ABSTRACT
The world of medical diagnostics is very wide in range considering the socio-mental cum physical stand of the World Health Organisation(WHO) in its definition of health.
This paper is written with a view to resolving as much as possible all conflicts witnessed between doctors, nurses, medical records officers and patients.
The conflicts usually have Administrative, Technical and Behavioural orientation as applied to medical diagnostics. The paper targets every literate person capable of making health or scientific observations and clinical manifestations. However, it has therapeutic perspectives that may tend towards safety, occupational, environmental and psychological resolutions. A clinical expose’ with thought-provoking illustrations based on professional experience.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. PREFACE……………………………………………………… 2
1.0. Diagnosis……………………………………………………. 5
1.1. Potential Diagnosis………………………………………….. 6
1.2. Provisional Diagnosis………………………………………. 6
1.3. Differential Diagnosis…………………………………….. 7
1.4. Working (Leading) Diagnosis……………………………… 7
1.5. Pathological Diagnosis ……………………………………… 7
1.6. Final Diagnosis ……………………………………………… 8
2.THE DIAGNOSTIC PROCESS ………………………… 8
2.0. Diagnostic Hypothesis, testing and treatment ……………. 9
2.1. Diagnostic modification/refinement …………………….. 9
2.2. Diagnostic verification …………………………………….. 9
2.3. Diagnostic uncertainty …………………………………….. 10
2.4. Diagnostic certainty ………………………………………… 10
2.5. Diagnostic Errors ……………………………………………… 11
2.6. Diagnostic Bias …………………………………………….. 12
2.7. The four steps of the diagnostic process ……………………. 14
2.8. Nursing diagnosis …………………………………………… 14
2.9. Social/observational diagnosis ……………………………… 15
2.9.1 Pre-clerking observations ………………………………….. 15
2.9.2. Post-clerking observations ………………………………….. 15
2.9.3. Pre-Treatment observations ………………………………… 16
2.9.4. Post Treatment observations …………………………………. 16
2.9.5. Social Adaptations ………………………………………….. 17
3.0. Doctor-Medical Records Officer Conflicts …………………….. 18
3.01. Remedies ……………………………………………………. 18
3.10. Nurse-Medical Records Officer Conflicts …………………….. 19
3.11. Remedies ……………………………………………………… 19
3.20. Patients-Medical Records Officer Conflicts………………….. 20
3.21. Remedies ……………………………………………………… 20
3.30. Conclusion ……………………………………………………. 21
References ………………………………………………………….. 22