Untitled Document

A - B - C - D - E - F - G - H - I - J - K - L - M - N - O- P - Q - R - S - T - U - V - W - X - Y - Z

A:
Advance Directive
Directives that an individual puts in written to specify instructions for care, etc. (ie: Durable Power of Attorney for Health Care or a Living Will). For more information contact our office or visit Kansas Health Ethics, Inc. at www.kansashealthethics.org.
ADLs (Activities of Daily Living)
AMA (Against Medical Advice)
ASAP (As Soon As Possible)

B:
BID Means “twice a day”. This could be a frequency for taking medications or numbers of times to do a certain medically related task; like a dressing change.
BM (Bowel Movement)
BP (Blood Pressure)
BS (Blood Sugar)

C:
CBC (Complete Blood Count)
CHF (Congestive Heart Failure)
COPD (Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease)
CO2 (Carbon Dioxide)
CPR (Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation)

D:
DM (Diabetes Mellitus)
DME (Durable Medical Equipment)
Medical equipment such as a wheel chair, walker or cane are often referred to as DME.
DNR (Do Not Resuscitate)
DOB (Date of Birth)
DR (Doctor)

E:
ECG (Electrocardiogram)
EKG (Electrocardiogram)
ER (Emergency Room)

F:
fx (Fracture)

G:
Gait

H:
HHA (Home Health Aide)
HIV (Human Immunovirus)
H&P (History and Physical)
Usually written by your physician, this is a document that outlines previous and current important information about your condition, prognosis, treatment, medications, etc.
HTN (Hypertension)

I:
IDDM (Insulin Dependent Diabetic Mellitus)
IM (Intramuscular)
I&O (Intake and Output)
IV (Intravenous)

J:
K:

L:
Lab (Laboratory)
LPN (Licensed Practical Nurse)

M:
Meds (Medications)
MOW (Meals on Wheels)
A service where meals are delivered to the home for individuals that met the eligibility criteria. In Wichita, Meals on Wheels is provided through Senior Services. As well, The Good Neighbor Nutrition Program is provided through the American Red Cross.
MR (Mental Retardation)
M.S. (Multiple Sclerosis)

N:
NPO (nothing by mouth)
NWB (Non Weight Bearing) Usually after a total knee, or some other orthopedic procedures, the MD will not want a patient to put weight on the leg surgery was performed on.

O:
O2 (Oxygen)
OT (Occupational Therapist )

P:
PO: To ingest orally or take by mouth.
POC (Plan of Care)
Post-Op (Post Operation): Following operations
Pre-Op (Pre Operation): Before operation
PRN: Means “as needed” and typically references to tasks that do not have to be done all the time or at any certain frequency.
Pt (Patient)
Unlike PT, the abbreviation Pt representation the word “Patient”.
PT (Physical Therapist )
PVT (Private)

Q:
QID : Means “four times a day”. This could be a frequency for taking medications or numbers of times to do a certain medically related task such as a dressing change.
QD: Means “daily” or “every day”.

R:
Rehab (Rehabilitation)
RN (Registered Nurse)
RX: Prescription

S:
Sat (Saturation)
Usually refers to oxygen levels
SN (Skilled Nursing)
SOB (Short of Breath)
SP (Speech)
SS (Social Security)
ST (Speech Therapy)
STD (Sexually Transmitted Disease)
Subq (Subqutanius)
An injection using a short needle into the tissue and not the muscle

T:
TB (Tuberculosis)
Tbsp (Tablespoon)
TIA (Transient Ischemic Attack)
TPN (Total Parenteral Nutrition)
Nutrition given by vein when people are unable to eat solid food.
Tx (Treatment )

U:
UA (Urinalysis)
UTI (Urinary Tract Infection)
UV (Ultraviolet)

V:
VA (Veterans Administration)
VO (Verbal Order)

W:
WB (Weight Bearing)
WBC (White Blood Count)
WC (Wheel Chair)
wt (Weight)

Y:
y/o (Years Old)
yr (Years)