h.s.: Bedtime. Meaning take medicine at bedtime.
- IBW: Ideal body weight.
- ICU: Intensive care unit.
- I&D: Incision & drainage.
- I&O: Intake and output.
- IM: Intramuscular.
- IMP: Impression. This is a summary of a patient’s condition by the healthcare practitioner.
- IU: International units.
- JT: Joint.
- K: Potassium. An essential electrolyte, that’s commonly monitored in ICU.
- KVO: Keep vein open.
- LBP: Lower back pain.
- LBW: Low birth weight.
- L&D: Labor and delivery.
- LFT: Liver function test.
- LMP: Last menstrual period.
- N/V: Nausea, or vomiting.
- OPD: Outpatient department.
- OTC: Over the counter.
- P: Pulse.
- p.c.: After meals. Meaning take medicine after meals.
- PRN: As needed.
- RA: Rheumatoid arthritis.
- RBC: Red blood cell.
- R/O: Ruled out.
- ROS: Review of systems. An overall review of regarding every organ system.
- SOB: Shortness of breath.
- T: Temperature.
- TB: Tuberculosis.
- tid: Three times daily. Meaning take medicine three times a day.
- THR: Total hip replacement.
- TKR: Total knee replacement.
- UTI: Urinary Tract Infection.
- VSS: Vital signs are stable.
- WT: Weight.
For even more medical abbreviations you can explore the sources listed below.
Sources:
