• Only the following abbreviations have been approved for use in the body of a patient's chart

• No abbreviations are permissable in either the summary nor on the admission and diagnosis form (Face Sheet), nor on the Physician's Order Form

• Also permitted are the recognized and acknowledged abbreviations or symbols of chemistry, physics, mathematics, biochemistry, pharmacology, biology, and grammar

• Abbreviations for governmental agencies closely associated with medical-social problems, such as ADC (aid to dependent children) are acceptable, but a legend is preferred because of the "relatively" frequent changes of the name of the agencies involved in medical-social care

• All other abbreviations must be explained by a legend on each chart. For example, ASHD (arteriosclerotic heart disease) is accepted, ASCVD (arteriosclerotic cardiovascular heart disease is not accepted.)

Approved: Executive Committee of the Medical Staff

LEGEND OF ABBREVIATION

DEFINITION

A

A

apical

A-aDO2

A-a gradient

A2

second aortic sound

AB

abortion, antibody or antibiotic inclusive

Abd

abdomen

ABG

arterial blood gas

ABI

ankle brachial index

ac

before meal(s)

AC

anterior chamber (ophthalmology)

AC

assist control

AC & BC

air conduction and bone conduction (as Weber's test)

ACEI

angiotensin converting enzyme inhbitor

ACLS

advanced cardiac life support

ACS

acute coronary syndrome

ACTH

adrenocorticotrophic hormone

AD

auris dextra-right ear

ADA

American Diabetic Association

ADH

antidiuretic hormone

ADHD

attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

ADL

activities of daily life

AF

afebrile, aortofemoral

AFB

acid fast bacilli

AFI

Amniotic fluid index

AFP

alpha-fetoprotein

AGA

appropriate for gestational age

A/G ratio

albumin-globulin ratio

AH

auditory hallucinations

AHF

antihemophilic factor

AHG

antihemophilic globulin

Al

aortic insufficiency

AIDS

acquired immune deficiency syndrome

AKA

above knee amputation

Alk phos

alkaline phosphatase

ALL

acute lymphocytic leukemia

Allo

allogenic

ALT

alanine transaminase (formerly SGPT)

AMA

against medical advice

Amb

ambulate

A2>P2

aortic 2nd heart sound is greater than pulmonic 2nd sound

A2<P2

aortic 2nd heart sound less than pulmonic 2nd sound

AML

acute myelogenous leukemia

Amp

ampule

ANA

anti-nuclear antibody

ANC

absolute neutrophil count

Ant Font

anterior fontanelle

Anti-

refers to an antibody to the antigen

Anti-HBc

antibody to hepatitis B core antigen

Anti-HCV

hepatitis C virus antibody

Anti-HIV

human immunodeficiency virus antibody

Anti-HTLC

human T-lymphotropic virus antibody

AODM

adult onset diabetes mellitus

A-P

abdomino-perineal (surgical)

AP

anteroposterior (obstetric)

APAP

acetaminophen

APS

adult protective services

ARC

aids related complex

A&P

auscultation and percussion

ARDS

adult respiratory distress syndrome

AROM

active range of motion or artificial rupture of membranes

AS

aortic stenosis

ASA

aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid)

ASCVD

atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease

ASD

atrial septal defect

ASO

antisteplolysin O

ASPD

antisocial personality disorder

AST

aspartate transaminase (formerly SGOT)

