Whoever signs the paychecks gets to make the rules. - nm

Who says its not okay? - ITA

One of my accounts wants everything possible abbreviated in the diagnosis - H/O (history of), S/P (status post), DX/TX (diagnosis/treatment), SAR (seasonal allergic rhinitis), IBS, TIA, MI, LUQ, RUQ, LBP... and guess what?  They are his notes.  He can have them anyway he wants them.  And he is not "wrong." 

Another account - everything in the note, top to bottom, must be spelled out.  They too get their notes how they want them.  And they are not "right." 

The only beef you should have is if you were told one way and they are now dunning you for it, or if you were not instructed regarding this at all and used your own judgment ... which is fine, left to my own call I would spell everything out too.  But it is not written in stone that one way is right and the other way is wrong.

(Written in the BOS, maybe .. which many believe to be part of the stone tablets .. but BOS is not the absolute final say in wrong and right, it is just someone's idea of what should be done).

Thank you! - Ann

old mt - old,tired MT

trying to save money. Sigh. Give them what they want. nm - Depends on the client specs. Maybe they are

The account that likes abbreviations (sm) - ITA

Pays by the page, and his notes are always .. ALWAYS .. two pages.  Using abbreviations has never made 2 pages into 1.  So, in this case anyway, it is not about saving money ... it is simply personal preference. 

Which answers the OP's original question - "When did this become okay?"  It became okay when it is what your account/dictator decided that is what they want. 

The only thing that "has to be" done is following their specs, not what some book or organization tells you is The Right Way, The Only Way.