In trauma documentation, what does MVA stand for?

• A. Motor Vehicle Ambulance
• B. Motor Vehicle Collision
• C. Motor Vehicle Accident
• D. Motor Vehicle Association

Answer: (C)

In trauma notes, the phrase MVA is used to describe the mechanism of injury, specifically a motor vehicle accident. This expansion is the standard term in medical documentation, focusing on the event that caused the injuries rather than the responding vehicle or police terminology. It conveys that the patient was hurt due to a vehicle-related incident.

Ambulance refers to the responding vehicle, which isn’t what MVA stands for. The term collision might appear in some contexts, but the customary medical chart expansion for MVA is Motor Vehicle Accident, making it the best choice.