AU

both ears

A & W

alive and well

ASAP

as soon as possible

ASRT

acute stroke response team

ATG

anti-thymocyte globulin

A-V

arteriovenous

AVB

atrioventricular block

AVI

atrial venous impulse

A-VO2

arteriovenous oxygen

AVM

arteriovenous malformation

Ax

axillary

B

BA-Pump 

Benadryl/Ativan pump

BBB R 

right bundle-branch block,

BBB L

left bundle-branch block

BC

bone conduction

BCP

birth control pills

BE

barium enema

BEE

basal energy expenditure

bid

twice a day

Bilat eq

bilaterally equal

BIPAP

 Bi-level positive air pressure

BJ protein

Bence-Jones protein

BKA

below knee amputation

BM

bowel movement

BMI

body mass index

BM & TT

bilateral myringotomy and tympanostomy tube

BMP

Basic metabolic profile

BNP

Brain nateiuretic peptide

BOM

bilateral otitis media

BP

blood pressure

BPH

benign prostatic hypertrophy

Bpm

beats per minute

BPP

biophysical profile

BR

bedrest

BRP

bathroom privilege

BS

bowel sounds, breath sounds

BSA

body surface area

BSO

bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy

BTP

breakthrough pain

BUN

blood urea nitrogen

BUS

Bartholin, urethral and skene glands

BV

bacterial vaginosis

BW

body weight

bx

biopsy

C

c-section

cesarean section

c

with

C1,C2,etc.

cervical vertebra #1, #2, etc.

Ca

carcinoma (cancer)

Ca++

calcium

CABG

coronary artery bypass graft

CBC/DIFF

complete blood county/differential

CAD

coronary artery disease

cap

capsule

CAPD

continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis

CBC

complete blood count

CCU

coronary care unit

CEA

carcinoembryonic antigen

CHF

congestive heart failure

CHI

closed head injury

CHO

carbohydrate

Chol

cholesterol

Cl

cardiac index

CK

creatinine phosphokinase (formerly CPK)

CK/ISOS

creatine kinase/isoenzymes

CKMB

MB isoenzyme of creatine kinase

CM

case manager

CMG

cystometrogram

CML

chronic myelogenous leukemia

CMP

comprehensive metabolic panel

CMV

cytomegalovirus

CN

cranial nerves

CNS

central nervous system

C/O

complaining of

CO

constant observation

CO

cardiac output

COPD

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CP

cerebral palsy, chest pain

C & P

cystoscopy & panendoscopy

CPAP

constant positive airway pressure

CPD

cephalo-pelvic disproportion

CPH

carbohydrate protein hydrolysate (dietary)

CPK

creatinine phosphokinase

CPM

continuous passive motion

CPR

cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CPS

child protective services

CrCl

creatinine clearance

Creat

creatinine

CR

complete remission

CRP

C-reactive protein

Cru

complete remission unconfirmed

C & S

culture and sensitivity

C/S

cesarean section

CSF

cerebrospinal fluid

C-spine

cervical spine

CST

contraction stress test

CT scan

computerized tomography scan

CTA

clear to auscultation

CTX

contraction

CV

cardiovascular

CVA

cardiovascular accident

cva

costovertebral angle

CVP

central venous pressure

CVS

chronic villus sampling

CVVH

continuous veno-venous hemofiltration

CVVHD

continuous veno-venous hemodialysis 

CVVHDF

continuous veno-venous hemodialysis ultrafiltration

CXR

chest x-ray

D

D

dextrose

D&E

dilatation and evacuation

D1,D2,etc.

dorsal vertebra #1, #2, etc

db

decibel

DBP

diastolic blood pressure

DC

discontinue

D & C

dilatation and curettage

DD

dependent drainage

DH

developmental history

DI

diabetes insipidis

DIC

disseminated intravascular coagulation

DIP

distal interphalangeal

DJD

degenerative joint disease

DKA

diabetic ketoacidosis

dl or dL

deciliter

DM

diabetes mellitus

DNI

do not intubate

DNR

do not resuscitate

D/O

disorder

DOA

dead on arrival

DOB

date of birth

DOE

dyspnea on exertion

DP

dorsalis pedis

DPOA

durable power of attorney

DPT

diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis (whooping cough)

