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
CNS central nervous system
B 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
MRI magnetic resonance
L
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.