elder-helper

Glossary of abbreviations

Sometimes a resident or family member will request to review or read the resident's chart or
medical record. If you are not familiar with medical abbreviations, the experience can be intimidating.
Doctors, Nurses, Therapist, Dieticians, etc. frequently use short hand or abbreviations. Below is a
list (though not complete) of frequently used abbreviations. With computerized charting on the rise,
some of the abbreviations that require symbols are generally not used. This is a small example of
common abbreviations.

Diagnoses

ARMD = Age Related Macular Degeneration
ASD = atrial septal defect
ASHD = atherosclerotic heart disease
A-Fib = atrial fibrillation
BPH = benign prostate hypertrophy
CABG = coronary artery bypass graft
CAD = coronary artery disease
CAT Scan = Computer Aided Tomography
CIDP = Chronic Inflammatory Demyelinating Polyneuropathy
COPD = chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CP = cerebral palsy
CRI = chronic renal insufficiency
DJD = degenerative joint disease
DM = diabetes mellitus
DVT = deep vein thrombosis
ETOH = ethanol abuse
GERD = gastric esophageal reflux disease
HOH = hard of hearing
HTN = hypertension
ICD-9 = International Classification of Diseases 9'th revision
IDDM = insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
In situ = non-metastasized (i.e. cancerous tumor)
LVH = Left Ventricular Hypertrophy
MI = myocardial infarction (heart attack)
MS = multiple sclerosis
MVR = mitral valve regurgitation
NIDDM = non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NEC = not elsewhere classified
NOS = not otherwise specified
OA = osteoarthritis
OAB = over active bladder
OP = osteoporosis
OSA = obstructive sleep apnea
PE = pulmonary embolism
PUD = peptic ulcer disease
PVD = peripheral vascular disease
RED-CBAG = Reduction in cardiovascular Events by acaDesine (for the prevention of
ischemia-reperfusion injury, a complication of coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery using
cardiopulmonary bypass which is a procedure that stops the heart and has the patient’s blood
circulate through a machine to oxygenate the blood and remove carbon dioxide, similar to the
function of the lungs)
SDAT = senile dementia Alzheimer's type
TAH/BSO = total abdominal hysterectomy with bilateral salpingo-oopherectomy
THA = total hip arthroplasty (hip replacement)
TIA = transient ischemic attack (mini-stroke)
TKA = total knee arthroplasty (joint replacement)
UTI = urinary tract infection

Therapy abbreviations

2WW= 2 wheeled walker
4WW= 4 wheeled walker
A = assist
Abd = abduction
Add = adduction
AAC= alternative & augmentative communication device
AE= adaptive equipment
AFO = ankle, foot orthotic
CGA= contact guard assist
COTA= certified Occupational therapy assistant
d/c = discharge
Doff= take off
Donn= put on
FM= fine motor
FOB= foot of bed
FWW = front wheeled walker
GM=gross motor
Gt= gait
HEP= home exercise program
HH=human help
HHC = home health care
I = independent
KO=knee orthosis
LAFO = leg, ankle & foot orthotic
LE = lower extremity
MIN = minimal
MOD = moderate
NWB= non-weight bearing
OT = Occupational Therapist or Occupational therapy
OTA = Occupational Therapy assistant
PE= physical endurance (pulmonary embolism)
POC = plan of care
Pt. = patient
PT= Physical Therapist or Physical Therapy
PTA= Physical therapy assistant
PWB= partial weight bearing
QC=Quad Cane
SAR = sub-acute rehab
SB= slide board
SBQC=square based quad cane
SBA= stand by assist
SLP = Speech Language Pathologist
SR = side rail
STR= strength
SU= set up
T/F= transfer
TSF= transfer
TTWB = toe touch weight bearing
VC= verbal cues
W/C= wheel chair
WBAT= weight bearing as tolerated
WW= wheeled walker

A&Ox4 = alert and oriented
x1 = person - Do they know who they are? Do they respond in any way when their name is called?
x2 = place - Can they tell you with fairly good accuracy the name of the place where they are
currently residing?
x3 = time - Can they tell you the current date or time?
x4 = situation - Can they tell you why they are residing here?

Nursing abbreviations

s¯ = without
c¯ = with
Ax1 = assist times 1 person
ABD = abdomen
ac = before meals
ADL = activities of daily living
AEB = as evidenced by
AIMS = Abnormal Involuntary Movement Scale
AMA = against medical advice
ATB = antibiotic
ATC = around the clock
bid = twice a day
bpm = beats per minute (or breathes)
BR = bathroom
BSC = bedside commode
Bx. = biopsy
CD&I = clean, dry and intact
CENA = competency evaluated nursing assistant
CNA = certified nursing assistant
CXR = chest x-ray
DAW = dispense as written
DSD = dry sterile dressing
DOS = date of service
Dx. = diagnoses
Fx. = fracture
GCS = Glasgow coma scale
GSA = gun shot wound
HRRR = heart rate and rhythm regular
Hx. = history
I&D = Incision and drainage
L&D = labor and delivery
Lac = Laceration
LLE = left lower extremity (or "R" for right)
LOC = level of consciousness or loss of consciousness
LPM = liters per minute
LPN = licensed practical nurse
LUE = left upper extremity (or "R" for right)
MA = Medical Assistant
MAR = medical administration record
MRN = medical record number
MVA = motor vehicle accident
N&T = numbness and tingling
NEC = Not elsewhere classified
NOS = Not otherwise specified
NP = nurse practitioner (sometimes "GNP" or "RNP")
O2 sat = Oxygen saturation (of blood)
OB = obstetrics
od = right eye
os = left eye
OTA = open to air
ou = both eyes
PA = physicians assistant
pc = after meals
POS = Physician order sheet
PRN = as needed
PVR = post void residual
q = every
qd = once a day
qid = four times a day
RA = room air
RN = registered nurse
Rx. = prescription
SB = seatbelt (restraint)
SRSB = self releasing seat belt (restraint)
SE = side effects
SR = side rail
Sx. = symptom
T&Rq2 = turn and reposition every 2 hours
TAO = triple antibiotic ointment
TAR = treatment administration record
tid = three times a day
TO = telephone order
Tx. = treatment
Ung = ointment
VO = verbal order
VSS = vital signs stable
WTD = wet to dry (dressing)