MEDICAL ABBREVIATIONS
AA abdominal aortic aneurysm
A-a gradient alveolar to arterial gradient
AAD antibiotic-associated diarrhea
AAO alert, awake, and oriented
A&O alert & oriented
AAS acute abdominal series
ABD abdomen
ABG arterial blood gas
AC before eating
ACLS advanced cardiac life support
ACTH adrenocorticotropic hormone
ADH anti-diuretic hormone
ADR adverse drug reaction. | acute dystonic reaction
ad lib as much as needed
AED antiepileptic drug
AF atrial fibrillation or afebrile
AFB acid-fast bacilli
AFP alpha-fetoprotein
A /G albumin/globulin ratio
AI aortic insufficiency
AKA above the knee amputation
ALD alcoholic liver disease
ALL acute lymphocytic leukemia
amb ambulate
AML acute myelogenous leukemia
ANA antinuclear antibody
ANS autonomic nervous system
AOB alcohol on breath
AODM adult onset diabetes mellitus
AP anteroposterior or abdominal - perineal
ARDS acute respiratory distress syndrome
ARF acute renal failure
AS aortic stenosis
ASAP as soon as possible
ASCVD atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease
ASD atrial septal defect
ASHD atherosclerotic heart disease
AV atrioventricular
A-V arteriovenous
A-VO2 arteriovenous oxygen
B
BBB bundle branch block
BCAA branched chain amino acids
BE barium enema
BEE basal energy expenditure
bid twice a day
BKA below the knee amputation
BM bone marrow or bowel movement
BMR basal metabolic rate
BOM bilateral otitis media
BP blood pressure
BPH benign prostatic hypertrophy
BPM beats per minute
BRBPR bright red blood per rectum
BRP bathroom priviledges
BS bowel or breath sounds
BUN blood urea nitrogen
BW body weight
BX biopsy
DAT diet as tolerated
DAW dispense as written
DC discontinue or discharge
D&C dilation and curettage
DDx differential diagnosis
D5W 5% dextrose in water
DI diabetes insipidus
DIC disseminated intravascular coagulopathy
DIP distal interphalangeal joint
DJD degenerative joint disease
DKA diabetic ketoacidosis
dL deciliter
DM diabetes mellitus
DNR do not resuscitate
DOA dead on arrival
DOE dyspnea on exertion
DPL diagnostic peritoneal lavage
DPT diphtheria, pertussis, tetanus
DTR deep tendon reflexes
DVT deep venous thrombosis
DX diagnosis
E
EAA essential amino acids
EBL estimated blood loss
ECG electrocardiogram
ECT electroconvulsive therapy
EFAD essential fatty acid deficiency
EMG Electromyogram
EMV eyes, motor, verbal response (Glasgow coma scale)
ENT ears, nose, and throat
EOM extraocular muscles
ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate
ET endotracheal
ETT endotracheal tube
ERCP endoscopic retrograde cholangio -pancreatography
ETOH ethanol
EUA examination under anesthesia
F
FBS fasting blood sugar
FEV forced expiratory volume
FFP fresh frozen plasma
FRC functional residual capacity
FTT failure to thrive
FU follow-up
FUO fever of unknown origin
FVC forced vital capacity
Fx fracture
GC gonorrhea
GETT general by endotracheal tube
GFR glomerular filtration rate
GI gastrointestinal
gr grain; 1 grain = 65mg. Therefore Vgr = 325mg
GSW gun shot wound
gt or gtt drops
GTT glucose tolerance test
GU genitourinary
GXT graded exercise tolerance (Stress test)
H
HA headache
HAA hepatitis B surface antigen
HAV hepatitis A virus
HBP high blood pressure
HCG human chorionic gonadotropin
HCT hematocrit
HDL high density lipoprotein
HEENT head, eyes, ears, nose, throat
Hgb hemoglobin
H/H henderson- hasselbach equation or hemoglobin/ hematocrit
HIV human immunodeficiency virus
HLA histocompatibility locus antigen
HJR hepatojugular reflex
HO history of
HOB head of bed
HPF high power field
HPI history of present illness
HR heart rate
HS at bedtime
HSM hepatosplenomegaly
HTLV-III human lymphotropic virus, type III (AIDS agent, HIV)
HSV herpes simplex virus
HTN hypertension
Hx history
I
I&D incision and drainage
I&O intake and output
