Commonly Confused Medical Abbreviations

In the medical field, abbreviations often are used to make the transcriptions and translations of medical terms, measurements and conditions more efficient. Although this system has benefits, dangerous misinterpretations can occur. To avoid confusion, the Institute for Safe Medical Practices advises that ambiguous abbreviations should not be used when an alternative is available. It is important that health care providers and patients be aware of the abbreviations that are most often confused and the possible mistakes in interpretation.

H.S.: Half Strength

• H.S. generally means half strength, but it can be mistaken to mean hour of sleep, which suggests the medication be taken at bedtime or the amount of dosing every hour. The Institute for Safe Medical Practices (ISMP) suggests it is best to write out "half strength' to avoid misinterpretation.

D/C: Discharge

• D/C typically means medications given at discharge. Howeven, if viewed on a person's file, it can be interpreted as "discontinue use" of whatever medications had been used.

Abbreviations for Drug Names

• Many drug types have similar abbreviations, and pharmacists and doctors can confuse them. ISMP recommends that health care providers write out the complete name of the medication prescribed. Patients should know the name of the intended medication before going to a pharmacy.

q.d or QD: Every Day

• This can be mistaken as q.i.d., which means four time per day.

qhs: Nightly at Bedtime

• This is often mistaken as "qhr," which means every hour. A health care provider should use "nightly" to avoid this mistake, according to ISMP.

Units of Measurement

• Abbreviations for units of measurement are often confused, either through misinterpretation or poor handwriting. It is best for the health care provider to write out the measurement unit desired, according to ISMP, and the patient should confirm the medication dosage before leaving the office.