PCP
Abbreviation with 3 meanings
| Stands for | Primary care provider |
|---|---|
| Meanings | 3 |
| Categories | Medical |
PCP has three meanings. The most common are Primary care provider (medical documentation) and Pneumocystis pneumonia (infectious disease); it can also stand for Phencyclidine.
Meanings of PCP at a glance
| # | PCP stands for | Context |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Primary care provider | Medical › Medical Documentation |
| 2 | Pneumocystis pneumonia | Medical › Infectious Disease |
| 3 | Phencyclidine | Medical › Drug |
1. Primary care provider
Medical · Medical Documentation Abbreviations
Clinician who provides a patient's ongoing first-contact care, coordinates referrals and manages chronic conditions; may be a physician, nurse practitioner or physician assistant. Hospitals record the PCP for communication and follow-up.
Example: F/u with PCP in 1 week for BP check and medication review.
Originally "primary care physician"; "provider" now covers NPs and PAs. In infectious disease PCP means Pneumocystis pneumonia, and in toxicology phencyclidine (angel dust), so the clinical context matters. Many insurance plans require a designated PCP for referrals.
2. Pneumocystis pneumonia
Medical · Infectious Disease Abbreviations
Fungal lung infection caused by Pneumocystis jirovecii, seen in people with CD4 counts below 200, transplant recipients and patients on long-term steroids. It causes progressive breathlessness, dry cough and low oxygen levels, and is treated with high-dose trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, plus steroids if severe.
Example: Bilateral ground-glass opacities, LDH 520, CD4 60: presumed PCP, start TMP-SMX and prednisone.
The organism was formerly called Pneumocystis carinii, which gave PCP; after it was renamed P. jirovecii, many writers switched to PJP, though PCP survives as "PneumoCystis Pneumonia". Its appearance in young gay men in 1981 heralded the AIDS epidemic. In everyday healthcare PCP far more often means primary care provider.
3. Phencyclidine
Medical · Drug Abbreviations
Dissociative drug, known on the street as "angel dust", that causes hallucinations, agitation, numbness and sometimes violent behavior. It is a Schedule II controlled substance in the US because it once had a legitimate use as an anesthetic.
Example: UDS positive for PCP; agitated, vertical nystagmus noted; placed in low-stimulation room.
Phencyclidine was developed in the 1950s as a surgical anesthetic (Sernyl) but abandoned because of postoperative delirium; ketamine was developed in 1962 as a shorter-acting alternative. Vertical nystagmus is a classic sign of PCP intoxication. In clinical notes PCP more often means primary care provider or Pneumocystis pneumonia.
Related abbreviations
More medical documentation abbreviations
- NOS – Not otherwise specified
- O/E – On examination
- OLDCARTS – Onset, Location, Duration, Character, Aggravating factors, Relieving…
- PC – Presenting complaint
- PE – Physical examination
- PIE – Problem, Intervention, Evaluation
- pk-yr – Pack-year
- PMH – Past medical history
See all 79 medical documentation abbreviations →
More infectious disease abbreviations
- NTM – Nontuberculous mycobacteria
- OI – Opportunistic infection
- OPAT – Outpatient parenteral antimicrobial therapy
- PAPR – Powered air-purifying respirator
- PEP – Post-exposure prophylaxis
- PHN – Postherpetic neuralgia
- PLWH – People living with HIV
- PPD – Purified protein derivative (tuberculin skin test)
See all 92 infectious disease abbreviations →
This entry is for general education and is not medical advice. Abbreviation use varies between institutions; always confirm in context.