Common Medical Abbreviations

A A.A.R.O.M. Active assistive range of C1, C2, etc. first cervical vertebrae, motion second etc. A.B.G. Arterial blood gas CA cardiac arrest a.c. before meals CA, ca carcinoma A/C Assist Control CABG coronary artery bypass add Adduction graft ADA Diet American Diabetes CAD coronary artery disease Association Diet cal calorie A.D.L. activities of daily living cath catheter A.Fib. arterial fibrillation CBC complete blood count AKA Above Knee Amputation cc cubic centimeter or above the knee CC chief complaint amputation CHF congestive heart failure, ALS amyotrophic lateral chronic heart failure sclerosis CCU coronary care unit AMA against medical advice CHI closed head injury A&O alert and oriented cm centimeter A/P anterior-posterior CMT continuing medication A.R.O.M. active range of motion and treatment ASAP as soon as possible CN cranial nerve CNA certified nursing assistant B CNS central nervous system c/o complains of b.i.d. twice a day COTA certified occupational BKA Below Knee Amputation therapy assistant B.L.BS bilateral breath sounds cont continue(d) bm bowel movement COPD chronic obstructive BM bone marrow pulmonary disease BMR basal metabolism rate CPAP continuous positive BP blood pressure airway pressure BR bed rest CPR cardiopulmonary bs bowel sounds resuscitation BS breath Sounds CRF chronic renal failure B/S bedside CRNP certified registered nurse bx biopsy practitioner CSF cerebrospinal fluid C CT computerized C with (c with bar above it) tomography C Celsius, centigrade CV cardiovascular

This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. CVA cerebral vascular accident G CXR chest X-ray GB gall bladder GCS Glasgow Coma Scale GE Gastroenterology D GERD gastroesophageal reflux d day disease d/c discontinue G/E gastroenteritis DC discharge gen general DNK do not know gest. gestation DNKA did not keep appointment G.I. gastrointestinal DNR do not resuscitate GNA geriatric nursing assistant DNT did not test gluc glucose DOA dead on arrival GP general practitioner, DOB date of birth general paralysis DOE dyspnea on exertion GSW gun shot wound d/t due to GTT glucose tolerance test Dx diagnosis Gt. tr. gait training GYN gynecology E ECC, EKG electrocardiogram H ED emergency department h hour EEG electroencephalogram H/A headache EENT eye, ear nose, throat HAV Hepatitis A Virus EMG electromyogram Hb. hemoglobin ENT ear, nose, throat HB heart block ER emergency room HBP high blood pressure ETOH ethanol (alcohol) h.d. at bedtime exam examination HEENT head, eyes, ear, nose, ext external, exterior throat H20 water F h/o history of F Fahrenheit HOB head of bed FH family history H&P history and physical fib fibrillation HR heart rate fl, fld fluid HTN hypertension FOB foot of bed HVD hypertensive vascular f/u follow-up disease FWB full weight bearing Hx history Fx fracture Hz Hertz (cycles/second)

