Common Medical Abbreviations and Acronyms

Flashcards of common medical abbreviations and acronyms found in clinic charts, excluding acronyms introduced in other terminology lists.

AFib

Atrial fibrillation

Abx

Antibiotics

AMA

Against medical advice

AMS

Altered mental status

ASA

Aspirin

AT/NC

Atraumatic/normocephalic (normal head/skull exam)

bpm

Beats per minute

c/o

Complains of

c/w

Consistent with

CA

Cancer

CMT

Cervical motion tenderness (pelvic exam finding)

CPR

Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CT

Computed tomography scan

CTA

Clear to auscultation (normal lung exam)

CXR

Chest x-ray

d/c

Discharge

DNR

Do not resuscitate

DOE

Dyspnea on exertion (shortness of breath with normal activity)

DDx

Differential diagnosis

Dx

Diagnosis

EKG or ECG

Electrocardiogram

EF

Ejection fraction

EMR

Electronic medical record

EOMI

Extraocular movements intact (normal eye movement exam)

ETT or ET tube

Endotracheal tube

f/u

Follow up

Fx

Fracture

G/P/A (Gravida/Parity/Abortions)

#pregnancies / #live births / #miscarriages or abortions

H&H

Hemoglobin and hematocrit

h/o

History of

HA

Headache

Hct

Hematocrit (a test to determine how many RBCs a pt has in circulation)

Hgb

Hemoglobin

Hx

History

IM

Intramuscular

IUP

Intrauterine pregnancy

IVDA

IV drug abuse

JVD

Jugular venous distention

LLE

Left lower extremity

LLL

Left lower lobe (lung)

LLQ

Left lower quadrant (abdomen)

LUE

Left upper extremity

LUQ

Left upper quadrant

LNMP

Last normal menstrual period

LOC

Loss of consciousness

LOS

Length of stay

MVA

Motor vehicle accident

N/V/D

Nausea/vomiting/diarrhea

NAD

No acute distress/disease

NKDA

No known drug allergies

nml/nl

Normal

NPO (Nothing per os)

Nothing by mouth

NS

Normal saline

NSR

Normal sinus rhythm

NTG/Nitro

Nitroglycerin

PCP

Primary care provider

PCN

Penicillin

PERRL(A)

Pupils equal round and reactive to light (and accommodation)

PHI

Protected health information

PO

Per os (by mouth)

ppd

Packs per day

PRN

As needed

PTA

Prior to arrival

RLE

Right lower extremity

RLQ

Right lower quadrant (abdomen)

RLL

Right lower lobe (lungs)

RUE

Right upper extremity

RUQ

Right upper quadrant (abdomen)

ROM

Range of motion

RRR

Regular rate and rhythm

Rx

Prescription

s/p

Status post (after)

TM

Tympanic membrane

Tx

Treatment

URI

Upper respiratory infection

WNL

Within normal limits

IV

intravenous