Medical Abbreviations Lecture

Introduction

• Presenter: Sarah, a doctor in Australia
• Focus: Medical abbreviations used in clinical practice
• Goal: Help make documentation more efficient
• Structure: Quiz format with abbreviation, full form, and explanation

Common Medical Abbreviations

Patient Documentation

• PT: Patient
• RV: Review (to assess a patient's condition)
• Hx: History (patient's medical condition story)
• PC: Presenting Complaint (main problem patient sees doctor about)
• HPC: History of Presenting Complaint (detailed story of the main complaint)
• PMHx: Past Medical History (patient's previous medical conditions)
• SHx: Social History (non-medical background important for care)
• OE: On Examination (findings from patient examination)
• Tx: Treatment (medical interventions provided)
• Mx: Management (similar to treatment)
• Cx: Complicated (used to note complications)

Diagnosis

• PDx: Provisional Diagnosis (initial assessment of patient's condition)
• DDx: Differential Diagnosis (list of possible diagnoses)

Reactions and Risks

• Rxn: Reaction
• RF: Risk Factor (attributes increasing likelihood of disease)

Patient Interactions

• ATSP: Ask to See Patient (request for doctor to see patient)
• ATRP: Ask to Review Patient (similar to ATSP)
• CO: Complaining Of (patient report of symptoms)
• SOOB: Sit Out of Bed (important for immobile patient routine)
• TOV: Trial of Void (process after catheter removal)

Patient Fitness and Diet

• ET: Exercise Tolerance (measure of patient fitness and illness impact)
• NBM: Nil By Mouth (no oral intake, e.g., pre-surgery)
• CFD: Clear Fluid Diet (diet of clear liquids)
• FFD: Free Fluid Diet (diet including milk, custards)

Facilities and Procedures

• OT: Operating Theater
• NH: Nursing Home
• # (Hash Symbol): Fracture (bone breaks)

Emergency and Resuscitation

• CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (emergency procedure for heart stops)
• DNR: Do Not Resuscitate (order against CPR in certain conditions)
• ACP: Advanced Care Plan/Planning (future healthcare preferences)
• ACD: Advanced Care Directive (legally binding healthcare instructions)

Daily Living and Patient Status

• ADL: Activity of Daily Living (shopping, cooking, hygiene activities)
• DAMA: Discharge Against Medical Advice (leaving hospital against advice)
• DNAC: Do Not Attend Call (patient leaves before formal discharge)

Substance Use

• AWS: Alcohol Withdrawal Scale (assess withdrawal severity)
• ETOH: Ethanol (Alcohol)

Conclusion

• Many more abbreviations to be covered in future sessions
• Invitation for comments on different abbreviations used outside Australia
• Reminder to like and subscribe for more content

This summary captures key medical abbreviations and their meanings as discussed in Sarah's presentation.