Health Careers Medical Abbreviations

admission and discharge

A&D

abdomen

abd

arterial blood gas

ABG

before meals

ac

American Medical Association OR against medical advice

AMA

anterior

ant

apical pulse

AP

AIDS-related complex

ARC

aspirin

ASA

as soon as possible

ASAP

basal metabolic rate

BMR

blood pressure

BP

blood sugar

BS

blood urea nitrogen

BUN

biopsy

Bx

cancer

CA

computerized axial tomography

CAT

complete blood count

CBC

complete bed rest

CBR

coronary care unit

CCU

Center for Disease Control

CDC

congestive heart failure

CHF

cardiac intensive care unit

CICU

central nervous system

CNS

cerebral palsy

CP

cardiopulmonary respiration

CPR

cerebral spinal fluid

CSF

cerebral vascular accident

CVA

dilation and curettage

D&C

Department of Health and Human Services

DHHS

differential white blood cell count

Diff

date of birth

DOB

diagnosis

Dx

electroencephalogram

EEG

ear, eye, nose, and throat

EENT

electrocardiogram

EKG

emergency medical technician

EMT

emergency room

ER

examination

Ex

fasting blood sugar

FBS

fracture

Fx

fever of unknown origin

FUO

gastrointestinal

GI

gynecology

Gyn

hematocrit

hct

high density lipoproteins

HDL

hemoglobin

Hgb

human immunodeficiency virus

HIV

Health Maintenance Organization

HMO

hours

hr

history

hx

intensive care unit

ICU

incision and drainage

I&D

intramuscular

IM

intrauterine device

IUD

intravenous

IV

laparotomy

Lap

labor and delivery

L&D

low density lipoprotein

LDL

licensed practical nurse

LPN

myocardial infraction, heart attack

MI

magnetic resonance imaging

MRI

multiple sclerosis

MS

medical technologist

MT

newborn

NB

National Institue of Health

NIH

nasogastric tube

NG

nothing by mouth

NPO

operationg room

OR

occupational therapy

OT

after meals

pc

Physician's Desk Reference

PDR

physical examination

PE

pelvic inflammatory disease

PID

by mouth

po

postpartum

PP

Preferred Provider Organization

PPO

before an operation

pre-op

physical therapy

PT

patient

pt

every hour

qh

quantity not sufficient

qns

red blood cell or count

RBC

recommended daily allowance

RDA

registered nurse

RN

rule out

R/O

recovery room

RR

respiratory therapist

RT

prescription

Rx

surgical intensive care unit

SICU

sudden infant death syndrome

SIDS

shortness of breath

SOB

immediately

stat

tuberculosis

TB

three times a day

tid

urinalysis

UA

urinary tract infection

UTI

vital signs

VS

white blood cell or count

WBC

World Health Organization

WHO