DRSG

dressing

DSM

dry skim milk

DTaP

diphtheria, tetanus, acellular pertussis

DT's

delirium tremens

DTR

deep tendon reflex

DVT

deep venous thrombosis

DWI

diffusion weighted image

Dx

diagnosis

E

EBL

estimated blood loss

EBV

Epstein Barr Virus

ECASA

enteric coated aspirin

ECG

electrocardiogram

ECT

electro-convulsive therapy

ED

emergency department

EDC

expected date of confinement

EDVI

end diastolic volume index

EEG

electroencephalogram

EF

ejection fraction

EFM

electronic fetal monitoring

EENT

ears, eyes, nose, throat

EGFR

Epidermal growth factor receptor

EJ

external jugular

EKG

electrocardiogram (see ECGT)

EMG

electromyogram

ENT

ear, nose, throat

EOB

edge of bed

EOM

extraocular movements

EP

electophysiological

ER

emergency room
or estrogen receptor

ERV

expiratory reserve volume

ESR

erthrocyte sedimentation rate

ESWL

extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy

ET

endotracheal

ETOH

ethanol

EUA

examination under anaesthesia

EVD

external ventricular drain

ext

external

F

F

French (measurement of circumference)

FB

foreign body

FBS

fasting blood sugar

FEC

forced expiratory capacity

FECG

fetal electrocardiogram

FEV1

forced expiratory volume at 1 minute

fFn

fetal fibronectin

FFP

fresh frozen plasma

FH

family history

FHR

fetal heart rate

FHT

fetal heart tones

FIB

fibrinogen

FLACC

face, legs, activity, cry, consolability

fob

foot of bed

F&M

flush & monitor

FRC

functional residual capacity

FS

frozen section

FSE

fetal scalp electrode

FSH

follicle stimulating hormone

FSBS

finger stick blood sugar

FSS

French steel sound (dilated to #24 FSS)

FTA test

fluorescent treponemal antibody test

FTN

full term nursery

FTND

full term normal delivery

FTSG

full thickness skin graft

F/U

follow-up

FUO

fever of unknown origin

FVC

forced vital capacity

fx

fracture

G

G

gravida

GA

gastric analysis or gestational age

GAD

generalized anxiety disorder

GAF

global assessment function

GB

gallbladder

GBS

Group B streptococcal

GC

gonorrhea

GCS

Glasgow coma scale

GE

gastroenterostomy

GFR

glomerular filtration rate

GGTP

gamma-glutamyl transaminase peptidase

GH

growth hormone

GI

gastrointestinal

GJ

gastrojejunostomy

gluc

glucose

G6PD

glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase

GPT

glutamic pyruvic transaminase

gr

grain

Grav 1, 2

pregnant, one time, two times, etc.

GSW

gunshot wound

GTT

glucose tolerance test

gtt

drop

GU

genitourinary

GvHD

graft vs host disease

GYN

gynecologic

H

h

hour(s)

HA

headache

HAA

hepatitis-associated antigen

HBO

hyperbaric oxygen

HBsAg

hepatitis B surface antigen

HBV

hepatitis B virus

HC

head circumference

HCG

human chorionic gonadotropin

HCT

hematocrit

HCTZ

hydrochlorothiazide

HDL

high density lipoprotein cholesterol

HCVD

hypertensive cardiovascular disease

HEENT

head, eyes, ears, nose, throat

HELLP

hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelets

HEME

hematological

HEPA

high efficiency particulate air

Hgb

hemoglobin

H/H

hemoglobin/hematocrit

5-HIAA

5-hydroxyindolacetic acid

HI

homocidal ideation

HIB

hemophilus influenza B

HIV

human immuno deficiency virus

HJR

hepatojugular reflux

HLA

human leukocyte antigen

HLF

heparin lock flush

HLIV

heplock intravenous

H/O

history

HOB

head of bed

hpf

high power field

HPI

history of present illness

HPIG

hepatitis B immunoglobulin

HR

heart rate

HRT

hormone replacement therapy

hr(s)

hour(s)

hs

at bedtime

HSV

herpes simplex virus

ht

height

HTN

hypertension

Hx

history

I

IABP

intraaortic balloon pump

ICP

intracranial pressure

ICU

intensive care unit