Abbreviations & Acronyms ABCs Airway, breathing and circulation ACLS Advanced Cardiac Life Support AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome ALS Advanced Life Support AMA Against Medical Advice AMI Acute Myocardial Infarction AOX3 Alert and oriented to person, place, and time AOX4 Alert and oriented to person, place, time and event AP Anterior/Posterior ARDS Adult Respiratory Distress Syndrome Abd. Abdominal A-fib Atrial fibrillation A-flutter Atrial flutter A-tach Atrial tachycardia BBB Bundle branch block BP Blood pressure BS Breath sounds BVM Blood valve mask b.i.d. Twice a day ( Latin bis in die ) bilat. Bilateral CA Cancer CAD Coronary artery disease C/C Chief complaint CHF Congestive heart failure CHI Closed head injury CNS Central nervous system COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease CP Chest pain CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation C-spine Cervical spine D 5 W 5% dextrose in water DM Diabetes mellitus DNR Do not resuscitate DOA Dead on arrival DOE Dyspnea on exertion DOS Dead on scene, Date of Service DTs Delirium tremens Dx Diagnosis ECG Electrocardiogram ED Emergency department EEG Electroencephalogram e.g. For example ENT Ears, nose and throat Page 1 of 6
ER Emergency room ET Endotracheal ETT Endotracheal tube ETA Estimated time of arrival ETO Estimated time out ETOH Ethyl alcohol EOA Esophageal obturator airway fx Fracture Gl Gastrointestinal Gm. Gram gr. Grain GSW Gun shot wound gtt/gtts Drop/drops GYN Gynecological h. Hour H & P History and physical HIV Human immunodeficiency virus HR Heart rate hr hour HTN Hypertension Hx History ICP Intracranial pressure ICU Intensive care unit IM Intramuscular IPPB Intermittent positive pressure breathing IO Intraosseous IV Itravenous IVP Intravenous push IVPB Intravenous piggyback JVD Jugular venous distention Kg Kilogram L Liter lac. Laceration lb. Pound LBBB Left bundle branch block L & D Labor and delivery LLQ Left lower quadrant of the abdomen LOC Level of consciousness LPM Liters per minute L-spine Lumbar spine LUQ Left upper quadrant of the abdomen M Meter MAE Moves all extremities MAEW Moves all extremities well MAST Medical (military) antishock trousers Page 2 of 6
mcg. Micrograms MCL Modified chest lead MD Medical doctor Meds Medications meg. Milliequivalent MI Myocardial Infarction MICU Mobile intensive care unit ml Milliliter mm Millimeter MS Morphine sulfate MVA Motor vehicle accident MVC Motor vehicle collision NAD No apparent distress NC Nasal cannula neg. Negative NGT Nasogastric tube NKA No known allergies NKDA No known drug allergies NS(S) Normal saline solution NSR Normal sinus rhythm NTG Nitroglycerin O 2 Oxygen OD Overdose PAC Premature atrial contraction PASG Pneumatic anti-shock garment PAT Paroxysmal atrial tachycardia P.E. Physical exam, pulmonary embolism Pedi. Pediatric PERL(A) Pupils equal and reactive to light (and accommodation) PSI Pounds per square inch psych. Psychiatric pt. Patient PVC Premature ventricular contraction q Every q.i.d. Four times a day (Latin quater in die ) R,RR Respirations, respiratory rate RBBB Right bundle branch block RL Ringer s lactate solution RLQ Right lower quadrant of the abdomen R/O Rule out ROM Range of motion RUQ Right upper quadrant of the abdomen Rx. Prescription, treatment, therapy SC, SQ Subcutaneous SIDS Sudden infant death syndrome Page 3 of 6
SOB Shortness of breath S/S Signs and symptoms Stat Immediately sub-q Subcutaneous SVT Supraventricular tachycardia tach. Tachycardia TB Tuberculosis tbsp. Tablespoon Temp. Temperature, temporary TIA Transient ischemic attack TKO To keep open T-spine Thoracic spine Tx. Treatment Unc. Unconscious URI Upper respiratory infection USP United States Pharmacopeia UTI Urinary tract infection V-fib Ventricular fibrillation vol. Volume V.S. Vital signs V-tach Ventricular tachycardia WNL Within normal limits Common Symbols @ At α Alpha β Beta µg Microgram Increased, increasing Decreased, decreasing Leading to, progressing to Female Male Approximately (+) Positive, plus (-) Negative, minus = Equals, equal to > Greater than < Less than Greater than or equal to Less than or equal to Change / Per # Number Page 4 of 6
Abbreviations/Acronyms ABN Advance Beneficiary Notice AIC Amount in Controversy ALJ Administrative Law Judge ALS Advanced Life Support ALS E Advanced Life Support Emergency ALS NE Advanced Life Support Non-emergency ANSI American National Standards Institute ASP Application Service Provider BLS Basic Life Support BLS E Basic Life Support Emergency BLS NE Basic Life Support Non-emergency CAAS Commission on Accreditation of Ambulance Services CAD Computer Assisted Dispatch CAH Critical Access Hospital CMS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services COB Coordination of Benefits DAB/MAC Departmental Appeals Board/Medicare Appeals Council DOB Date of Birth DOS Date of Service DRG Diagnosis Related Group EMTALA Emergency Medical Treatment and Active Labor Act EOB Explanation of Benefits EOMB Explanation of Member (or Medicare) Benefits ERA Electronic Remittance Advice ESRD End Stage Renal Disease FCRA Fair Credit Reporting Act GPCI Geographic Practice Cost Index HCPCS Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System HIPAA Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act HMO Health Maintenance Organization ICD-9 International Classifications of Diseases, Ninth Revision ICD-10 International Classifications of Diseases, Tenth Revision ICU Intensive Care Unit IIC Inflation Indexed Charge MA Medicare Advantage MA Plan Medicare Advantage Plan MCO Managed Care Organization MMA Medicare Modernization Act MREP Medicare Remit Easy Print (software) MSA Medical Savings Account MSP Medicare Secondary Payer NEMB Notice of Exclusion from Medicare Benefits NPI National Provider Identifier Page 5 of 6
NPP Notice of Privacy Practices OIG Office of Inspector General PCR Patient Care Report PCS Physician Certification Statement PDP Prescription Drug Plan PPO Preferred Provider Organization PPS Prospective Payment System PUTS Patient Unable to Sign QIC Qualified Independent Contractor RA Remittance Advice RUG Resource Utilization Group SCT Specialty Care Transport SNF Skilled Nursing Facility SNP Special Needs Plan SOF Signature on File WC Workers Compensation Page 6 of 6