Differential Assessment

Diagnosis | Part Two – Allowing the Evidence to Speak For Itself
If you’ve made it this far, you’ve likely begun to see a few patterns emerge. If you have, do give yourself a proper at-a-boy or at-a-girl. Reaching this point without making assumptions as to what a patient’s diagnosis should be means you’re well on your way to becoming a world class diagnostician. No easy task given the amount of pressure you likely felt, back in school, to diagnose quickly.
In this, the final chapter, I’m going to do my best to pull it all together. To be honest, as I think about having to do this, I’m feeling a bit nervous. How can I possibly explain what I’ve learned about diagnosis during my past thirty years? Then again, as I check in with myself, I realize, I know this feeling. I felt this way back in school, when I got told, “Get to the point. What’s your diagnosis?” No pressure at all. Just make sure it’s what we approve of.
Argh . . . does this, “I don’t know enough” feeling ever go away? My answer may surprise you. No, it does not. The real question is, “Does this mean you should start looking for an easier career?” My answer this time? Absolutely not. Indeed—hopefully—right about now, you’re beginning to feel more like you’ve chosen the right career. And yes, revisiting so much of what you thought you already knew can be challenging. Then again, if you’ve made it this far, I know you have it in you to finish the job. Then too, you can always call “bullshit” on me for what you don’t agree with. This said, we’re almost done. So please, hang in there just a bit longer.