In the United States, standardized medical abbreviations and acronyms are widely utilized to streamline the communication process among healthcare professionals, ensuring clarity and minimizing the risk of errors in patient care. These abbreviations and acronyms cover various aspects of healthcare, including diagnoses, procedures, pharmaceuticals, and equipment.
The Joint Commission, a significant body responsible for accrediting and certifying healthcare organizations in the U.S., specifies expectations regarding the use of standardized terminology, definitions, abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and dose designations. Healthcare organizations are encouraged to follow standardized abbreviations, either developed individually or adopted from published references, to ensure uniformity and comprehensibility across the board[1].
Moreover, there’s a comprehensive approach to managing health information, which emphasizes the importance of using these standard forms of communication. It underscores the necessity of employing a reasonable approach to standardizing abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and other terminologies, highlighting that any standardized list developed by an individual organization or adopted from a reputable source is deemed acceptable[2].
Given the vast scope of medical terminology and the continuous evolution of healthcare practices, there are resources dedicated to providing up-to-date lists of common medical abbreviations, acronyms, and definitions. These resources are essential for both healthcare professionals and patients to understand the intricacies of medical documentation and communicatio
Here is a list of standardized medical abbreviations and acronyms that are commonly used in the United States. Medical personnel follows the guidance provided by organizations such as the Joint Commission to avoid using potentially ambiguous or confusing abbreviations.
- ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support
- ADL: Activities of Daily Living
- BID: Twice Daily (from the Latin “bis in die”)
- BP: Blood Pressure
- BPM: Beats Per Minute
- BSA: Body Surface Area
- CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
- CBC: Complete Blood Count
- COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
- CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
- CT: Computed Tomography
- CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident (stroke)
- DNR: Do Not Resuscitate
- DOE: Dyspnea on Exertion
- DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis
- ECG/EKG: Electrocardiogram
- ED: Emergency Department
- EEG: Electroencephalogram
- FBS: Fasting Blood Sugar
- GERD: Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease
- H&P: History and Physical Examination
- HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
- ICD: Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator
- ICU: Intensive Care Unit
- IM: Intramuscular
- INR: International Normalized Ratio
- IV: Intravenous
- LFT: Liver Function Test
- MI: Myocardial Infarction
- MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
- NPO: Nothing by Mouth (from the Latin “nil per os”)
- NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug
- OTC: Over The Counter
- PERRLA: Pupils Equal, Round, Reactive to Light and Accommodation
- PO: By Mouth (from the Latin “per os”)
- PRN: As Needed (from the Latin “pro re nata”)
- PT: Physical Therapy/Prothrombin Time
- PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- QID: Four Times a Day (from the Latin “quater in die”)
- RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation
- SOB: Shortness of Breath
- STAT: Immediately (from the Latin “statim”)
- TIA: Transient Ischemic Attack
- TID: Three Times a Day (from the Latin “ter in die”)
- UA or U/A: Urinalysis
- URI: Upper Respiratory Infection
- UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
- WNL: Within Normal Limits
The Joint Commission has also created a “Do Not Use” list of abbreviations that are known to be confusing and could lead to errors:
- U, u (unit): Mistaken for “0” (zero), the number “4” (four), or “cc”. Use “unit”.
- IU (International Unit): Mistaken for IV (intravenous) or the number “10” (ten). Use “International Unit”.
- Q.D., QD, q.d., qd (daily): Mistaken for each other. Write “daily”.
- Q.O.D., QOD, q.o.d, qod (every other day): Mistaken for each other. Write “every other day”.
- Trailing zero (X.0 mg): Decimal point is missed. Do not use trailing zeros for medication orders.
- Lack of leading zero (.X mg): Mistaken for a larger dose, like “X mg”. Always use a leading zero for decimals less than 1.
Healthcare professionals are expected to avoid using these “Do Not Use” abbreviations to prevent misinterpretation that can lead to medication errors and potential harm to patients.
