After visiting my Grandfather at the hospital tonight (hip replacement, doing well, thanks), and hearing repeated pages on the intercom system, I have the following question -
What exactly is “stat” the short form for? I know it implies an urgent response required, but what is the actual word it replaces?
Doctors / nurses / EMTs / anyone?
The Latin word statim, meaning immediately.
Merriam Webster’s says it’s from the Latin statim. (See the entry for stat[1], in the middle of the list.)
Thank you both.
Medical facilities, hospitals in particular, use an amazing number of abbreviations and terms left over from Latin. The one I always liked, and adopted myself from when I worked in an operating suite, was writing “c” with a line over the top of it to mean “with” (from Latin cum) rather than w/, and “s” with a line over the top of it to mean “without” (from Latin sine {two syllables}), instead of w/o. It always confuses those who are reading my writing.
I kinda like the term adipose tissue. I means fat but sounds a little better.