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Summer 2003 What DO All Those Letters Mean?Medical acronyms and abbreviations can be frustrating and confusing to patients. Many terms are abbreviations of Latin or Greek, which can make it more confusing since the initials do not correspond to the English meeting. For instance, b.i.d. means "twice a day." It comes from the Latin bis in die. P.C. stands for post cibos, which means "after meals." Here are some common definitions and abbreviations that make the hospital and health care a little less daunting.
b.i.d. — twice a day CCU— coronary care unit Dx — diagnosis EMS — emergency medical services ENT — ears, nose and throat FHR — fetal heart rate Fx — fracture GP — general practitioner gyn — gynecology HBP — high blood pressure Hx — history IBD — ideal body weight ICU — Intensive Care Unit LMP — last menstrual period Neg. — negative NKA — no known allergies NYD — not yet diagnosed OR — operating room OT — occupational therapy OTC — over the counter (drug) P — pulse p.c. — after meals PE — physical examination PET — positron emission tomography PID — pelvic inflammatory disease p.o. — by mouth Prn — as needed q — every q.d. —every day q.i.d. — four times a day q.h. — every hour RDA — recommended daily allowances Rx — prescription R/o — rule out SPF — sun protection factor stat — immediately t.i.d. — three times a day URI — upper respiratory infection UTI — urinary tract infection V.S. — vital signs w/c — wheelchair HMO — health maintenance organization PPO — preferred provider organization |
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