In the world of healthcare, doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals often use abbreviations to communicate quickly and efficiently. These abbreviations are like shortcuts, making it easier to write down or talk about complex medical terms and procedures. They help save time and space, especially in busy hospitals and clinics where quick decisions can make a big difference in patients’ lives. However, it’s essential to understand these abbreviations correctly to ensure clear communication and prevent any misunderstandings that could affect patient care. In this list, we’ll explore some common healthcare abbreviations and what they mean, helping you navigate the medical world with confidence.
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Commonly Used Abbreviations in Healthcare
- CPR – Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation: An emergency procedure performed to manually preserve intact brain function until further measures to restore spontaneous blood circulation and breathing can be performed.
- MRI – Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A medical imaging technique used to visualize internal structures of the body in detail.
- CT Scan – Computed Tomography Scan: A medical imaging technique that uses computer-processed combinations of many X-ray measurements taken from different angles to produce cross-sectional images of specific areas of a scanned object.
- ER – Emergency Room: A medical treatment facility specializing in emergency medicine, equipped to diagnose and treat patients who require immediate medical attention.
- ICU – Intensive Care Unit: A specialized department in a hospital that provides intensive care medicine and critical care to patients who are seriously ill or injured.
- IV – Intravenous: The administration of medication or fluids into a vein.
- EKG/ECG – Electrocardiogram: A test that measures the electrical activity of the heart to diagnose various heart conditions.
- CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: A national public health institute in the United States that is responsible for monitoring and controlling diseases, including infectious diseases.
- HMO – Health Maintenance Organization: A type of managed healthcare system that provides health insurance coverage through a network of doctors, hospitals, and other healthcare providers.
- HIPAA – Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act: A federal law that protects the privacy of patients’ medical records and health information.
- FDA – Food and Drug Administration: A federal agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services responsible for protecting and promoting public health through the regulation and supervision of food safety, tobacco products, dietary supplements, prescription and over-the-counter pharmaceutical drugs, vaccines, biopharmaceuticals, blood transfusions, medical devices, electromagnetic radiation emitting devices, cosmetics, animal foods & feed and veterinary products.
- UTI – Urinary Tract Infection: An infection in any part of the urinary system, including the kidneys, bladder, and urethra.
- CBC – Complete Blood Count: A blood test used to evaluate your overall health and detect a wide range of disorders, including anemia, infection, and leukemia.
- BMI – Body Mass Index: A measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.
- PPE – Personal Protective Equipment: Equipment worn to minimize exposure to hazards that cause serious workplace injuries and illnesses.
Healthcare Abbreviations, Acronyms, And Full Forms
1. A&E: Accident and Emergency
2. AA: Alcoholics Anonymous
3. AAA: Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm
4. ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support
5. ACT: Assertive Community Treatment
6. ADC: Average Daily Census
7. ADD: Attention Deficit Disorder
8. ADH: Antidiuretic Hormone
9. ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder
10. ADL: Activities of Daily Living
11. ADR: Adverse Drug Reaction
12. AE: Adverse Event
13. AF: Atrial Fibrillation
14. AIDS: Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
15. ALS: Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
16. AMA: American Medical Association
17. AMA: Against Medical Advice
18. ANOVA: Analysis of Variance
19. AOD: Alcohol and Other Drugs
20. APA: American Psychiatric Association/American Psychological Association
21. APRN: Advanced Practice Registered Nurse
22. APS: Adult Protective Services
23. ARDS: Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
24. ART: Antiretroviral Therapy
25. ASA: American Society of Anesthesiologists
26. ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder
27. ASM: Anti-Seizure Medication
28. AUC: Area Under the Curve
29. BLS: Basic Life Support
30. BM: Bowel Movement
31. BMI: Body Mass Index
32. BP: Blood Pressure
33. BPD: Borderline Personality Disorder
34. BSA: Body Surface Area
35. CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
36. CAD: Coronary Artery Disease
37. CARF: Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities
38. CBC: Complete Blood Count
39. CBT: Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
40. CC: Chief Complaint
41. CDC: Centers for Disease Control
42. CF: Cystic Fibrosis
43. CHD: Coronary Heart Disease
44. CHF: Congestive Heart Failure
45. CI: Confidence Interval
46. CKD: Chronic Kidney Disease
