Medical Abbreviations How Can Eliminating Abbreviations Reduce

Medical Abbreviations

How can eliminating abbreviations reduce errors?

In the medical profession, time is everything. To make documentation as expeditious as possible, a series of abbreviations have been accepted in records. This has been considered an acceptable practice as much as calling a registered nurse an "RN." The problems occur when people are unclear about the abbreviations mean or if a set of letters can have more than one meaning. For example, there is the abbreviation "CA" which means cancer and then "Ca" which is calcium. Another example is "a" which can mean both "artery" and "before" (Medical 2011-page 1). It is very easy to misread abbreviations when medical staff is in a hurry. Imagine the problem if a "q.w." which is take weekly was confused for a "q.v." which is take as one wishes. If the terms were written out rather than abbreviated, these potentially dangerous situations could be completely avoided.

Should written policies be developed for abbreviation usage? If yes, what should the policies contain?

A written policy should be developed for abbreviation usage. The policy should ensure that a set of abbreviations was made and adopted by all medical facilities. In this way, one set of definitions cannot be isolated to one hospital. A patient transferred from one hospital to another would have a chart with abbreviations fully understood by the new staff because of this uniform system of abbreviations. In the modern moment, one hospital's set of abbreviations may not transfer the same meaning at another location. Take for example the abbreviation "LLL." At various hospitals, these letters can mean anything from left lower lid, to left lower lip, or even left lower lung (Specified 2008). It is imperative that when a patient goes to get aid that a medical person can read their chart and know immediately which part of the body requires care.

3. When are abbreviations acceptable? Who should use them and why?

Abbreviations are only acceptable when there is a unified understanding of what they mean. Medical professionals utilize abbreviations because they have to perform their duties expeditiously. It is acceptable for nurses and doctors to use these shortcuts if, and only if, there is a uniform understanding of what a given set of abbreviations means. Certain treatments or locations of injury may be abbreviated under these terms. This is the only occasion where it would be acceptable to use medical abbreviations.

4. According to the information in the online articles, do you think enough steps have been taken to reduce errors?