a.c.: Before meals (when to take a medication)
ACL: Anterior cruciate ligament of the knee
Ad lib: At liberty; at the patient’s leisure
ADH: Antidiuretic hormone
ADHD: Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder
ADR: Adverse drug reaction
AFR: Acute renal failure
ANED: Alive, no evidence of disease
Anuric: Not producing urine
ARDS: Acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARF: Acute renal (kidney) failure
ASCVD: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
b.i.d.: twice daily (how often to take a medication)
BMP: Basic metabolic panel
BP: Blood pressure
BPD: Borderline personality disorder
Ca: Cancer; carcinoma
CABG: Coronary artery bypass graft
C&S: Culture and sensitivity (to detect infection in a wound or the throat)
cap: Capsule
CBC: Complete blood count
CC: Chief complaint
cc: Cubic centimeters
Chem panel: Chemistry panel indicating the status of the kidneys, liver, and electrolytes
C/O: Complaint of (the patient)
COPD: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP: Continuous positive airway pressure (a machine)
CT: Chemotherapy
CVA: Cerebrovascular accident (stroke)
D/C or DC: Discontinue or discharge
DCIS: Ductal carcinoma in situ (a type of breast cancer)
DDX: Differential diagnosis (indicates that several diagnostic possibilities are actively being considered)
DJD: Degenerative joint disease (another term for osteoarthritis)
DM: Diabetes mellitus
DNR: Do not resuscitate
DOE: Dyspnea on exertion (shortness of breath while active)
DTR: Deep tendon reflexes (when tested with a rubber hammer)
DVT: Deep venous thrombosis (blood clot in large vein)
ETOH: Alcohol (in history or intake)
FX: Fracture
g: Gram
gtt: Drops (eye, ear, etc.)
HA: Headache
H&H: Hemoglobin and hematocrit (used to assess anemia)
H&P: History and physical examination
H/O or h/o: History of
HRT: Hormone replacement, or hormone replacement therapy
h.s.: at bedtime (when to take a medication)
HTN: Hypertension
I&D: Incision and drainage
IBD: Inflammatory bowel disease
ICU: Intensive care unit
IMP: Impression (of the provider or therapist)
in vitro: In the laboratory
in vivo: In the body
JT: Joint
K: Potassium
KCl: Potassium chloride
LBP: Lower back pain
LCIS: Lobular carcinoma in situ (a type of breast cancer)
LLQ: Left lower quadrant of the abdomen
LUQ: Left upper quadrant of the abdomen
Lytes: Electrolytes (potassium, sodium, carbon dioxide, and chloride)
mg: Milligrams
M/H: Medical history
ml: Milliliters
npo: Nothing by mouth (fasting before surgery or while recovering)
NSR: Normal sinus rhythm (of the heart)
N/V: Nausea or vomiting
O&P: Ova and parasites (stool O&P is tested in cases of chronic diarrhea)
O.D.: Right eye
O.S.: Left eye
O.U.: Both eyes
p: After meals (when to take a medication)
PERRLA: Pupils equal, round, and reactive to light and accommodation (a term used during routine exams)
PFT: Pulmonary function test
p.o.: By mouth (how to take a medication)
PRN: As needed (a medication or intervention)
PT: Physical therapy
PTH: Parathyroid hormone
PTSD: Post-traumatic stress disorder
PUD: Peptic ulcer disease
“Q”: (From the Latin quaque) indicates how often to take a medication
q2h: Every two hours
q3h: Every three hours
qAM: Each morning
q.d.: Each day
qhs: At bedtime
q.i.d.: Four times daily
qod: Every other day
qPM: Each evening
RA: Rheumatoid arthritis (joint disease)
RLQ: Right lower quadrant of the abdomen
R/O: Rule out (diagnosis)
ROS: Review of systems (indicates the provider has reviewed all organ systems, from skin to neurological function to liver)
RUQ: Right upper quadrant of the abdomen
SOB: shortness of breath
SQ: Subcutaneous (an injection that goes just under the fat layer of the skin)
T: Temperature (recorded as part of the physical examination—it is one of the “vital signs”)
TAH: Total abdominal hysterectomy (surgery to remove a woman’s reproductive organs)
THR: Total hip replacement
t.i.d.: Taken three times daily (a medication)
TKR: Total knee replacement
TMJ: Temporomandibular joint and associated issues
UA or u/a: Urinalysis (common upon admission to hospital)
ULN: Upper limits of normal
URI: Upper respiratory infection (cold or sinusitis)
UTI: Urinary tract infection
VS: Vital signs (temperature, blood pressure, and pulse)
Wt: Weight (body weight, usually recorded in kilograms)
XRT: Radiation therapy