Are there abbreviations in healthcare that are safe to use and some that are not?

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Frank Federico, RPh, is concerned about abbreviations and acronyms from a patient safety point of view. Federico is content director for the Institute for Healthcare Improvement in Cambridge, Massachusetts. [ One area that particularly concerns him is the use of abbreviations for medications. Federico says one of the more serious safety concerns is the fact that the meaning of an abbreviation may differ from one hospital to another. For example, depending on where you work, “MTX” could stand for either “methotrexate” or “mitoxantrone” (different drugs that are both used to treat certain

kinds of cancer). Another concern is providers using a variety of abbreviations and shorthand terms when communicating orally with patients. For instance, one provider might refer to a patient’s drug as “HCTZ” while another might call it “hydrochlorothiazide.” A third may refer to it simply as a “fluid pill.” The confusion only mounts when the patient picks up his prescription from the pharmacy and the pill bottle has yet another way of describing ingredients and dose. ]

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Asked 4/20/2012 12:15:49 PM

Updated 7/23/2023 2:03:55 PM

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Mr.BreadMan

Here's the list of prohibited abbreviations, acronyms, symbols, and dose designations that should not be used in medication orders or other medication-related documentation the list includes abbreviations such as “U” or “u” for units, “IU” for international units, “Q.D.” or “QD” for once daily, “Q.O.D.” or “QOD” for every other day, and several others.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) also maintains a list of error-prone abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations that have been reported to be involved in harmful or potentially harmful medication errors

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