ABOG Acceptable Abbreviations

ABOG has a list of abbreviations but there are quite a few not listed?For Pap smear can I just put ASCUS?

This is a very relevant questionI will go into a little detail to explain why this is the case

Once you get Board Certified you will be certified for one year

You will have to immediately register for what is known as the ‘MOC’ -Maintenance of Certification

This is something you will have to do every yearIt repeats itself every six years

The majority of OBGYNs in the country are in the third year of the MOC process now

This year in April, they instituted a Patients Safety and Communication course

It is a series of 14 lectures in PowerPointYou have to go through and answer questions

One of the lectures is dedicated to communication and abbreviationsThis is very relevant

Some committee opinions about this as wellABOG thinks this is important Clinically, I think it is important too

Your examiner has to have read/watched this PowerPoint presentation in order maintain his Board Certified statusHe cannot be a board examiner without being Board Certified

Here is a situation where your examiner has definitely read this articleIt is important and very exam-relevant

If you were to use an abbreviation that is not ‘recognized’ like ASCUSAs long as your list is not hand-written (must be typed)

Everyone will recognize ‘ASCUS’

But if you are asked this issue in the exam, you need to be comfortable to say

I am aware that this is not a clinically recognized abbreviation

It is not my habit to use it in clinical paperwork, but for the purpose of the case list to keep it brief and because it’s typed, I was comfortable to use this abbreviation

I agree it is not a clinically recognized abbreviation

Point # 2

EX: From my case listI had a case of Congenital Adarenal Hyperplasia which I managed in conjunction with an REI specialistUnder his leadership I preformed an ACTH-Stim Test

Let me ask you; If you are an examiner, what would you rather read: Adrenocorticotropic Hormone Stimulation Test or ACTH-Stim Test?Clearly ACTH-Stim Test

What I am suggesting is that ACTH-Stim Test is not one of the ABOG recognized abbreviations I am talking about a different sub-category

Previously talking about clinically approved abbreviationsI’m now talking about ABOG recognized abbreviations for the purpose of the case list

ABOG’s list is about 25-30 abbreviationsThis is clearly not one of them

I think it is appropriate to use it, because its inappropriate to go and write out the whole thing

In Summation

Be prudent don’t over abbreviate because it smacks of lazinessBut if they do ask you -if this is a recognized abbreviationBe open and honest

In Summation

I don’t use it in clinical practiceI know it’s not a recognized abbreviationFor the purpose of the case list, I thought it would make it easier to read