Doctor Slang!
Thanks to
MedPundit for these stories about medical slang/acronyms:
a marvelous BMJ article, and
one from the BBC. I don't know of any doctors in the States that use slang like this in their notes, though it often surfaces in medical conversations. Except for one: "FLK" or funny looking kid, which pediatricians use a lot. It sounds awful, but what it really means is a kid who doesn't quite look right, who you suspect may have some genetic or metabolic problem but you aren't sure. "FLK with GLM" is even more worrisome - that's a funny looking kid with a good-looking mom... if the kid's parents don't look weird, that's another indication that the child may have a medical problem.
Check these out:
PFO (Pissed [i.e., drunk], Fell Over)
GPO (Good for Parts Only)
Oligoneuronal - of low intellect; literally means very few neurons
PRATFO - Patient reassured and told to "go away" (HA!!)
Rule of Five - If more than five orifices are obscured by plastic tubing, the patient�s condition is deemed critical
posted by Dr. Alice at #
