Medical Terminology & Abbreviations Study Guide

1. General Medical Abbreviations

• Pt – Patient

• DOB – Date of Birth

• H&P – History and Physical

• VS – Vital Signs

• BP – Blood Pressure

• HR – Heart Rate

• RR – Respiratory Rate

• Wt – Weight

• Ht – Height

• BMI – Body Mass Index

2. Allergies & Medication Abbreviations

• NKDA – No Known Drug Allergies

• NKA – No Known Allergies

• Rx – Prescription

• OTC – Over-the-Counter (medications)

• PRN – As Needed

• BID – Twice a Day

• TID – Three Times a Day

• QID – Four Times a Day

• q_h – Every _ Hours (e.g., q4h = every 4 hours)

• AC – Before Meals

• PC – After Meals

3. Smoking, Alcohol, & Social History Abbreviations

• ETOH – Alcohol

• Tob – Tobacco

• SH – Social History

• NPO – Nothing by Mouth (used for pre-surgery patients)

4. Common Lab & Diagnostic Abbreviations

• CBC – Complete Blood Count

• CMP – Comprehensive Metabolic Panel

• LFTs – Liver Function Tests

• UA – Urinalysis

• CXR – Chest X-Ray

• EKG/ECG – Electrocardiogram

• MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging

• CT – Computed Tomography

5. Insurance & Administrative Abbreviations

• HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

• CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

• EHR – Electronic Health Record

• HMO – Health Maintenance Organization

• PPO – Preferred Provider Organization

• PCP – Primary Care Provider

6. Common Symptoms & Conditions

• SOB – Shortness of Breath

• DOE – Dyspnea on Exertion

• HTN – Hypertension (High Blood Pressure)

• DM – Diabetes Mellitus

• CAD – Coronary Artery Disease

• CVA – Cerebrovascular Accident (Stroke)

• MI – Myocardial Infarction (Heart Attack)