In the medical field, when are abbreviations acceptable?

Question

also, who should use them and why?

if you could answer the questions and provide websites where I could view the information, I would appreciate it.
Thanks in advance to anyone who helps alot and 10 points and best answer to whoever deserves it.

Answer 1

A lot of times, medical abbreviations are used in orders that doctors write for medications. There are a lot of different abbreviations used. Some diseases also have medical abbreviations. Nurses and pharmacists also use the medical abbreviations. There are several medical abbreviations, though, which the FDA has identified as being confusing when hand written. One thing could be mistaken for another thing. Here's a list of the ambiguous medical abbreviations:
http://www.ismp.org/tools/errorproneabbreviations.pdf

Here's a list of a lot of medical abbreviations:
http://www.globalrph.com/abbrev.htm

Answer 2

It has become increasingly difficult to use abbreviations in the medical field. We used to use them quite frequently, but recently (within the last 2 to 3 years), it has been frowned on. JThe abbreciations were latin. Some of them were qd for every day, bid for twice a day, tid for 3 times a day, qid for 4 times a day, MS for morphine, prn for as needed and several more. However, doctors scribble so much, we need English to figure out what they are writing.

Answer 3

There are lists of standardized medical abbreviations for the names of medicines, diagnoses, symptoms, dosing guidelines for meds, etc. These are used by doctors, nurses, respiratory therapists, etc. There are no laws against anyone using these abbreviations, unless you are illegally writing prescriptions. The only problem would be that the typical layperson would not understand the abbreviations. Some abbreviations, such as those for prescriptions, come from latin words. Most people without a medical background would not understand. For example, the abbreviation for "as needed" is "prn." Other abbreviations such as HTN for hypertension are easier to follow. It depends on the audience you are writing for, as to whether or not you should use abbreviated terms. If you are writing to healthcare workers who know these terms, then it's fine to use them.

Answer 4

There are certain agreed upon abbreviations used in the medical profession. IE. as needed=prn; twice a day=bid; three times a day= tid; treatment= Tx; medicine=Rx. There's a whole lot more. If you plan on going into medicine you will learn them in school. They are used by all medical personnel who write in patient's chart. Abbreviations allow more to be written in smaller space and is quicker. ( This before computer charting- guess it's still the same.)

Answer 5

Good old Wikpiedia.

The JACHO (Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations) evaluates and accredits (approves) hospitals and other healthcare organizations. They actually have a list of "Approved" and "Do not Use" abbreviations for their accredited agencies.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_medical_abbreviations

Obviously, healthcare workers should use these abbreviations. However, you should avoid using the abbreviations when talking to, or when you might be overheard by, people who might not know what they mean. Examples are family members who might not know what an "MI" or a "CVA" is. Just say "a heart attack" or "a stroke". Family members are often frightened by medical terms when a loved one is ill.

Answer 6

Abbreviations are acceptable when they are universally known by even minimally experienced professionals & when they are not similar to any other abbreviations. Otherwise they can be dangerous. in the medical feild you are dealing with lives so ambiguity is unacceptable.

Answer 7

I would not use abbreviations. I have worked with many "professionals" and their level of knowledge is quite sad.

Every now and then you'll find a few that don't even know what HTN, ASA, or DM stand for...yes I know...