This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. I ICCU intensive coronary care L&W living and well unit ICP intracranial pressure M ICU intensive care unit m,M married, male, mother imp. impression murmur, meter, mass, incr. increased(ing) molar inf infusion, inferior max. maximum, maxillary inspire inspiration, inspiratory MBC maximum breathing int. internal capacity I&O intake and output MBSS modified barium swallow IPPB intermittent positive study pressure breathing MCA middle cerebral artery irreg. irregular MD muscular dystrophy IV intravenous(ly) mdnt. midnight med. medicine J mets. metastasis J joint MG myasthenia gravis jt. joint MI myocardial infarction min minute K MICU medical intensive care K potassium, kidney unit mod moderate L MRI magnetic resonance imaging L left, liver, liter, lower, MRSA methicillin-resistant light, lumbar Staphylococcus aureus L2, L3 second, third lumbar mss massage vertebrae MVA motor vehicle accident lab laboratory lac. laceration lat. lateral N LBW low birth rate n. nerve L.E. lower extremities Na sodium liq. liquid NaCl sodium chloride L.O.C. loss of consciousness, NAD no abnormality detected level of consciousness, NAD no apparent distress laxative of choice neg. negative LOS length of stay neur. neurology LP lumbar puncture NG nasogastric LPN licensed practical nurse NIC neonatal intensive care LUE left upper extremity NICU neonatal intensive care Lx larynx unit This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. NKA no known allergies P no. number PA physician’s assistant NOS not otherwise specified p & a percussion and NPO nothing by mouth auscultation NSA no specific abnormality PACU post anesthesia care unit NST non-stress test PAF paroxysmal atrial N&V nausea and vomiting fibrillation NVD nausea, vomiting, palp. palpate, palpated, diarrhea palpable N&W normal and well Path Pathology NWB non-weight bearing PA view posterior-anterior view on NYD not yet diagnosed x-ray p/c., p.c. after meals O pdr. powder o none, without PDN private duty nurse O oral PE physical exam, O2 oxygen pulmonary embolism O2 cap. oxygen capacity Ped. Pediatrics O2 sat. oxygen saturation PEEP positive end expiratory OA osteoarthritis pressure OB, OBG Obstetrics PEG percutaneous endoscopic OB/GYN Obstetrics and gastrostomy Gynecology PET positron emission Obs observation tomography OBS organic brain syndrome PH past history pharm pharmacy O/E on examination PHYS. physical, physiology OH occupational history PI present illness, OHD organic heart disease pulmonary insufficiency oint. ointment PICU pulmonary intensive care O.M. otitis media unit O.M.E. otitis media with effusion PID pelvic inflammatory OOB, oob out of bed disease Op. operation plts. platelets ot. ear P.M. afternoon, post-mortem Oto Otolaryngology PMH past medical history OTC over-the-counter PMN physical medicine and (pharmaceuticals) rehabilitation O.T. occupational therapy, old PN poorly nourished, tuberculin practical nurse OR operating room P&N Psychiatry and Neurology pneu. pneumo, pneumonia This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. PNI peripheral nerve injury R PNX pneuomothorax R,r right p.o. by mouth R. rub, rectal temperature p.o.d. postoperative day RA rheumatoid arthritis, right pos. positive atrium post. posterior rad. radial POSTOP. postoperative r.a.m. rapid alternating pot. or potass. potassium movements PR proctology R.A.S. right arm sitting pre-op preoperative RAtx radiation therapy prep. prepare for rbc/RBC red blood cell, red blood p.r.m. according to count circumstances RCA right coronary artery p.r.n., PRN as often as necessary, as RCU respiratory care unit needed RD respiratory distress prod. productive RDS respiratory distress Prog. prognosis syndrome PROM passive range of motion RE reconditioning exercise pron. pronator, pronation reg. regular prosth. prosthesis rehab. rehabilitation PSH past surgical history resp. respiratory, respirations Psych. Psychiatry RF rheumatic fever pt., Pt. patient RLA Rancho Los Amigo Scale PT physical therapy R to L&A react to light and P.T. physical therapy, accommodation posterior tibial artery RLE right lower extremity pulse RN registered nurse PTA prior to admission, RO, R/O rule out PUD peptic ulcer disease ROM range of motion, rupture PVD peripheral vascular of membranes, right otitis disease media PVT previous trouble ROS review of symptoms PWB% partial weight bearing Rt. right with percent RT radiation therapy, Px, PX physical examination respiratory therapy RUE right upper extremity Q RV residual volume q every Rx therapy, prescription q.h. every hour q.i.d. four times a day S qt. quart s without quad. quadriplegic This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. S sensation, sensitive, STD sexually transmitted serum disease Sa. saline subcut. subcutaneous s.c. subcutaneous(ly) subling. sublingual SCD sudden cardiac death sup. superior SCI spinal cord injury supin. supination schiz schizophrenia surg. surgery, surgical SCU special care unit Sx symptoms sec second sys. system Sens. sensory, sensation Syst. systolic sep. separated SGA small for gestational age T s.gl. without correction T temperature (without glasses) T&A tonsils and adenoids, SH social history tonsillectomy and SI stroke index adenoidectomy sib. sibling tab. tablet SICU surgical intensive care TAH total abdominal unit hysterectomy SIDS sudden infant death TB tuberculosis syndrome TBI traumatic brain injury skel. skeletal tbsp. tablespoon Sl. slightly temp temperature SL under the tongue THERAP. therapy, therapeutic SLP speech-language THR total hip replacement pathology TIA transient ischemic attack sm small TKR total knee replacement S.O.A.P. subjective, objective TNM tumor, nodes, and assessment plan metastases SOB shortness of breath TO telephone order S/P, s/p status post (previous TPN total parenteral nutrition condition) TPR temperature, pulse, sp. cd. spinal cord respiration spec. specimen tr trace sp. fl. spinal fluid trach tracheostomy sp&H speech and hearing tsp. teaspoon spin. spine, spinal Tx treatment, traction spont. spontaneous s/s signs and symptoms U SS social service U/A urinalysis ST speech therapy UCD usual childhood diseases stat., STAT immediately UCHD usual childhood diseases This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting. UG upward gaze X Unilat. unilateral x times u/o under observation Ur. urine Y URD upper respiratory disease y.o. years old URI upper respiratory yrs. years infection Urol. urology u/s, US ultrasound UTI urinary tract infection

V V vein VA visual acuity vag vagina, vaginal VC, (vit.cap) vital capacity VD venereal disease vent. ventilator vert. vertical VF visual fields, ventricular fibrillation Via by way of vit. vitamin VN visiting nurse VO verbal order VS, V.S. vital signs

W W white w, wk week W/C, wh.ch. wheelchair WBT weight bearing tolerance WF white female WFL within functional limits WM white male w/n within WNL within normal limits WP whirpool wt. weight w/u workup

This list has been compiled as a resource for ASHA members. The list has not been officially reviewed or approved by ASHA and therefore may be modified as desired by speech-language pathologists or their employment setting.