Some useful tips on filling physicians records and sample physicians record of a history and examination of a health patient.
An approximate example of normal physical examination brief writeup is given here.
Abbreviations are often used in busy outpatient settings to describe patient's complaints, physical findings, diagnostic tests, etc. Mind not to overuse them, though. It might be a good idea to use abbreviations to write indicated diagnostic tests, prescriptions or questioner results (e.g. MMSE or GDS), but it is really confusing when clinical diagnosis is fool of abbreviations, especially of those very specific so that even a GP cant guess.
List of some commonly used abbreviations is given below.
Be sure to write your abbreviations READABLY!
Some examinations, like thyroid, breast and gynaecological (genitourinary) examination, DRE, part of HEENT examination requiring devices (like ophtalmoscope), may not be written down (though may also be), if they are already described during periodic examinations in the above chapters or are not performed by a physician in case there are no devices required or they are performed by other specialists or patient if referred to specialists for such examinations (but note, that a general practitioner/outpatient internist can perform all these physical examinations).
Write down additional information in additions to anamnesis if you lack free space in physicians records.
A&O x 3 Awake and oriented to person, place and time
A/O - Alert and oriented
AF, AFIB - atrial fibrillation
AFB acid-fast bacilli
ALT - Alanine Transaminase
ANA - Antinuclear Antibody
AST - Alanine Aminotransferase
ATPO , also TPO antibodies to Thyroid Peroxidase Antibodies
AXR adominal X-ray
BAC - Blood Alcohol Concentration
bd two times daily
BNP - Beta Natriuretic Peptide
BP blood pressure
BPH - benign prostatic hyperplasia
bpm beats per minute
BUN blood urea nitrogen
C/O - complains of
CHF congestive heart failure
CI - contraindications
CK MB heart CK
CK, (sometimes CPK) - creatine (phospho)kinase
CN cranial nerves
Cr ceatinine
CRP C-reactive protein
CT computer tomography
CVD cardiovascular disease
CXR chest X-ray
DM - diabetes mellitus
DQS dementia quick screen
DVT deep venous thrombosis
EGD, EGDS, OGDS - (o)esophagogastroduodenoscopy
ESR erythrocyte sedimentation rate
FBC fool blood count, the same as CBC common, or complete, blood count.