Selected Chart Abbreviations Chapter 2 – Health Care Records – Medical Terminology
a.c. before meals (ante cibum) ad lib. freely as needed (ad libitum = “at pleasure”) aq. water (aqua) b.i.d. twice a day (bis in die) b.i.n. twice a night (bis in noctis) BP blood pressure Bx biopsy C Celsius, centigrade CC chief complaint c/o complains of CP chest pain Dx diagnosis F Fahrenheit FH family history f/x fracture h/o history of H&P history & physical Hx history I&O intake & output noc(t), night (noctis) NPO nothing by mouth (non per os) (npo)
P pulse PERRLA pupils equal, round, react to light & accommodation p.c. after meals (post cibum) p.o. by mouth (per os) p.r.n. as the occasion arises, as needed (pro re nata) PT physical therapy Pt, pt patient Px, PE physical examination q every q.i.d. four times a day (quarter in die) R respiration Rx prescription SOB shortness of breath STAT immediately (statim) Sx symptoms T temperature Tx, Tr treatment t.i.d. three times a day (ter in die) VS (v.s.) vital signs