6 Guidelines for Using Numbers
Clinically Important Numbers
In medical reports, clinically important information (demographics, vital statistics, lab values, drug dosages, classification descriptions, etc.) is expressed in arabic numerals.
Examples
Her PET scan showed 3 nodular lesions.
She took 4 Tylenol #3 today.
The patient will be seen in 3 weeks for a followup.
Exceptions
When consecutive numbers are dictated, spell out the first number.
Example: Three 1 L solutions were used.
If the first word in a sentence is a number, spell it out.
Example: Two small cysts are seen on the left kidney.
However, in the ANESTHESIA, DRAINS, and BLOOD LOSS sections of operative reports, it is common to start a sentence with a numeral.
Example: BLOOD LOSS: 100 mL
Age
Always use numerals and remember your hyphenation rules!
Examples
He was only 20 years old.
She is 9 months old.
The 29-year-old male was admitted to McMaster Medical Centre.
A 3-month-old female was seen in the emergency room.
Dates
In medical documents, use arabic numbers to express dates.
If the day follows the month, express it in arabic numbers. NEVER use ordinals in dates of letters, memos, reports.
If the date is in the form of month, day and year, express the day and year in figures. Note: Always follow the year with a comma unless it appears at the end of a sentence.
Examples
We will meet on December 6 at the office.
Today’s date is October 27, 2021. The patient was last seen on December 6, 2017.
I will see the patient on January 26, 2022, in my office.
In the closing of most medical reports:
D: xx/xx/20xx (date report is dictated: unknown for class purposes)
T: xx/xx/20xx (date report is transcribed)
If you use this format, be sure that you consistently use either ‘month-day-year or ‘day-month-year, depending on the order preferred by your workplace
Time
Use arabic numbers to express time.
Some medical facilities follow the military style of expressing time (no colons, no a.m. or p.m. when using military time, but can add the word ‘hours’ for clarity).
Examples
Pack your bags right away, so we can make the 5:20 p.m. flight.
Male baby delivered at 1400.
Female baby born at 7 AM (don’t add the ‘:00’when it is the exact hour)
We made an incision at the 3-o’clock position (this format is used when you are discussing the position on a round part of the anatomy, such as your eye)
Measurements, percentages, and other mathematical expressions
Use arabic numbers.
Examples
The patient’s height is 4 feet 6 inches, and her weight is 120 pounds.
A 5-inch incision was made.
The mass on her head was 1 x 3 cm total. (NOT 1 times 3 cm)
A $2.5 billion donation was given to the family for treatment.
The patient has 20/20 vision in her left eye.
The solution was diluted to 1:45.
Pulses are 2+.
Blood Pressure is 120/80.
Temperature is 37º (or 37 degrees)
Flexion is 45°(or 45 degrees)
1-to-1 comparison
Percent
Use the symbol immediately after the number, with no space in between the number and symbol.
Example: This is only a 30% increase in iron levels.
Use the word ‘percent’ when the number is written out.
Example: Fifty percent of the nurses agree on the issue.
When transcribing a range of percentages, include the percent symbol immediately after each number in the range.
Example: His ejection fraction is in the 20% to 30% range (NOT 20 to 30% range)
Fractions
In technical writing or in physical measurements, use arabic numbers to express fractions.
Nonmetric units (inches, feet, ounces): use mixed numbers.
Examples:
He is 6-1/2 feet tall. (nonmetric units)
The surgery took 3-3/4 hours. (Minutes, days, hours, weeks, months, years are nonmetric units. Seconds are metric units of time.)
Metric units (cm, l, m): use decimals.
If the number is less than 1, add a 0 before the decimal.
Examples:
The scar is 2.5 cm in length.
She was given 0.5 mg of Valium.
Local anesthesia was achieved using 0.5% Xylocaine. (NOT .5%)
Exceptions
If the fraction describes a general estimate, spell out the fraction in words.
Examples:
He makes only half of what she makes. (general estimate, no units)
He smokes about one-half pack of cigarettes on most days.
He can extend his knee about two-thirds of the normal range.
Sutures and Blades
Blades: Example: #15 blade was used to make the incision.
Sutures: Usually include a # symbol before the suture size.
- USP System (all types of suture materials):
- Sizes range from 11-0 (smallest) to 7 (largest).
- Example: Size 9-0 stands for nine 0’s in a row, 000000000. Transcribe it as 9-0, where 9 is for the number of zeros, followed by a hyphen, followed by the digit “0” without a space.
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- Sizes greater than 0 are expressed by whole numbers.
- Example: “Number two Prolene…” is transcribed as #2 Prolene.
- Brown and Sharp Gauge (stainless steel sutures only):
- Whole numbers from 40 through 20 are used to specify the size (40 is the smallest, 20 is the largest).
- Example: “Number thirty stainless steel wire…” is transcribed as #30 stainless steel wire.
Addresses
Use arabic numbers for house numbers or apartment unit numbers.
Spell out the street name if it contains numbers ten or below; if the numbers are above ten, express the names in figures.
Examples
The store is located on First Avenue.
My address is 17815 N. 13th Avenue.
His address is 13038 N. Westgate Drive
The clinic has moved to 36 Exeter Road, Ste. 5. (Ste. Is the abbreviation for Suite)
References
Lowe, C. (2015). Suture Types/Brand Names. Retrieved September 2020, from Quizlet: https://quizlet.com/72494594/suture-typesbrand-names-flash-cards/
Mastering Medical Transcripion. (2008, November). Retrieved September 2020, from Blogger.com: http://masteringmt.blogspot.ca/2008/11/transcribing-suture-sizes-in.html
Sims, L. M. (2008). The Book of Style for Medical Transcription (3rd ed.). Modesto, California, United States of America: Association for Healthcare Documentation Integrity.
Numbers that indicate a position in a list, such as 4th, 5th, 6th.
Mixed numbers have a hyphen between the whole number and the fraction.Example: 2-2/3 (two and two thirds)
United States Pharmacopeia
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