Medical Abbreviations List: Common Healthcare Terminology

Whether you’re trying to understand what your doctor just said or you’re attempting to decipher your hospital bill, you’ve probably been stymied by confusing medical abbreviations once or twice. Luckily, there’s an easy way to figure out common healthcare abbreviations and acronyms. (We can’t say the same about paying that hospital bill, though.)

General Medical Abbreviations

What’s the difference between an H&P and an HPI? Should you leave the hospital AMA or A&W? Learn about common medical abbreviations that patients should know so they can make the best healthcare decisions.

• ADM - Admission, Admitted
• AOB - Alcohol on Breath
• ALS - Advanced Life Support
• AMA - Against Medical Advice, American Medical Association
• ASAP - As Soon As Possible
• A&W - Alive and Well
• BM - Bowel Movement
• BMD - Bone Mass Density
• BMI - Body Mass Index
• BMR - Basal Metabolic Rate
• BP - Blood Pressure
• C - Centigrade, Celsius
• CBF - Cerebral Blood Flow
• CC - Cubic Centimeter, Chief Complaint, Critical Care
• C/O - Complains Of, Care Of
• CV - Cardiovascular
• D/C - Discontinue or Discharge
• DNR - Do Not Resuscitate
• DO - Disorder
• DOB - Date of Birth
• DOT - Directly Observed Therapy
• DSM - Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
• Dx - Diagnosis
• EDC - Estimated Date of Confinement
• EDD - Estimated Delivery Date
• EGA - Estimated Gestational Age
• FB - Foreign Body
• FHR - Fetal Heart Rate
• FM - Fetal Movement
• FROM - Free Range of Motion
• FT - Full Term
• FX - Fracture
• GA - Gestational Age
• GH - Growth Hormone
• GHRH - Growth Hormone Releasing Hormone
• GI - Gastrointestinal
• GU - Genitourinary
• H&P - History and Physical Examination
• HB - Hemoglobin
• HDL - High Density Lipoprotein
• HPI - History of Present Illness
• H/O - History Of
• HR - Heart Rate (or Hour)
• HS - Hour of Sleep (Bedtime)
• I&O - Intake and Output
• ICU - Intensive Care Unit
• ID - Infectious Diseases
• IM - Intramuscular
• IP - Inpatient
• IQ - Intelligence Quotient
• IU - International Units
• IV - Intravenous
• IVP - Intravenous Push
• MCO - Managed Care Organization
• N/V - Nausea/Vomiting
• NKDA - No Known Drug Allergies
• NM - Neuromuscular
• NTG - Nitroglycerin
• NVD - Normal Vaginal Delivery
• O2 - Oxygen
• OPD - Outpatient Department
• P - Pulse
• Post-op - Postoperative (after surgery)
• Pre-op - Preoperative (before surgery)
• PA or PT - Patient
• PT - Physical Therapy
• PCP - Primary Care Physician
• PPE - Personal Protection Equipment
• RBC - Red Blood Cell
• RF - Risk Factor
• RXN - Reaction
• S - Sans (without)
• SC or SQ - Subcutaneous
• S/S - Signs and Symptoms
• STAT - Statim (immediately)
• SX - Symptoms
• T - Temperature
• TLC - Total Lung Capacity
• TPR - Temperature, Pulse, Respiration
• UO - Urine Output
• USOH - Usual State of Health
• WT - Weight

Emergency Medical Abbreviations

In an emergency situation, rapid communication can be the difference between life and death. Common abbreviations found in an ER include:

• A&O - Alert and Oriented
• ABC - Airway-Circulation-Breathing
• A-Fib - Atrial Fibrillation (irregular heartbeat)
• CAB - Circulation-Airway-Breathing
• CPR - Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
• CVA - Cerebral Vascular Accident (stroke)
• DOA - Dead on Arrival or Date of Admission
• EBL - Estimated Blood Loss
• EC - Eye Contact
• ER - Emergency Room
• FEF - Forced Expiratory Flow
• FRC - Functional Residual Capacity
• GSW - Gunshot Wound
• LOF - Loss of Fluid
• MVA - Motor Vehicle Accident
• NAD - No Acute Distress
• REM - Rapid Eye Movements
• SOB - Shortness of Breath
• VF - Ventricular Fibrillation
• VS - Vital Signs
• VSS - Vital Signs Stable