Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – An Elderly Woman Presents to the Emergency Room Confused and Disoriented Bonus Follow-Up Question included in answer explanation. An elderly woman is brought to the emergency room of a local hospital after she is found wandering along the street and, upon questioning by the police, is noted to be confused and disoriented. In the emergency room, … Read More
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – A 56-year-old, Post-menopausal Woman with Enlarging Abdomen
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – A 56-year-old, post-menopausal woman with enlarging abdomen A 56-year-old, post-menopausal woman presents with the complaint of an enlarging abdomen. She states that she noticed her dresses becoming tighter over the past 2 months. She measured her abdominal girth a few days ago and noted that it was 3 inches larger than her usual size. She has … Read More
Learning Is Not Just Retention – Complex Questions vs Learning Questions: How We Remember and Why Question Types Matter
Learning, the acquisition and retention of the information that helps us navigate the world, is simple as a concept. The actual psychological process of it, however, is intricate and complex. Before talking about how we retain and learn materials, it is important to recognize that retention is just one part of learning, and that other components such as meaning, perception of … Read More
The Big Miss: Cognitive Bias and the Problem of Misdiagnosis
The problem of cognitive bias and its important role in misdiagnosis is well documented. The phenomenon of cognitive bias can take several forms and affects the capacity of both new clinicians and seasoned professionals. A consensus is emerging that clinicians need to be aware of cognitive biases and practice educational and clinical strategies to reduce the effects of cognitive bias … Read More
POCUS, Point-of-Care Ultrasound: A New Paradigm in Clinical Medicine
If you haven’t heard about POCUS (point-of-care ultrasound) by now you must have been stranded on a deserted island, but if you’re just now back home and starting to get your wits about you, it’s time to get your knowledge base up to speed on this important technology. POCUS is revolutionizing the practice of medicine. The first thing you need … Read More
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – A 56-year-old woman presents with the complaint of shortness of breath
A 56-year-old woman presents with the complaint of shortness of breath. She indicates that the shortness of breath is precipitated by exertion and is worse at end of the day, particularly during the night when she has to sit on the side of the bed to catch her breath. She also notes a recent pattern of awakening once or twice … Read More
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – A 59-year-old Woman with Multiple Red Spots on Her Legs
A 59-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician with the complaint of multiple red spots on her legs of 2 days duration. A 59-year-old woman presents to her primary care physician with the complaint of multiple red spots on her legs of 2 days duration. She had been in good health with the exception of a lower urinary tract … Read More
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – A 53-year-old woman with acute onset of pain and swelling of the left leg.
Test your bedside diagnostic skills with this free clinical case question. A 53-year-old woman with a 6-month history of morning stiffness involving her wrist, fingers, and knees presents with the acute onset of pain and swelling of the left leg, more pronounced on walking. She states that she has had a large, soft lump in the back of the left … Read More
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – 16-year-old girl with lack of bowel movements
Test your bedside diagnostic skills with this free clinical case question. A 16-year-old girl is brought to her physician because of lack of bowel movements. The patient states that for the past 3 months, she has had a bowel movement only every other week. She describes them as normal in color and consistency. She has had no abdominal pain or … Read More
Bedside Diagnostic Challenge – A 54-year-old woman with attacks of pain, burning, and redness on hands and feet
Test your bedside diagnostic skills with this free clinical case question. A 54-year-old woman presents with attacks of pain, burning, and redness of her hands and feet. Attacks appear suddenly, last for a half-hour to an hour and are quite disabling. They occur every 2-3 days, are not related to activity, and have been occurring for about two weeks. Interestingly, … Read More