ICS intercostal space
ICU intensive care unit
ID infectious disease or identification
IDDM insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
IG immunoglobulin
IHSS idiopathic hypertropic subaortic stenosis
IM intramuscular
IMV intermittent mandatory ventilation
INF intravenous nutritional fluid
IPPB intermittent positive pressure breathing
IRBBB incomplete right bundle branch block
IRDM insulin resistant diabetes mellitus
IT interthecal
ITP idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura
IV intravenous
IVC intravenous cholangiogram | inferior vena cava
IVP intravenous pyelogram
ODM juvenile onset diabetes mellitus
JVD jugular venous distention
K
KOR keep open rate
KUB kidneys, ureters, bladder
KVO keep vein open
L
L left
LAD left axis deviation or left anterior descending
LAE left atrial enlargement
LAHB left anterior hemiblock
LAP left atrial pressure or leukocyte alkaline phosphatase
LBBB left bundle branch block
LDH lactate dehydrogenase
LE lupus erythematosus
LIH left inguinal hernia
LLL left lower lobe
LMP last menstrual period
LNMP last normal menstrual period
LOC loss of consciousness or level of consciousness
LP lumbar puncture
LPN licensed practical nurse
LUL left upper lobe
LUQ Left Upper Quadrant
LV left ventricle
LVEDP left ventricular end diastolic pressure
LVH left ventricular hypertrophy
M
MAO monoamine oxidase
MAP mean arterial pressure
MAST medical antishock trousers
MBT maternal blood type
MCH mean cell hemoglobin
MCHC mean cell hemoglobin concentration
MCV mean cell volume
MI myocardial infarction or mitral insufficiency
mL milliliter
MLE midline episiotomy
MMEF maximal mid expiratory flow
mmol millimole
MMR measles, mumps, rubella
MRI magnetic resonance imaging
MRSA methicillin resistant staph aureus
MS multiple sclerosis or mitral stenosis, or morphine sulfate
MSSA methicillin-sensitive staph aureus
MVA motor vehicle accident
MVI multivitamin injection
MVV maximum voluntary ventilation
NAD no active disease
NAS no added salt
NCV nerve conduction velocity
NED no evidence of recurrent disease
ng nanogram
NG nasogastric
NIDDM non-insulin dependent diabetes mellitus
NKA no known allergies
NKDA no known drug allergies
NMR nuclear magnetic resonance
NPO nothing by mouth
NRM no regular medications
NSAID non-steroidal anti- inflammatory drugs
NSR normal sinus rhythm
NT nasotracheal
O
OB obstetrics
OCG oral cholecystogram
OD overdose or right eye
OM otitis media
OOB out of bed
OPV oral polio vaccine
OR operating room
OS left eye
OU both eyes
P
P para
PA posteroanterior
PAC premature atrial contraction
PAO2 alveolar oxygen
PaO2 peripheral arterial oxygen content
PAP pulmonary artery pressure
PAT paroxysymal atrial tachycardia
P&PD percussion and postural drainage
PC after eating
PCWP pulmonary capillary wedge pressure
PDA patent ductus arteriosus
PDR physicians desk reference
PE pulmonary embolus, or physical exam or pleural effusion
PEEP positive end expiratory pressure
PFT pulmonary function tests
pg picogram
PI pulmonic insufficiency disease
PKU phenylketonuria
PMH previous medical history
PMI point of maximal impulse
PMN polymorphonuclear leukocyte (neutrophil)
PND paroxysmal nocturnal dyspnea
PO by mouth
POD post-op day
PP postprandial or pulsus paradoxus
PPD purified protein derivative
PR by rectum
PRBC packed red blood cells
PRN as needed
PS pulmonic stenosis
PT prothrombin time, or physical therapy
Pt patient
PTCA percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty
PTH parathyroid hormone
PTHC percutanous transhepatic cholangiogram
PTT partial thromboplastin time
PUD peptic ulcer disease
PVC premature ventricular contraction
PVD peripheral vascular disease
Q
q every (e.g. q6h = every 6 hours)
qd every day
qh every hour
q4h, q6h.... every 4 hours, every 6 hours etc.
