As of 2004, JCAHO came out with a Do Not Use list of abbreviations.

In the world of electronic charting, many of you have never written a paper prescription, but there are many opportunities even on the computer to type out your own instructions and even some of these abbreviations may find their way into the chart.  In addition, there are many hospitals that are still paper based.

DO NOT USE                                       ACCEPTED

U                                                             Unit

IU                                                           International Unit

QD or QOD                                          Daily or every other day

8. or .8                                                  8 or 0.8 (decimal use)

MS, MS04 or MgSO4                       Morphine or Magnesium

Ug                                                          mcg

H.S.                                                        half strength or “at bedtime” (depending on how you are using it)

TIW                                                        three times a week

S.C. or S.Q                                           Sub Q

D/C                                                        Discharge

Cc                                                           ML

AD/AS/AU or                                     right/left or both ears

OD/OS/OU                                         right/left or both eyes

http://www.csahq.org/pdf/bulletin/issue_3/dailey.pdf

Linda Regan, MD FACEP

Program Director, Emergency Medicine Residency

Johns Hopkins Medical Institutions