47. CLL: Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia
48. CMHC: Community Mental Health Center
49. CMS: Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services
50. CMV: Cytomegalovirus
51. CNS: Central Nervous System
52. COPD: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
53. COVID-19: Coronavirus Disease 2019
54. CPA: Collagen Proportionate Area
55. CPAP: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure
56. CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
57. CQI: Continuous Quality Improvement
58. CRF: Case Report Form
59. CRNA: Certified Registered Nurse Anesthetist
60. CRP: C-Reactive Protein
61. CSAT: Center for Substance Abuse Treatment
62. CSF: Cerebrospinal Fluid
63. CSP: Cesarean Scar Pregnancy
64. CT: Computed Tomography
65. CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident
66. DIC: Disseminated Intravascular Coagulation
67. DM: Diabetes Mellitus
68. DNA: Deoxyribonucleic Acid
69. DNP: Doctor of Nursing Practice
70. DNR: Do Not Resuscitate
71. DSM: Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
72. DVT: Deep Vein Thrombosis
73. EBV: Epstein-Barr Virus
74. ECG: Electrocardiogram
75. ECT: Electroconvulsive Therapy
76. ED: Emergency Department
77. EEG: Electroencephalogram
78. EHR: Electronic Health Record
79. ELISA: Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay
80. EMA: European Medicines Agency
81. EMR: Electronic Medical Record
82. ER: Emergency Room
83. ERCP: Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography
84. ESR: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate
85. FDA: Food and Drug Administration
86. FQHC: Federally Qualified Health Center
87. FTE: Full-Time Equivalent
88. FY: Fiscal Year
89. GCS: Glasgow Coma Scale
90. GI: Gastrointestinal
91. GP: General Practitioner
92. HCPCS: Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
93. HF: Heart Failure
94. HHS: Health and Human Services
95. HIV: Human Immunodeficiency Virus
96. HMO: Health Maintenance Organization
97. HR: Hazard Ratio/Heart Rate
98. HRSA: Health Resources and Services Administration
99. HSV: Herpes Simplex Virus
100. HTA: Health Technology Assessment
101. HTN: Hypertension
102. IBD: Inflammatory Bowel Disease
103. ICD: International Classification of Diseases
104. ICER: Incremental Cost-Effectiveness Ratio
105. ICF: Intermediate Care Facility
106. ICU: Intensive Care Unit
107. IL: Interleukin
108. IM: Intramuscular
109. IQR: Interquartile Range
110. IRB: Institutional Review Board
111. IT: Information Technology
112. IV: Intravenous
113. JCAHO: Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations
114. LCSW: Licensed Clinical Social Worker
115. LFT: Liver Function Test
116. LH: Luteinizing Hormone
117. LP: Lumbar Puncture
118. LPN: Licensed Practical Nurse
119. MCO: Managed Care Organization
120. MH: Mental Health
121. MI: Myocardial Infarction
122. MO: Medical Officer
123. MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
124. MS: Multiple Sclerosis
125. MTX: Methotrexate
126. NAMI: National Alliance on Mental Illness
127. NHS: National Health Service
128. NICU: Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
129. NIH: National Institutes of Health
130. NIMH: National Institute of Mental Health
131. NP: Nurse Practitioner
132. NPI: National Provider Identifier
133. OCD: Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
134. OR: Operating Room/Odds Ratio
135. OS: Overall Survival
136. OSA: Obstructive Sleep Apnea
137. OT: Occupational Therapy
138. PA: Physician Assistant
139. PCP: Primary Care Physician/Primary Care Provider
140. PCR: Polymerase Chain Reaction
141. PE: Pulmonary Embolism
142. PET: Positron Emission Tomography
143. PHN: Public Health Nurse
144. PID: Pelvic Inflammatory Disease
145. PPD: Purified Protein Derivative
146. PPE: Personal Protective Equipment
147. PT: Physical Therapy
148. PTSD: Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
149. PVD: Peripheral Vascular Disease
150. QA: Quality Assurance
151. RA: Rheumatoid Arthritis
152. RBC: Red Blood Cell
153. RCT: Randomized Controlled Trial
154. RN: Registered Nurse
155. ROS: Reactive Oxygen Species
156. RR: Relative Risk
157. RT: Reaction Time
158. RUQ: Right Upper Quadrant
159. SAE: Serious Adverse Event
160. SAMHSA: Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration
161. SARS: Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome
162. SARS-CoV-2: Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2
163. SD: Standard Deviation
164. SDGs: Sustainable Development Goals
165. SE: Standard Error
166. SLE: Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
167. SMI: Serious Mental Illness
168. SNF: Skilled Nursing Facility
169. SSA: Social Security Administration
170. SSI: Supplemental Security Income
171. SSRI: Selective Serotonin Reuptake Inhibitor
172. STD: Sexually Transmitted Disease
173. SW: Social Worker
174. TB: Tuberculosis
175. TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury
176. TNF: Tumor Necrosis Factor
177. TST: Tuberculin Skin Test
178. TTP: Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura
179. ULN: Upper Limit of Normal
180. URTI: Upper Respiratory Tract Infection
181. US: Ultrasound
182. UTI: Urinary Tract Infection
183. VA: Veterans Affairs
184. VAS: Visual Analogue Scale
185. WBC: White Blood Cell
186. WHO: World Health Organization
187. WNL: Within Normal Limits
188. WRAP: Wellness Recovery Action Plan
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