qid four times a day
QNS quantity not sufficient
qod every other day
Qs/Qt shunt fraction
Qt total cardiac output
R right
RA rheumatoid arthritis or right atrium
RAD right atrial axis deviation
RAE right atrial enlargement
RAP right atrial pressure
RBBB right bundle branch block
RBC red blood cell
RBP retinol-binding protein
RDA recommended daily allowance
RDW red cell distribution width
RIA radioimmunoassay
RIH right inguinal hernia
RLL right lower lobe
RLQ right lower quadrant
RML right middle lobe
RNA ribonucleic acid
R/O rule out
ROM range of motion
ROS review of systems
RPG retrograde pyelogram
RRR regular rate and rhythm
RT respiratory or radiation therapy
RTA renal tubular acidosis
RTC return to clinic
RU resin uptake
RUG retrograde urethogram
RUL right upper lobe
RUQ right upper quadrant
RV residual volume
RVH right ventricular hyperthrophy
Rx treatment
S
s without | ss = one-half
SA sinoatrial
SAA synthetic amino acid
S&E sugar and acetone
SBE subacute bacterial endocarditis
SBFT small bowel follow through
SBS short bowel syndrome
SCr serum creatinine
SEM systolic ejection murmur
SG Swan-Ganz
SGA small for gestational age
SGGT serum gamma- glutamyl transpeptidase
SGOT serum glutamic- oxaloacetic transaminase
SGPT serum glutamic- pyruvic transaminase
SIADH syndrome of inappropriate antidiuretic hormone
sig write on label
SIMV synchronous intermittent mandatory ventilation
sl sublingual
SLE systemic lupus erythematous
SMO slips made out
SOAP subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
SOB shortness of breath
SQ subcutaneous
STAT immediately
SVD spontaneous vaginal delivery
Sx symptoms
T
T&C type and cross
TAH total abdominal hysterectomy
T&H type and hold
TB tuberculosis
TBG total binding globulin
Td tetanus-diphtheria toxoid
TIA transient ischemic attack
TIBC total iron binding capacity
tid three times a day
TIG tetanus immune globulin
TKO to keep open
TLC total lung capacity
TMJ temporo mandibular joint
TNTC too numerous to count
TO telephone order
TOPV trivalent oral polio vaccine
TPN total parenteral nutrition
TSH thyroid stimulating hormone
TT thrombin time
TTP thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura
TU tuberculin units
TUR transurethral resection
TURBT TUR bladder tumors
TURP transurethral resection of prostate
TV tidal volume
TVH total vaginal hysterectomy
tw twice a week
Tx treatment, transplant
UA urinalysis
UAC uric acid | umbilical artery catheter
UAO upper airway obstruction
UBD universal blood donor
UC ulcerative colitis | umbilical cord
ud as directed
UFH unfractionated heparin
UGI upper gastrointestinal
URI upper respiratory infection
URQ upper right quadrant
US ultrasound
UTI urinary tract infection
UUN urinary urea nitrogen
UVA ultraviolet A light
V
VAD venous access device
VC vital capacity
VCT venous clotting time
VCUG voiding cysourethrogram
VDRL Venereal Disease Research Laboratory (test for syphilis)
VMA vanillymadelic acid
VO verbal or voice order
V/Q ventilation - perfusion
VRE vancomycin-resistant enterococcus
VSS vital signs stable
VT ventricular tachycardia
VV varicose veins
VW vessel wall
VWD von Willebrand's disease
VZV varicella zoster virus
W
WB whole blood
WBC white blood cell or count
WBR whole body radiation
WD well developed
WF white female
WIA wounded in action
WID widow, widower
WM white male
WN well nourished
WNL within normal limits
WO written order | weeks old | wide open.
WOP without pain
W.P. whirlpool
WPW Wolff-Parkinson-White
W-T-D wet to dry
W/U workup
X
X2d times 2 days.
XI eleven
XII twelve
XL extended release. | extra large.
XM crossmatch
XMM xeromammography
XOM extraocular movements
XRT X-ray therapy (radiation therapy)
XS excessive
XULN times upper limit of normal
Y
YF yellow fever
YLC youngest living child
yo years old
YOB year of birth
yr year
ytd year to date
Z
ZDV zidovudine
ZE Zollinger-Ellison
Z-ESR zeta erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Zn zinc
ZnO zinc oxide
ZSB zero stools since birth
DENTAL ABBREVIATIONS
ACAS Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service
ADA American Dental Agency
ADEE Association of Dental Education in Europe
AGMETS Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training & Staffing (at NHSE HQ) (the Dental Equivalent is DAGMETS)
AoMRC Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
BADN British Association of Dental Nurses
BADT British Association of Dental Therapists
BAOMS British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
BChD Bachelor of Dental Surgery (a basic degree)
BDA British Dental Association
BDHA British Dental Hygienists’ Association
BDHF British Dental Health Foundation (a charity)
BDJ British Dental Journal (the journal of the BDA – shown in academic references as Br Dent J)
BDPMA British Dental Practice Managers’ Association
BDS Bachelor of Dental Surgery (a basic degree)
BMA British Medical Association
BMJ British Medical Journal (the journal of the BMA)
BNF British National Formulary
BSGDS British Society of General Dental Surgery
BST Basic Specialist Training
CADO Chief Administrative Dental Officer (in Scotland)
CAL Computer Assisted Learning
CAPRAP Clinical Audit and Peer Review Assessment Panel
CCCDS Central Committee for Community Dental Services (of the BDA)
CCCPHD Central Committee for Community & Public Health Services (of the BDA)
CCHDS Central Committee for Hospital Dental Services (of the BDA)
CCP Child Capitation Payment
CCSC Central Consultants & Specialists Committee
CCST Central Consultants & Specialists Training
CCUDT & RW Central Committee for University Dental Teachers and Research Workers (of the BDA)
CDDS Council of Deans of Dental Schools
CDTA Clinical Dental Technicians Association
CDO Chief Dental Officer (e.g. of England)
CDPH Clinician in Dental Public Health
CDS Community Dental Officer
CMDS Core Minimum Data Sets
CME Continuing Medical (& Dental) Education
