Posted: Jan 04, 2010
I know the 2nd ed. BOS says to use q.6 h. (with space between 6 and h), but I heard through the grapevine that this changed and now we're to eliminate the space - has anyone else heard this or has a copy of the 3rd ed. to disprove? Thanks in advance =)
q.6.h. - dsauverwald
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I have only seen it used as q.6.h.; however, I know there are several variations depending on account specifics and what style the company uses. I would ask your management what they prefer.
I did ask my boss and she thought it was with the space after the number, but then I opened my big mouth and said I heard it had changed. Fortunately, some other MTs said they heard the same thing, but unfortunately, no one can find proof of this rumor. I guess one of us is going to have to break down and buy the 3rd ed., rotten AAMT or whatever they call themselves now! LOL! Thanks for trying to help anyway - I really appreciate it ;) Thanks for your reply! - psychmt
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I've never seen it typed with a period after the number - I may be in more trouble than I thought =)
It is q.6 h. .....nm - vrvr
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nm
Unfortunately, this is probably something that you should verify with your client or account specifications. Even reference materials differ. I have given examples of what the Book of Style shows and what one of the Medical Transcriptionist “Schools” is teaching its students. So, it really depends on how the client wants it. Here is what the Book of Style says: "Use lowercase abbreviations with periods for Latin abbreviations that are related to doses and dosages. Avoid using all capitals because they emphasize the abbreviation rather than the drug name. Avoid lowercase abbreviations without periods because some may be misread as words." abbreviation Latin phrase English translation a.c. ante cibum before food b.i.d. bis in die twice a day gtt. guttaedrops (better to spell outdrops) n.p.o. nil per os nothing by mouth n.r. non repetatur do not repeat p.c. post cibum after food Depends on preference of client - BOS and schools - teach different ways - example in message
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p.o. per os by mouth
p.r.n. pro re nata as needed
q.4 h. quaque 4 hora every 4 hours
q.h. quaque hora every hour
q.i.d. quater in die 4 times a day
t.i.d. ter in die 3 times a day
u.d. ut dictum as directed
"Note: We have inserted a space after the numeral 4 in q.4 h. on the advice of the ISMP so that the number is more easily and clearly read."
"Invalid Latin abbreviations such as q.a.m. (every morning) and mixed Latin and English abbreviations such as q.4 hours (every 4 hours) have become commonplace. However, as with all abbreviations, avoid those that are obscure (like a.c.b. for before breakfast) or dangerous. For example, b.i.w. is both obscure and dangerous. It is intended to mean twice weekly, but it could be mistaken for twice daily, resulting in a dosage frequency seven times that intended."
"It is acceptable to express a range in dosage times in abbreviated format."
EXAMPLE
q.2-3 h.
q.4-6 h.
"Note: AHDI continues to discourage dropping periods in lowercase abbreviations that might be misread as words (for example, bid and tid). If you must drop the periods, use all capitals, but keep in mind that the overuse of capitals, particularly in relation to drug doses and dosages, would draw more attention to the capitalized abbreviations than to the drug names themselves."
Here is what one “school” is teaching its students:
p.r.n. - as needed
p.o. - by mouth
q.d. - every day
q.i.d. - four times a day
t.i.d. - three times a day
b.i.d. - twice a day
q.6h. - every six hours
q.8h. - every eight hours
q.12h. - every twelve hours
http://www.medical-transcription-online-training.com/
Good Luck.
q.6 h. is the correct, last version acc to the BOS...sm... - vrvr
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if schools teach something else, they teach wrong, outdated versions which can cause errors.
We have to do every 6 hours, never q 6 h - Answers
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It is what your company prefers.
Agree - dsauverwald
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I completely agree that it totally depends on what your company chooses to be acceptable. There are many different variations and no one book is 100% fool proof or correct. You can look in 3 different medical reference books and guaranteed not all 3 will match.
BOS - is not fact/law
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and teaching something other than what is in the BOS is not wrong.
