Your first patient encounter....are you ready?

My first patient encounter

You are a medical student, resident, pre-med student – wherever you are. You will have your first patient encounter. Of course, you want to shadow your first encounter. Medicine is about see one, teach one, do one. So, let’s go through your first encounter. Is this a yearly physical or acute visit?

We will discuss acute visits for this session.

Majority of your clinical diagnosis will come from your history and physical exam.

History – When did it start? What makes it better? Worse? Pain, on a scale. Have your patients point with one finger, to help locate the pain.

Important social, past surgeries/hospitalizations related to that encounter

Physical exam – Of course, you have a general exam by observing. Now, heart and lungs on each patient. Then narrow down what physical exam do you need? Go head to toe. What is pertinent? What did the patient have complaints/concerns about?

Now, gather your thoughts. Come up with a differential. I would also say when presenting to your attending, have 3 differential diagnosis in your head. You survived. You did it! Now, practice is the key to improve your encounters. That is why you are in training, learn all that you can.

We will discuss how to present to your attending in another BLOG. Until next time, you got this!