DHO Abbreviations: P

p̄ (line over)

after

P

pulse, phosphorus

PA

physician's assistant

PAC

premature atrial contraction

PAP

Papanicolaou test (smear)

para

number of pregnancies

Path

pathology

Pb

lead

PBI

protein-bound iodine

pc

after meals

PCA

patient controlled analgesia

PCC

poison control center

PCP

patient care plan

PCT

patient/personal care technician

PDR

Physicians' Desk Reference

PE

physical examination; pulmonary edema

Peds

pediatrics

per

by, through

PET

position emission tomography

pH

measure of acidity/alkalinity

Pharm

pharmacy

PI

present illness

PID

pelvic inflammatory disease

PKU

phenylketonuria

PM, pm

after noon

PMC

postmortem (after death) care

PMS

premenstrual syndrome

PNS

peripheral nervous system

po

by mouth

PO

phone order

post

posterior, after

post-op

after an operation

PP

postpartum (after delivery)

PPE

personal protective equipment

PPO

preferred provider organization

pre-op

before an operation

prep

prepare

prn

whenever necessary, as needed

Psy

psychology, psychiatry

pt

patient, pint (500 mL or cc)

Pt

prothrombin time

PT

physical therapy/therapist

PTT

partial thromboplastin time

PVC

premature ventricular contraction

PVD

peripheral vascular disease

Px

prognosis, physical examination