What does the abbreviation 'dx' stand for?

• A. Diagnosis
• B. Prescription
• C. Treatment
• D. Blood Pressure

Answer: (A)

dx stands for diagnosis, the determination of what condition is causing a patient’s symptoms. In medical notes and charts, dx is used as a concise label for the diagnosed disease or condition. The term comes from Greek roots meaning to know through or to distinguish. This is different from a prescription (what the clinician orders for the patient to take), a treatment (the care plan used to address the condition), or a vital sign like blood pressure. So when a clinician writes dx, it indicates the identified condition after evaluation.