Navigate Abbreviation Pitfalls

Abbreviations may save time now...but can end up costing later.

Any time saved by using medical abbreviations is often lost when those abbreviations need clarification. And if they cause errors, that’s even more time lost...and poses a real risk to patient safety.

In a prior case, the abbreviation “CAB” was used to order cabotegravir for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). But the patient got Cabenuva instead...which is for active HIV infection, not prevention.