MT Abbreviations 4

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Medical Terminology Module 4 - Abbreviations

Common Medical Abbreviations

The medical reports you will be required to analyze on the job will contain a variety of written abbreviations. In this

section, we will introduce some of the medical abbreviations you are likely to encounter on the job.

While most medical abbreviations have their basis in Latin, you dont need to be a Latin scholar to understand

them. Thats because many words in the English language are derived from Latin, so its easy to make

logical connections between the Latin abbreviations and their meanings. A few abbreviations commonly used

today come directly from the English language.

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Abbreviations

This abbreviation is based on the Latin

word sine, which also means without.

s - without

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Youre reviewing a medical report that notes,

the patient left the hospital s prescribed medication.

This patient left the hospital

before medication

was prescribed.

with the medication

that was prescribed.

without the medication

that was prescribed.

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Another common abbreviation is the letter c.

This abbreviation represents the Latin word cum, which means with. In English, the

spelling has been changed to com, and is used in a number of words that use the concept

of with, such as composure or compassion.

Abbreviationsc - with

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An excerpt from a medical report says, this medication must be taken c water.

This patient must take the medication

without drinking any

water.

with water.

before drinking water.

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Abbreviations are sometimes used in conjunction with

instructions for how often something is to be done. For

example, a patient might be instructed to take a medication three times a day, or someone

might be required to have a certain procedure performed

everyday during a hospital stay.

This abbreviation is based on the Latin phrase in die. Note how similar in die is to the English

derivative, in a day.

Abbreviationsi.d. daily, in a days time

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Another letter is then added at the beginning of the abbreviation i.d.

to complete the instruction. The most commonly used are:

AbbreviationsAbbreviations

b + i.d. = b.i.d.

t + i.d. = t.i.d.

q+ i.d. = q.i.d.

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Pick a Box1. What does i.d stand for?

2. The abbreviation q.i.d. means quater in die. The term quarter is very close to the English words quarter and quadruple .

3. The abbreviation t.i.d. stands for ter in die. One English word that uses the Latin word ter is tertiary, which means third. Other English words use its derivative tri, such as tricycle or triangle.

4. The b in b.i.d. comes from the Latin word bis, from which the English language derives the prefix bi, as in biennial or bilateral.

Daily Twice a day Three times a day Four times a day




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You know that q.i.d. means four times a day. There are two other abbreviations that are very close in construction, but different in

meaning.

With these abbreviations, the q stands for quaque, which means

every. There isnt a similar-sounding English word to help you

remember what the q means in this case, so youll have to rely on

memorization. When q is used alone it always means every.


q.d. every dayq.o.d. every

other day

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Use these hints to help you remember the difference between q.d. and q.o.d.:

The d in q.d. refers to the Latin word die, or day, so q.d. means every day.

For q.o.d., associate the letter o with the word other, then translate q.o.d. to every other day.

The letter q is sometimes used in other ways to designate every. For example, the letter h stands for hour or hours, so an order to

give medication every two hours might be abbreviated as q2h.

Abbreviations

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This abbreviation represents the first three initials of the Latin phrase

ex modo prescripto, which means in the mode

prescribed.

Orders for medication and treatment may be referred

to in the following way:

Abbreviations

e.m.p. as directed

Abbreviations

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The next two groups of abbreviations are all

based on English words. They are either shortened versions of

the actual word or made up of one or two

key letters.


BP Blood Pressure

CC chief complaint

dos dosage

I.M. intramuscular

I.V. - intravenous

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Here are some more English-based medical

abbreviations.


q.s. quantity sufficient

R respirations

Tab tablet

v.s.s. vital signs stable

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Mental MatchmakerBP

CC

I.M.

I.V.

v.s.

v.s.s.

rq.s.

Intravenous

Quantity Sufficient

Vital Signs Stable

Respirations

Intramuscular

Blood PressureChief Complaint

Write down the two columns as

they appear. Match the

abbreviation in the left-hand

column with its definition in the

right hand column. Then proceed to the

next slide.

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Vital Signs

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Mental MatchmakerBP

CC

I.M.

I.V.

v.s.

v.s.s.

rq.s.

Intravenous

Quantity Sufficient

Vital Signs Stable

Respirations

Intramuscular

Blood PressureChief Complaint

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Vital Signs

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Great Job

You made it through ABBREVIATIONS. Now lets proceed to the next part of the course;

MEDICAL SPECIALTIES.

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Click below to return to the web page and continue with the course.

Common Medical AbbreviationsAbbreviationsPick a BoxSlide 4Slide 5Slide 6Abbreviations b + i.d. = b.i.d. t + i.d. = t.i.d. q+ i.d. = q.i.d.Slide 8Abbreviations q.d. every day q.o.d. every other daySlide 10Slide 11Slide 12Slide 13Mental MatchmakerSlide 15Slide 16

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MT Abbreviations 4