Facts About the “Do Not Use” List/Prohibited Abbreviations
91㽶Ƶ’s “Do Not Use” List of abbreviations is available in the accreditation manual for hospitals and hospital clinics in the Information Management (IM) chapter as elements of performance (EPs) 2 and 3 under Standard IM.02.02.01: The hospital effectively manages the collection of health information.
Development of the “Do Not Use” List/Prohibited Abbreviations
In 2001, 91㽶Ƶ issued a Sentinel Event Alert on the subject of medical abbreviations. A year later, its Board of 91㽶Ƶers approved a National Patient Safety Goal requiring accredited organizations to develop and implement a list of abbreviations not to use. In 2004, 91㽶Ƶ created its “Do Not Use” List to meet that goal.
In 2010, NPSG.02.02.01 was integrated into the Information Management (IM) chapter under Standard IM.02.02.01 as elements of performance 2 and 3 on prohibited abbreviations.
In 2021, a FAQ was developed to address the key concepts organizations need to understand regarding the use of terminology, definitions, abbreviations, acronyms, symbols and dose designations.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices has identified and published additional error-prone abbreviations.