CMO Chief Medical Officer (e.g. England)
COCET Committee on Continuing Education and Training (set up by the CDO of England) (pronounced as a word)
CODE Confederation of Dental Employees
COPDenD Conference of Postgraduate Dental Deans (and Directors of Postgraduate Dental Education in the Universities of the UK) (pronounced as a word)
COPMED Committee of Postgraduate Medical Deans (England) (pronounced as a word)
COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (1988 Regulations)
CPD Continuing Professional Development
CPE Continuing Professional Education
CPR Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
CRDC Central Research & Development Committee (at NHSE HQ)
CRE Commission for Racial Equality
CSA Central Services Agency (a Northern Ireland body equivalent to the DPB in England and Wales)
CSASHS Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service. (Provides services e.g. Dental Practice Division, to Health Boards)
CSO Central Statistical Officer
CST Certificate of Specialist Training
CV Curriculum Vitae
CVCP Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals
CVT Committee on Vocational Training for England & Wales
CVT (NI) Committee on Vocational Training for Northern Ireland
DAGMETS Dental Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training & Staffing
DDA Defence Dental Agency
DDO District Dental Officer
DDPH Diploma in Dental Public Health
DDRB Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body
DDSc Doctor of Dental Science
DDU Dental Defence Union (of the MDU)
DfEE Department for Education & Employment
DGDP Diploma in General Dental Practice
DGH District General Hospital
DH Department of Health (DOH or DoH as abbreviations are incorrect)
DLA Dental Laboratories Association
DMFT(S) dmft(s) Decayed, Missing or Filled Permanent Teeth (Surfaces), if shown in lower case as dmft (s) means decayed, missing or filled deciduous teeth surfaces
DNA Did Not Attend
DO Dental Officer
dob Date of Birth
DOrth Diploma in Orthodontics
DPA Dental Practice Advisor
DPB Dental Practice Board
DPDH Director of Public Dental Health
DPDS Diploma in Postgraduate Dental Studies
DPF Dental Practitioners’ Formulary
DPN dental practice network
DRC Day-Release Course (the VDP’s study day course of 30 days)
DRO Dental Reference Officer
DRS Dental Reference Service
DRSG Dental Rates Study Group
DSA Dental Surgery Assistant
DSM Dental Services Manager
DTA Dental Technicians’ Association
DVTA Dental Vocational Training Authority (England & Wales)
DVTA Panel Dental Vocational Training Adjudication Panel (of NICPMDE)
EBM Evidence Based Medicine
EC European Commission, or European Community (This term was used for the whole integration process of the European Union prior to the Maastricht Treaty on 1 November 1993, when the tem ‘European Union’ came into being).
EDI Electronic Data Interchange, or Eastman Dental Institute
EDM Effective Dental Management (a training module)
EEA European Economic Area (current members are: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the 15 member States of the EU as individual countries. The EU, as a separate entity or body, is also party to the EEA Agreement which is a free trade agreement between the member States)
EEC European Economic Community (earlier name for the EC)
EFTA European Free Trade Association (now comprises 4 member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
EL Executive Letter
E-learning Electronic Learning (Computer-based learning – including internet-based learning)
EU European Union (Came into being following the Maastricht Treaty on 01 November 1993, originally comprising 12 member States: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and UK. Joined by Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. Ten more member states will join in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia)
FDS Faculty of Dental Surgery, or Fellow in Dental Surgery
FGDP(UK) Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (United Kingdom)
FFGDP(UK) Fellow of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK)
FHS Family Health Services
FHSA Family Heath Services Authority (now merged with HA’s)
FTE Full Time Equivalent
FMR Functions and Manpower Review
FT or f/t Full Time
FTTA Fixed Term Training Appointment
GA General Anaesthetic
GDC General Dental Council
GDP General Dental Practice, or General Dental Practitioner, or Gross Domestic Product
GDPA General Dental Practitioners’ Association
GDPC General Dental Practice Committee (replaced GDSC & PPC in 2003)
GDS General Dental Services
GDSC General Dental Services Committee (of the BDA)
GI Gingival Index
GIS Government Information Service
GMC General Medical Council
GMP General Medical Practitioner
GMS General Medical Services
GMSC General Medical Services Committee (of the BDA)
GP General Practitioner
GPFH General Practitioner Fund Holder
GPT General Professional Training
HA Health Authority
HB Health Board
HC Health Circular
HDS Hospital Dental Services
HEFCE Higher Education Funding Council for England
HEFCS Higher Education Funding Council for Scotland
HEFCW Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
HMSO Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
HN Health Notice
HO House Officer
HSE Health and Safety Executive
HSWA Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
HSL Health Services Letter
.html Hypertext mark-up language
http:// Hypertext transfer protocol
IM&T Information Management and Technology
ICT Information and Communications Technology (now commonly replaces the term IT (Information Technology) because of the large growth of email and internet-based communications)
IMPT Institute of Maxillofacial Prosthetists and Technicians
IoS Item of Service (e.g. Adult item of services, child item of service)
IPC Independent Practice Committee (of the BDA)
IPGs Independent Practice Groups (local groups not necessarily allied to IPC)
