Essential Hospital Acronyms and Medical Terminology

Posted on Apr 3, 2025 in Medicine & Health

Hospital Acronyms and Medical Terminology

Hospital Departments

  • CCU: Cardiac Care Unit
  • ED (ER): Emergency Department, Emergency Room
  • ICU: Intensive Care Unit
  • L&D: Labor and Delivery
  • OR: Operating Room
  • PACU: Post-Anesthesia Care Unit
  • RR: Recovery Room

Emergency Medicine

  • ACLS: Advanced Cardiac Life Support
  • CVA: Cerebrovascular Accident
  • CPR: Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation
  • DNR: Do Not Resuscitate
  • BCLS: Basic Cardiac Life Support
  • GSW: Gunshot Wound
  • MVA: Motor Vehicle Accident
  • TIA: Transient Ischemic Attack

Imaging

  • AEC: Automatic Exposure Control
  • ALARA: As Low As Reasonably Achievable
  • BE: Barium Enema
  • CAT/CT: Computed Axial Tomography
  • ECG (EKG): Electrocardiogram/Electrocardiograph
  • EEG: Electroencephalogram/Electroencephalograph
  • MRI: Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • PET: Positron Emission Tomography
  • UGI: Upper Gastrointestinal Series

Medical Procedures

  • Bx: Biopsy
  • CABG: Coronary Artery Bypass Graft
  • D&C: Dilation (Dilatation) and Curettage
  • E.S.W.L.: Extracorporeal Shockwave Lithotripsy
  • I & D: Incision and Drainage
  • TAH/BSO: Total Abdominal Hysterectomy with Bilateral Salpingo-oophorectomy
  • T&A: Tonsillectomy and Adenoidectomy
  • TURP: Transurethral Resection of Prostate

Organizations

  • ARRT: American Registry of Radiologic Technologists
  • NCRP: National Council on Radiation Protection

Miscellaneous

  • ADL: Activities of Daily Living
  • CC: Chief Complaint
  • c/o: Complaining of
  • CVP: Central Venous Pressure
  • Dx: Diagnosis
  • ETOH: Alcohol
  • Fx: Fracture
  • HIPAA: Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
  • Hx: History
  • H&P: History and Physical
  • ICP: Intracranial Pressure
  • IOP: Intraocular Pressure
  • IV: Intravenous
  • IVPB: Intravenous Piggyback
  • LMP: Last Menstrual Period
  • OOB: Out of Bed
  • NAD: No Appreciable Disease
  • NKA/NKDA: No Known Allergies/No Known Drug Allergies
  • NS: Normal Saline
  • N/V: Nausea and Vomiting
  • Pt: Patient
  • PTA: Prior to Admission
  • Px: Physical
  • r/o: Rule Out
  • Rx: Drug Prescription
  • SOB: Shortness of Breath
  • TENS: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation
  • Tx (Rx): Treatments
  • WDWN: Well Developed, Well Nourished

Specialists

  • Aerospace Medicine: Concerned with the physiological, pathological, and psychological problems encountered by man in outer space (confined to space agencies of the federal government).
  • Allergy & Immunology: Allergist concerned with allergies and the study of immunity to disease.
  • Anesthesiology: Anesthesiologist devoted to the administration of a drug or gas to induce partial or complete loss of sensation with or without loss of consciousness. (an = without, esthesia = sensation, logy = science of study of)
  • Internal Medicine: Internist treats conditions surgically such as diabetes, arthritis, anemias, HTN.
  • Cardiology: Cardiologist (cardia = heart) studies diseases of the heart and blood vessels.
  • Endocrinology: Endocrinologist branch of medicine devoted to the study of the endocrine glands (thyroid, ovaries, testes, adrenals) and their internal secretions.
  • Gastroenterology: Gastroenterologist (gastro = stomach, entero = intestine) concerned with the study and treatment of diseases of the digestive system.
  • Geriatrics: Concerned with the study and treatment of diseases of the aged.
  • Hospitalist: Physician responsible for the care of hospitalized patients.
  • Intensivist: Medical Professional who specializes in the care of patients in intensive care.
  • Neonatology: Neonatologist (neo = new, natus = born) deals with diseases and abnormalities of the newborn.
  • Nurse Practitioner (NP): A licensed registered nurse with an advanced education that may work in collaborative practice with a physician or independently.
  • Obstetrics: Obstetrician (gynecologist) is the branch of medicine that is concerned with the management of females during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and the period immediately following delivery.

Hospital Ownership and Organization

  • Two types of ownership of hospitals: Government and non-government hospitals.
  • Three sections of the hospital organization chart: Business/administrative/professional section.
  • Four methods of examination/physical exam:
    1. Inspection: (looking with eyes)
    2. Palpation: (by touch)
    3. Percussion: (by striking to produce sound)
    4. Auscultation: (by listening via stethoscope)