Abbreviations & symbols commonly used in the medical office ( ^ω^ )

Flashcards for common medical abbreviations, body parts, measurements, conditions, diagnostic procedures and lab tests.

āā

Of each

Ab

Abortion

Ac

Before meals

ad lib

As desired

AM or a.m.

Before noon

Amt

Amount

AP

Apical pulse

Approx

Approximately

Appt

Appointment

ASAP

As soon as possible

BA

Backache

BC

Birth control

Bid

Twice a day

BM

Bowel movement

BP

Blood pressure

BPM

Beats per minute

BSE

Breast self-examination

c̅

with

Caps

Capsules

Cath

Catheter, catheterize

CC

Chief complaint

Chemo

Chemotherapy

CMA (AAMA)

Certified medical assistant (American Association of Medical Assistants)

c/o

Complains of

CS

Cesarean section

Cx

Cervix

d

Day

/d

Per day

disch

Discharge

DNKA

Did not keep appointment

DOB

Date of birth

DRE

Digital rectal examination

DTaP

Diphtheria and tetanus toxoids and acellular pertussis vaccine

DVA

Distance visual acuity

ED

Emergency department

EDD

Expected date of delivery

Fe

Iron

F/U

Follow-up

Fx

Fracture

GYN

Gynecology

h or hr

hour

H/A

Headache

HBP

High blood pressure

Hep B

Hepatitis B vaccine

Hg

Mercury

H20

Water

HR

Heart rate

HRT

Hormone replacement therapy

ht

height

ID

Intradermal

IM

Intramuscular

IPV

Inactivated polio vaccine

IV

Intravenous

Lab

Laboratory

Lac

Laceration

Lat

Lateral

Lax

Laxative

Liq

Liquid

LMP

Last menstrual period

Med, meds

Medication, medications

Min

Minute

MMR

Measles, mumps, and rubella

Mod

Moderate

N/A

Not applicable

neg

negative

NICU

Newborn intensive care unit

NKA

No known allergies

NKDA

No known drug allergies

noct

Nocturnal

NS

Normal saline

N&V

Nausea and vomiting

NVA

Near visual acuity

OB

Obstetrics

occ

Occasionally

oint

Ointment

OR

Operating room

OT

Occupational therapy

OTC

Over-the-counter (nonprescription medication)

OV

Office visit

P

Pulse

Pap

Papanicolaou (Pap) test

Path

Pathology

pc

after meals

peds

pediatrics

per

by or through

pharm

pharmacy

PM or p.m.

Afternoon

PMS

Premenstrual syndrome

po or PO

By mouth

pos

Positive

postop

Postoperative (after surgery)

preop

Preoperative (before surgery)

prep

Preparation

prn

As needed

PT, PT/INR

Physical therapy, prothrombin time

Pt or pt

Patient

qh

Every hour

q(2,3,4)h

Every (2, 3, 4) hours

qid

Four times a day

R

Respiration