Medical Abbreviations in the Health Record
The ABCs of Medical Abbreviations
Are you drowning in a sea of letters. CHF, RLS, LL, BP, ANA, MS are just a few of the thousands of possible medical abbreviations used in medical records. Many of these have made their way into the public eye through television drug ads. Confused? Here is some information to put that all into perspective including online resources and the best medical abbreviation references in print.
The Use of Medical Abbreviations in Patient Records
You've seen medical abbreviations mentioned in TV and magazine ads with increasing regularity. These shortened forms of medical terms are used in patient records to help save time and money. The health care providers find it easier to write or dictate abbreviations, and those responsible for paying the transcription bills are happy to save on transcription costs.
Whether you agree with this or not, medical abbreviations are here to stay. Listed below are resources for your medical abbreviation search whether you work in a medical office or are a layperson interested in better understanding your medical records.
Your Medical Abbreviation Use
Do you use medical abbreviations either at work or in school?
Top Websites to Get Help With Medical Abbreviations
- MediLexicon
This popular site provides a search engine for medical abbreviations, drugs, medical dictionary terms and more. - GlobalRPh.com
Extensive listing of abbreviations and other medical terms. - Medical Abbreviations Glossary
A handy 15-page glossary in a pdf file created by JD-MD, Inc. - Medical Acronyms and Abbreviations
Excellent resource at All-Acronyms.com.
Common Disease Abbreviations
Here is a list of some abbreviations you may have come across in your own health or in advertising.
- RLS = Restless leg syndrome.
- COPD = Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
- MI = Myocardial infarction.
- OSA = Obstructive sleep apnea.
- TIA = Transient ischemic attack (stroke).
- CA = Cancer.
Common Physical Exam Abbreviations
BP = Blood pressure.
HEENT = Head, eyes, ears, nose, throat.
PERRLA = Pupils equal, round, reactive to light and accommodation.
WDWN = Well developed, well nourished.
NAD = No acute distress.
RRR = Regular rate and rhythm.
EOM = Extraocular movements.
JVD = Jugular venous distension.
DTR = Deep tendon reflexes.
NCAT = Normocephalic, atraumatic.
The Best Medical Abbreviations Reference in Print
Lab Test Abbreviations
Here is just a short selection from the many lab tests that your health care provider might run.
- CMP = Complete metabolic panel.
- BMP = Basic metabolic panel.
- PFT = Pulmonary function tests.
- LFT = Liver function tests.
- TSH = Thyroid-stimulating hormone.
- PSA = Prostate-specific antigen.
- UA = Urinalysis.
The Eyes Have It
When I was taking transcription classes, the abbreviations for the right and left eye kept tripping me up. Here they are:
- Right eye is OD which stands for oculus dexter.
- Left eye is OS which stands for oculus sinister.
- Both eyes is OU which stands for oculi uterque.
- Oculus = eye
- Dexter = right. Some adjectives for this are favorable and skillful.
- Sinister = left. Unlucky and evil are adjectives for this. You can see this is related to the old attitude about lefties.
- Uterque = both. The word 'each' is another meaning.
Dangerous Abbreviations
How can an abbreviation be dangerous? By being misunderstood in handwritten form. Some abbreviations lend themselves to this problem more than others. Some can produce a small error or lead to larger problems with medication dosing.
Here are just a few of the abbreviations considered dangerous which health care providers should consider eliminating from their vocabulary:
- U for unit which is sometimes mistaken as a number. Use the word unit instead.
- q.o.d. for every other day which is sometimes mistaken for q.d. (daily) or q.i.d. (4 times daily). Use every other day instead.
- IU for international units is sometimes mistaken for IV for intravenous. Use units instead.
Not all facilities consider these dangerous. For more information, the Institute for Safe Medicine Practices has put together a useful list of the most common dangerous medical abbreviations available as a pdf file.
Know Your Rights as a Health Care Consumer
One of the most important things to remember is that one abbreviation could stand for several different things. Transcriptionists usually are given guidelines as to how to handle these abbreviations in a report.
We are all health care consumers. If you are unsure of what they mean when reading your lab results or medical records, don't be afraid to ask. You have a right to know.
Abbreviation Overkill in the Media
Do you think ads that use medical abbreviations are just gimmicks to sell drugs.
A Pocket Reference
Slang vs. Abbreviations
Medical slang and abbreviations are not usually one in the same. Some slang examples are cath for catheter, temp for temperature, and crit for hematocrit. As a medical transcriptionist, I've found this is becoming more common language found in the medical record.
© 2009 PatriciaJoy