The challenge of the undifferentiated patient
Andrew Travers
Search for more papers by this authorAndrew Travers
Search for more papers by this authorDavid C. Cone MD
Professor of Emergency Medicine
Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
Search for more papers by this authorJane H. Brice MD, MPH
Professor of Emergency Medicine
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorTheodore R. Delbridge MD, MPH
Executive Director
Maryland Institute for Emergency Medical Services Systems, Baltimore, Maryland
Search for more papers by this authorJ. Brent Myers MD, MPH
Chief Medical Officer ESO Associate Medical Director
Wake County EMS, Raleigh, North Carolina
Search for more papers by this authorSummary
The undifferentiated patient can be a complex and challenging problem in the prehospital setting. Emergency medical services clinicians must recognize the importance of clinical reasoning related to both the line of medical inquiry and tempering this with their clinical decision making. By recognizing effective strategies to optimize collecting a history, conducting a physical exam, and using diagnostic tests, they will reduce and prevent medical error, leading to improved patient safety.
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