Glossary of Medical Terms
Sometimes physicians and caregivers talk and write with references being made to a number of medical terms or abbreviations that are not well known nor widely used by the non-medical person. Therefore, in order to provide some assistance to both the residents and their families, the following is a glossary of Approved Medical Abbreviations, as collated by Advanced Healthcare Studies, LLC:
A Before
Aa Of each
abd Abdomen
Ac Before meals
A.D. Right ear
ad lib As desired
ADAT Advance diet as tolerated
ADL Activity of daily living
AIDS Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome
AL Assisted Living
Am Morning
AMA Against Medical advice
Amb. Ambulate, amulation
A & O Alert and oriented
AP Apical pulse
Approx Approximately
Appt. Appointment
As tol. As tolerated
A.S. Left ear
ASA Acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin)
ASAP As soon as possible
AV Atrioventricular
Avg Average
AX Axilliary
Barb Barbituates
BC Blood culture
BE Barium enema
BG Blood glucose
BID Two times daily
Bilat Bilateral
Bili Bilirubin
BK Below the knee
BKA Below the knee amputation
Bkst Breakfast
bm Bowel movement
bp Bowel program
BR Bed rest
B.R. Bathroom
BRP Bathroom privileges
BS Bowel sounds
c With
C Centigrade
Ca+ calcium
CABG Coronary artery bypass graft
CAD Coronary artery disease
Cardio. Cardiology
Cath. CAtheter, catherize
CBC Complete blood count
CbG Chemstrip blood glucose
cc Cubic centimeter
CCL Community Care Licensing (State of Californa)
CCMS Clean catch mid-stream (urinalysis)
CDB Cough and deep breath
CHF Congestive heart failure
chol. Cholesterol
Chole Cholecystectomy
circ. Circulation
Chole Cholecystectomy
Circ. Circulation
Cl. Clear
Cldy Cloudy
CNA Ceritifed Nursing Assistant
CNS Central nervous system
c/o Complains of
CO2 Carbon Dioxide
Cog. Cognitive
Comm. Communication
Compl. Complication
Cont. Continue, continuous
COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
CPAP Continuous posiutive airway pressure