I’ve heard that one of the most useful parts of my book, Dictionary of Veterinary Terms: Vet-Speak Deciphered for the Non-Veterinarian, is the "commonly used acronyms" appendix. One of the best medical acronyms I’ve ever run across is "FLK." Anybody out there know what that one means? Here’s a hint: think pediatrician rather than veterinarian.
People often accuse doctors of using jargon solely to confuse or obfuscate (the latter probably does apply to the FLK example. I know how I’d feel if I saw it written out on my daughter’s chart!). In all honesty, however, acronyms are usually just a quick and simple way to refer to something with a very long or confusing name, or to shorten a phrase that needs to be written down over and over again.
Here is a sample of some of the acronyms that I use in practice on an almost daily basis:
AD: right ear
ADR: ain’t doing right
AS: left ear
AU: both ears
BAR: bright, alert and responsive
BCS: body condition score
BID: twice daily, every 12 hours
BPM: beats or breaths per minute
CBC: complete blood count
CHF: congestive heart failure
CNS: central nervous system
CRT: capillary refill time
D/C: discontinue
Dx: diagnosis
EENT: eyes, ears, nose and throat
EOD: every other day
F/S: spayed female
FNA: fine needle aspirate
FUO: fever of unknown origin
Fx: fracture
HBC: hit by car
HCT: hematocrit
HR: heart rate
Hx: history
IM: intramuscular
IN: intranasal
IV: intravenous
M/N: neutered male
NDR: not doing right
NPO: nothing by mouth
NSF: no significant findings
OD: right eye
OS: left eye
OU: both eyes
PCV: packed cell volume
PE: physical exam
PO: by mouth
PRN: as needed
PU/PD: polyuria/polydipsia (i.e., drinking and urinating more than normal)
q: every (e.g., q4hrs means every 4 hours)
QAR: quiet, alert and responsive
QD: once daily, every 24 hours
QID: four times daily, every 6 hours
QOD: every other day
ROM: range of motion
RR: respiratory rate
Rx: prescription
S/R: suture removal
SC: under the skin
SID: once daily, every 24 hours
SOAP: subjective, objective, assessment, plan — a method of organizing medical records
SQ: under the skin
STAT: immediately
Sx: surgery
TID: three times daily, every 8 hours
TPR: temperature, pulse and respiration rates
Tx: treatment
UA: urinalysis
URI: upper respiratory infection
UTI: urinary tract infection
WNL: within normal limits
Dr. Jennifer Coates
Image: Natalia Sinjushina & Evgeniy Meyke / via Shutterstock