STANDARDIZING AND MINIMIZING THE USE OF ABBREVIATIONS

To support efforts to standardize and minimize the use of abbreviations in healthcare; further,

To oppose use of abbreviations when communicating with patients to enhance transparency and understanding; further,

To encourage education of healthcare professionals and learners on standardizing and minimizing the use of abbreviations across all patient care settings.

Rationale

Although there are anecdotal examples of medical abbreviations causing harm to patients, there is little good clinical evidence to demonstrate that medical abbreviation use is dangerous or is causing problems in the delivery of care. Nevertheless, minimizing or even eliminating the use of medical abbreviations in healthcare has been encouraged for decades. The Institute of Safe Medication Practices regularly receives reports of errors, some of which have resulted in adverse events, due to misinterpretation of medical abbreviations. The Joint Commission has regularly issued updates and guidance on the safe use of medical abbreviations and has also published a short list of dangerous medical abbreviations and dose expressions that should never be used. However, despite many key organizations discouraging the use of medical abbreviations, they continue to be used at an alarming rate. Such use can place new practitioners at great risk when they have to interpret the abbreviations, as the new practitioner may have limited knowledge about what the abbreviations mean. Use of abbreviations should be minimized, and when abbreviation use cannot be avoided, they should be standardized to ensure accurate interpretation. In addition, use of abbreviations when communicating with patients should be avoided to enhance transparency and patients’ understanding of their treatment.