IV Intravenous
JCC Joint Consultants’ Committee, or Joint Consultative Committee
JCHTD Joint Committee for Higher Training in Dentistry (now JCSTD)
JCPTGP Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in General Practice (Based at RCGP)
JCSTD Joint Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry (of the dental faculties of the Royal Colleges - based at RCSEng)
JPAC Joint Planning Advisory Committee
KITS Keeping in Touch Scheme
LAPRAP Local Audit & Peer Review Assessment Panel
LAS Locum Appointment – Service
LAT Locum Appointment – Training
LDC Local Dental Committee
LDS Licentiate in Dental Surgery (a basic qualification)
LIG London Implementation Group
LIZ London Initiative Zone
LMC Local Medical Committee
LMWAGs Local Medical Workforce Advisory Groups
MADEL Medical & Dental Education Levy
MCCD Membership in Clinical Community Dentistry
MChD Master of Dental Surgery
MDentSci Master of Dental Science
MDDUS Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland
MDS Master of Dental Surgery, or Minimum Data Set
MDU Medical Defence Union
MFDS Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery
MFGDP(UK) Member of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK)
MGDS Membership in General Dental Surgery
MIA Medical Insurance Agency Ltd
MOD Ministry of Defence, or Mesio-occlusodistal
MOrth Membership in Orthodontics
MPS Medical Protection Society (the dental part of which is Dental Protection Ltd)
MRC Medical Research Council
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
N/A Not Applicable
NAC National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education
NAHAT National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts
NCAS National Clinical Assessment Service
NCCPED National Centre for Continuing Postgraduate Education in Dentistry
NHS National Health Service
NHSE National Health Service Executive
NI National Insurance, or Northern Ireland
NICPMDE Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
NICE National Institute for Clinical Excellence
NIDHSS Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services
NIGDSC Northern Ireland General Dental Services Committee
NOS National Occupational Standards
NPSA National Patient Safety Agency
NRPB National Radiological Protection Board (Dental Monitoring Services)
NTN National Training Number (held by specialist registrars)
NVQ National Vocational Qualification
O4C Options for Change
OFT Office of Fair Trading
ONS The Office for National Statistics
OPCS Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (now ONS)
OPT Orthpantomograph (a form of dental X-ray) (sometimes OPG is used but this is incorrect)
OSCE Objective Structured Clinical Examination
OU Open University
PAMs Professions Allied to Medicine
PBL Problem Based Learning
PCDs Professions Complementary to Dentistry, or Professionals Complementary to Dentistry
PCTs Primary Care Trusts
PDC Primary Dental Care
PDP Personal Development Plan, or Professional Development Portfolio
PDS Personal Dental Services
PDU Preventive Dentistry Unit
PES Public Expenditure Survey
PG Postgraduate
PGEA Postgraduate Education Allowance
PGMDE Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
PI Performance Indicator, or Periodontal Index
PLAB Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board
PMC Postgraduate Medical Centre
PPC Private Practice Committee
PRHO Pre-Registration House Officer (medical only)
Prn Whenever necessary
PT or p/t Part Time
QA Quality Assurance
QAA Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (England and Wales)
R&D Research and Development
RAGMETS Regional Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training and Staffing
RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
RCP retruded contact position
RCPS Glasg Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
RCS Edin Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
RCS Eng Royal College of Surgeons of England
RCS Irel Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
RDO Regional Dental Officer
RDOS Regional Dental Officer Service (the Scottish version of DRS)
RDRD Regional Director of Research and Development
REDG Regional Education and Development Group
RHA Regional Health Authority (extant until 31 March 1996)
RITA Record of In-Training Assessment
RLG Research Liaison Group
RPD removable partial denture
RVTC Regional Vocational Training Committee
SAC Specialist Advisory Committee of the JCSTD
SAMS Self-Assessment Manual of Standards
SCUMDERS Standing Committee on University Medical and Dental Education and Research (pronounced as a word)
SCOPME Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (pronounced as a word)
SCPMDE Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
SDAC Standing Dental Advisory Committee
SDL Self-Directed Learning
SDO Senior Dental Officer
SDR Statement of Dental Remuneration
SDVTC Scottish Dental Vocational Training Committee (of SCPMDE)
SDVTECC Scottish Dental Vocational Training Equivalence and Certification Committee (of SCPMDE)
SHHD Scottish Home and Health Department
SHO Senior House Officer
SI Statutory Instrument
SIFTR Service Increment for Teaching & Research
SMP Statutory Maternity Pay
SNTN Scottish National Training Number (the Scottish equivalent of NTN)
SQA Scottish Qualifications Authority
SpR Specialist Registrar
STA Specialist Training Authority of the medical Royal Colleges
STC Specialty Training Committee
SSP Statutory Sick Pay
Supn Superannuation
SVQ Scottish Vocational Qualification
SWAG Specialist Workforce Advisory Group
TAGI Target Annual Gross Income (for GDPs working in the GDS)
TANI Target Annual Net Income (for GDPs working in the GDS)
TMJ Temporomandibular Joint
TQM Total Quality Management
UK United Kingdom
UMT Unit of Medical Time
URL Uniform Resource Locator
UUK Universities United Kingdom (formerly the Committee of Vice Chancellors & Principles).
