Q&A: Is there an approved list of abbreviations for Ascension Wisconsin?

Question: Is there an approved list of abbreviations for charting at Ascension Wisconsin?

Answer: After checking with Informatics, clinical educators and others in-the-know, we determined that there is currently NO official list of approved abbreviations for Ascension Wisconsin for documenting care in the EHRs.   Some sites may have their own approved abbeviations lists, but there is nothing standardized statewide.   

For reference and patient safety, there are several DO NOT USE abbreviation lists:

• The Joint Commission's Official "DO NOT USE" List.
• Facts about the Official "Do Not Use" List.

• The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) also keeps a list of error-prone abbreviations, symbols, and dose designations.

For a complete listing of what's possible, see
Dorland's Dictionary of Medical Acronymns (c2016) via Clinical Key.