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Career Abbreviations
med term - physician, nursing, emergency, dental, informatics, transcription
Term | Definition |
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MD | Doctor of Medicine: a title that is granted upon completion of a rigorous course of study in an accredited medical school, enabling the titleholder to examine patients, recommend a course of treatment, and prescribe medication |
DO | Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine: title that is equivalent to an MD, but focuses more on holistic and alternative solutions to medical issues |
OB/ GYN | obstetrician: physician who specializes in monitoring the health of mothers and babies during pregnancy, labor, and childbirth |
PT | Physical Therapist: a medical professional who attempts to reduce dysfunction in the musculoskeletal system by improving joint mobility, muscle strength, balance, and coordination; also called a physiotherapist |
nurse | a medical professional who provides therapeutic care for patients in order to improve or maintain their health |
CNA | certified nurse's aide: a medical professional who provides patients with basic healthcare treatments and procedures |
LPN | licensed practical nurse: medical professional who provides hands-on care for patients under the supervision of registered nurses and doctors |
RN | registered nurse: a medical professional who can work independently to provide direct care by observing, evaluating, and treating patients |
APRN | advanced practice registered nurse: medical professional who has an advanced post-graduate degree in a nursing discipline, such as anesthesia or midwifery |
NP | nurse practitioner: advanced practice registered nurse who has a master’s degree or PhD in nursing |
DNP | Doctor of Nursing Practice: degree awarded to nurses based on clinical practice that allows them to practice medicine independently as nurse practitioners |
EMT | emergency medical technician: medical professional who responds to emergency calls in ambulances, performs medical services, and takes patients to hospitals and medical facilities |
EMT certification | a state certification for the ability to provide basic emergency care and transportation for critical patients, as well as the ability to use life support equipment and skills |
AEMT (Advanced Emergency Medical Technician) certification | a state certification for the ability to conduct interventions on critical patients and to use life support equipment and skills |
paramedic certification | the highest level of state certification for an emergency medical technician certifying the ability to perform advanced life support skills in addition to interventions and life support equipment and skills |
DH | dental hygienist: medical professional who examines and cleans the teeth and mouth, performs preventive treatments, and educates patients about oral health under the supervision of a licensed dentist |
LDH/ RDH | A DH can also be called a licensed dental hygienist (LDH) or a registered dental hygienist (RDH) |
DA/ CDA | dental assistant/ certified dental assistant: a medical professional who prepares dental tools and materials, assists hygienists and dentists, and sometimes works as a receptionist |
BMET | biomedical equipment technician: medical professional who maintains and operates medical equipment, such as ultrasound, CAT scan, and dialysis machines |
health informatics | a branch of health information management that uses computer systems to gather, organize, maintain, and store patients' healthcare data |
CIS | clinical information system: electronic database that stores important healthcare information, such as health records and prescriptions |
CIS specialist | a health informatics professional who manages clinical information systems by entering data, managing data, generating data reports, and maintaining the applications and systems needed to keep data safe and secure |
health information administrator | a professional who oversees health informatics issues that come up in the workplace, such as computer system crashes or the installation of new healthcare software |
RHIT | Registered Health Information Technician: given to an individual to demonstrate knowledge of techniques for managing electronic patient data and medical records |
CHPS | Certified in Healthcare Privacy and Security: given to an individual to demonstrate knowledge of techniques for securing the privacy and security of sensitive patient and healthcare information |
CHDA | Certified Health Data Analyst: given to an individual to demonstrate knowledge of techniques for analyzing information, specifically with electronic health records |
medical transcriptionist | a health informatics specialist who records physicians’ oral notes for patient records |
RMT | Registered Medical Transcriptionist: a certification that indicates that an individual has the essential skills and knowledge to work as a medical transcriptionist |
CMT | Certified Medical Transcriptionist: a certification that indicates that an individual has expert knowledge in medical transcription |
CCS - P | Certified Coding Specialist – Physician Based: given to an individual to demonstrate knowledge of medical coding, specializing in physician-based settings |
CCS | Certified Coding Specialist: given to an individual to demonstrate knowledge of techniques for medical coding, specializing in hospital practice settings |