UV ultraviolet
VDP Vocational Dental Practitioner (the name for trainee dentists)
VDU Visual Display Unit
VSpR Visiting Specialist Registrar
VT Vocational Training, or Vocational Trainee
VTN Visiting Training Number (held by visiting specialist registrars)
VTS Vocation Training Scheme
WAGMETS Welsh Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training & Staffing (pronounced as a word)
WDC Workforce Development Confederation
WGDSC Welsh General Dental Services Committee
WHCSA Welsh Health Common Services Agency
WTE Whole-Time Equivalent
WWW World Wide Web
X2d times 2 days.
XI eleven
XII twelve
XL extended release. | extra large.
XM crossmatch
XMM xeromammography
XOM extraocular movements
XRT X-ray therapy (radiation therapy)
XS excessive
XULN times upper limit of normal
Y
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YF yellow fever
YLC youngest living child
yo years old
YOB year of birth
yr year
ytd year to date
Z
Note: double mouse click to return to the top of the page
ZDV zidovudine
ZE Zollinger-Ellison
Z-ESR zeta erythrocyte sedimentation rate
Zn zinc
ZnO zinc oxide
ZSB zero stools since birth
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ACAS Advisory, Conciliation & Arbitration Service
ADA American Dental Agency
ADEE Association of Dental Education in Europe
AGMETS Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training & Staffing (at NHSE HQ) (the Dental Equivalent is DAGMETS)
AoMRC Academy of Medical Royal Colleges
BADN British Association of Dental Nurses
BADT British Association of Dental Therapists
BAOMS British Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons
BChD Bachelor of Dental Surgery (a basic degree)
BDA British Dental Association
BDHA British Dental Hygienists’ Association
BDHF British Dental Health Foundation (a charity)
BDJ British Dental Journal (the journal of the BDA – shown in academic references as Br Dent J)
BDPMA British Dental Practice Managers’ Association
BDS Bachelor of Dental Surgery (a basic degree)
BMA British Medical Association
BMJ British Medical Journal (the journal of the BMA)
BNF British National Formulary
BSGDS British Society of General Dental Surgery
BST Basic Specialist Training
CADO Chief Administrative Dental Officer (in Scotland)
CAL Computer Assisted Learning
CAPRAP Clinical Audit and Peer Review Assessment Panel
CCCDS Central Committee for Community Dental Services (of the BDA)
CCCPHD Central Committee for Community & Public Health Services (of the BDA)
CCHDS Central Committee for Hospital Dental Services (of the BDA)
CCP Child Capitation Payment
CCSC Central Consultants & Specialists Committee
CCST Central Consultants & Specialists Training
CCUDT & RW Central Committee for University Dental Teachers and Research Workers (of the BDA)
CDDS Council of Deans of Dental Schools
CDTA Clinical Dental Technicians Association
CDO Chief Dental Officer (e.g. of England)
CDPH Clinician in Dental Public Health
CDS Community Dental Officer
CMDS Core Minimum Data Sets
CME Continuing Medical (& Dental) Education
CMO Chief Medical Officer (e.g. England)
COCET Committee on Continuing Education and Training (set up by the CDO of England) (pronounced as a word)
CODE Confederation of Dental Employees
COPDenD Conference of Postgraduate Dental Deans (and Directors of Postgraduate Dental Education in the Universities of the UK) (pronounced as a word)
COPMED Committee of Postgraduate Medical Deans (England) (pronounced as a word)
COSHH Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (1988 Regulations)
CPD Continuing Professional Development
CPE Continuing Professional Education
CPR Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation
CRDC Central Research & Development Committee (at NHSE HQ)
CRE Commission for Racial Equality
CSA Central Services Agency (a Northern Ireland body equivalent to the DPB in England and Wales)
CSASHS Common Services Agency for the Scottish Health Service. (Provides services e.g. Dental Practice Division, to Health Boards)
CSO Central Statistical Officer
CST Certificate of Specialist Training
CV Curriculum Vitae
CVCP Committee of Vice Chancellors and Principals
CVT Committee on Vocational Training for England & Wales
CVT (NI) Committee on Vocational Training for Northern Ireland
DAGMETS Dental Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training & Staffing
DDA Defence Dental Agency
DDO District Dental Officer
DDPH Diploma in Dental Public Health
DDRB Doctors’ and Dentists’ Review Body
DDSc Doctor of Dental Science
DDU Dental Defence Union (of the MDU)
DfEE Department for Education & Employment
DGDP Diploma in General Dental Practice
DGH District General Hospital
DH Department of Health (DOH or DoH as abbreviations are incorrect)
DLA Dental Laboratories Association
DMFT(S) dmft(s) Decayed, Missing or Filled Permanent Teeth (Surfaces), if shown in lower case as dmft (s) means decayed, missing or filled deciduous teeth surfaces
DNA Did Not Attend
DO Dental Officer
dob Date of Birth
DOrth Diploma in Orthodontics
DPA Dental Practice Advisor
DPB Dental Practice Board
DPDH Director of Public Dental Health
DPDS Diploma in Postgraduate Dental Studies
DPF Dental Practitioners’ Formulary
DPN dental practice network
DRC Day-Release Course (the VDP’s study day course of 30 days)
DRO Dental Reference Officer
DRS Dental Reference Service
DRSG Dental Rates Study Group
DSA Dental Surgery Assistant
DSM Dental Services Manager
DTA Dental Technicians’ Association
DVTA Dental Vocational Training Authority (England & Wales)
DVTA Panel Dental Vocational Training Adjudication Panel (of NICPMDE)
EBM Evidence Based Medicine
EC European Commission, or European Community (This term was used for the whole integration process of the European Union prior to the Maastricht Treaty on 1 November 1993, when the tem ‘European Union’ came into being).
