Introduction / Warning
The starting point for this website (Medical Abbreviations - Always Current) is the book authored by Dr. Neil M Davis, titled, Medical Abbreviations: 55,000 Conveniences at the Expense of Communication and Safety, 16th ed., 2020. New acronyms, symbols, abbreviations, drug names, and even some slang terms are continuously added and the totals are found at the bottom of each page. This constantly growing database is being compiled to assist individuals in understanding and transcribing medical, nursing, pharmaceutical, and other health-related communications and documents.
WARNING
Abbreviations are a convenience, a time saver, a space saver, a way of fitting a word or phrase into a restricted space on a form or computer, and a way of avoiding the possibility of misspelling words. However, a price can be paid for their use. Abbreviations are sometimes not understood, misread, or are interpreted incorrectly. Their use lengthens the time needed to train individuals in the health fields, wastes the time of healthcare workers in tracking down their meaning, at times delays the patient's care, and occasionally results in patient harm.
The publication of a term on this website is NOT an endorsement of its legitimacy. It is not a guarantee that the intended meaning has been correctly captured, or an indication that they are in common use. The person who uses an abbreviation must take responsibility for making sure that it is properly interpreted. When an uncommon or ambiguous abbreviation is used and there is a possibility that it may not be understood correctly, it should be defined by the writer. Where uncertainty exists, the one who wrote the abbreviation must be contacted for clarification.
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