Alphabet Soup - Some interesting common medical terms and acronyms

While some medical terms and acronyms are easy to decipher some are complex, some are funny and some are just impossible to remember. The acronym ARF (acute renal failure) while a dire diagnosis, makes me chuckle every time I see it documented. Make detecting medical documentation easier by recognizing common medical terms and acronyms. As published by AAPC in this April 2017 Healthcare Business Monthly (volume 4 number 4) below are a list of common pulmonary documentation medical terms and acronyms:

ABG Arterial blood gas

BiPAP Bi-level positive airway pressure

CF Cystic fibrosis

CB Chronic bronchitis

COPD Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

CPR Cardiopulmonary resuscitation

CXR Chest X-ray

DAD Diffuse alveolar damage

HAPE High altitude pulmonary edema

LRI Lower respiratory tract infection

OLD Obstructive or occupational lung disease

OSA Obstructive sleep apnea

PAP Positive airway pressure

PH Pulmonary hypertension

PI Pulmonary insufficiency

RT Respiratory therapist or therapy

SOB Shortness of Breath

TLC Total lung capacity

URI Upper respiratory infection