What does I&O stand for in medical records?

• A. Intake and Output
• B. Inpatient and Outpatient
• C. Intravenous and Oral
• D. Immediate and Ongoing

Answer: (B)

I&O refers to Intake and Output, the record that tracks a patient’s fluid balance. Intake includes all fluids a patient receives—drinks, IV fluids, tube feedings, and any fluids given with medications. Output is all fluid losses—urine, vomiting, diarrhea, wound drainage, suctioned fluids, and other fluid losses. Monitoring this balance helps clinicians assess hydration status, kidney function, and how treatments like diuretics or IV fluids are affecting the patient.

The other options don’t fit because they describe settings or methods rather than the fluid balance concept: care settings (inpatient vs. outpatient) aren’t about fluids; routes of administration (intravenous and oral) describe how fluids are given, not the balance being tracked; and immediate versus ongoing isn’t a standard label for this record.