EDI Electronic Data Interchange, or Eastman Dental Institute
EDM Effective Dental Management (a training module)
EEA European Economic Area (current members are: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and the 15 member States of the EU as individual countries. The EU, as a separate entity or body, is also party to the EEA Agreement which is a free trade agreement between the member States)
EEC European Economic Community (earlier name for the EC)
EFTA European Free Trade Association (now comprises 4 member States: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland)
EL Executive Letter
E-learning Electronic Learning (Computer-based learning – including internet-based learning)
EU European Union (Came into being following the Maastricht Treaty on 01 November 1993, originally comprising 12 member States: Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, and UK. Joined by Austria, Finland and Sweden in 1995. Ten more member states will join in 2004 - Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia)
FDS Faculty of Dental Surgery, or Fellow in Dental Surgery
FGDP(UK) Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (United Kingdom)
FFGDP(UK) Fellow of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK)
FHS Family Health Services
FHSA Family Heath Services Authority (now merged with HA’s)
FTE Full Time Equivalent
FMR Functions and Manpower Review
FT or f/t Full Time
FTTA Fixed Term Training Appointment
GA General Anaesthetic
GDC General Dental Council
GDP General Dental Practice, or General Dental Practitioner, or Gross Domestic Product
GDPA General Dental Practitioners’ Association
GDPC General Dental Practice Committee (replaced GDSC & PPC in 2003)
GDS General Dental Services
GDSC General Dental Services Committee (of the BDA)
GI Gingival Index
GIS Government Information Service
GMC General Medical Council
GMP General Medical Practitioner
GMS General Medical Services
GMSC General Medical Services Committee (of the BDA)
GP General Practitioner
GPFH General Practitioner Fund Holder
GPT General Professional Training
HA Health Authority
HB Health Board
HC Health Circular
HDS Hospital Dental Services
HEFCE Higher Education Funding Council for England
HEFCS Higher Education Funding Council for Scotland
HEFCW Higher Education Funding Council for Wales
HMSO Her Majesty’s Stationery Office
HN Health Notice
HO House Officer
HSE Health and Safety Executive
HSWA Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
HSL Health Services Letter
.html Hypertext mark-up language
http:// Hypertext transfer protocol
IM&T Information Management and Technology
ICT Information and Communications Technology (now commonly replaces the term IT (Information Technology) because of the large growth of email and internet-based communications)
IMPT Institute of Maxillofacial Prosthetists and Technicians
IoS Item of Service (e.g. Adult item of services, child item of service)
IPC Independent Practice Committee (of the BDA)
IPGs Independent Practice Groups (local groups not necessarily allied to IPC)
IV Intravenous
JCC Joint Consultants’ Committee, or Joint Consultative Committee
JCHTD Joint Committee for Higher Training in Dentistry (now JCSTD)
JCPTGP Joint Committee for Postgraduate Training in General Practice (Based at RCGP)
JCSTD Joint Committee for Specialist Training in Dentistry (of the dental faculties of the Royal Colleges - based at RCSEng)
JPAC Joint Planning Advisory Committee
KITS Keeping in Touch Scheme
LAPRAP Local Audit & Peer Review Assessment Panel
LAS Locum Appointment – Service
LAT Locum Appointment – Training
LDC Local Dental Committee
LDS Licentiate in Dental Surgery (a basic qualification)
LIG London Implementation Group
LIZ London Initiative Zone
LMC Local Medical Committee
LMWAGs Local Medical Workforce Advisory Groups
MADEL Medical & Dental Education Levy
MCCD Membership in Clinical Community Dentistry
MChD Master of Dental Surgery
MDentSci Master of Dental Science
MDDUS Medical and Dental Defence Union of Scotland
MDS Master of Dental Surgery, or Minimum Data Set
MDU Medical Defence Union
MFDS Member of the Faculty of Dental Surgery
MFGDP(UK) Member of the Faculty of General Dental Practitioners (UK)
MGDS Membership in General Dental Surgery
MIA Medical Insurance Agency Ltd
MOD Ministry of Defence, or Mesio-occlusodistal
MOrth Membership in Orthodontics
MPS Medical Protection Society (the dental part of which is Dental Protection Ltd)
MRC Medical Research Council
MRI Magnetic Resonance Imaging
N/A Not Applicable
NAC National Advice Centre for Postgraduate Dental Education
NAHAT National Association of Health Authorities and Trusts
NCAS National Clinical Assessment Service
NCCPED National Centre for Continuing Postgraduate Education in Dentistry
NHS National Health Service
NHSE National Health Service Executive
NI National Insurance, or Northern Ireland
NICPMDE Northern Ireland Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
NICE National Institute for Clinical Excellence
NIDHSS Northern Ireland Department of Health and Social Services
NIGDSC Northern Ireland General Dental Services Committee
NOS National Occupational Standards
NPSA National Patient Safety Agency
NRPB National Radiological Protection Board (Dental Monitoring Services)
NTN National Training Number (held by specialist registrars)
NVQ National Vocational Qualification
O4C Options for Change
OFT Office of Fair Trading
ONS The Office for National Statistics
OPCS Office of Population Censuses and Surveys (now ONS)
OPT Orthpantomograph (a form of dental X-ray) (sometimes OPG is used but this is incorrect)
OSCE Objective Structured Clinical Examination
OU Open University
PAMs Professions Allied to Medicine
PBL Problem Based Learning
PCDs Professions Complementary to Dentistry, or Professionals Complementary to Dentistry
PCTs Primary Care Trusts
PDC Primary Dental Care
PDP Personal Development Plan, or Professional Development Portfolio
PDS Personal Dental Services
PDU Preventive Dentistry Unit
PES Public Expenditure Survey
PG Postgraduate
PGEA Postgraduate Education Allowance
PGMDE Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
PI Performance Indicator, or Periodontal Index
PLAB Professional and Linguistic Assessments Board
PMC Postgraduate Medical Centre
PPC Private Practice Committee
PRHO Pre-Registration House Officer (medical only)
Prn Whenever necessary
PT or p/t Part Time
QA Quality Assurance
QAA Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education
QCA Qualifications and Curriculum Authority (England and Wales)
R&D Research and Development
RAGMETS Regional Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training and Staffing
RCGP Royal College of General Practitioners
RCP retruded contact position
RCPS Glasg Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Glasgow
RCS Edin Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh
RCS Eng Royal College of Surgeons of England
RCS Irel Royal College of Surgeons of Ireland
RDO Regional Dental Officer
RDOS Regional Dental Officer Service (the Scottish version of DRS)
RDRD Regional Director of Research and Development
REDG Regional Education and Development Group
RHA Regional Health Authority (extant until 31 March 1996)
RITA Record of In-Training Assessment
RLG Research Liaison Group
RPD removable partial denture
RVTC Regional Vocational Training Committee
SAC Specialist Advisory Committee of the JCSTD
SAMS Self-Assessment Manual of Standards
SCUMDERS Standing Committee on University Medical and Dental Education and Research (pronounced as a word)
SCOPME Standing Committee on Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education (pronounced as a word)
SCPMDE Scottish Council for Postgraduate Medical and Dental Education
SDAC Standing Dental Advisory Committee
SDL Self-Directed Learning
SDO Senior Dental Officer
SDR Statement of Dental Remuneration
SDVTC Scottish Dental Vocational Training Committee (of SCPMDE)
SDVTECC Scottish Dental Vocational Training Equivalence and Certification Committee (of SCPMDE)
SHHD Scottish Home and Health Department
SHO Senior House Officer
SI Statutory Instrument
SIFTR Service Increment for Teaching & Research
SMP Statutory Maternity Pay
SNTN Scottish National Training Number (the Scottish equivalent of NTN)
SQA Scottish Qualifications Authority
SpR Specialist Registrar
STA Specialist Training Authority of the medical Royal Colleges
STC Specialty Training Committee
SSP Statutory Sick Pay
Supn Superannuation
SVQ Scottish Vocational Qualification
SWAG Specialist Workforce Advisory Group
TAGI Target Annual Gross Income (for GDPs working in the GDS)
TANI Target Annual Net Income (for GDPs working in the GDS)
TMJ Temporomandibular Joint
TQM Total Quality Management
UK United Kingdom
UMT Unit of Medical Time
URL Uniform Resource Locator
UUK Universities United Kingdom (formerly the Committee of Vice Chancellors & Principles).
UV ultraviolet
VDP Vocational Dental Practitioner (the name for trainee dentists)
VDU Visual Display Unit
VSpR Visiting Specialist Registrar
VT Vocational Training, or Vocational Trainee
VTN Visiting Training Number (held by visiting specialist registrars)
VTS Vocation Training Scheme
WAGMETS Welsh Advisory Group on Medicine, Education, Training & Staffing (pronounced as a word)
WDC Workforce Development Confederation
WGDSC Welsh General Dental Services Committee
WHCSA Welsh Health Common Services Agency
WTE Whole-Time Equivalent
WWW World Wide Web
