Table of Contents
Discussion: Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Discussion: Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Discussion: Diagnosis and Treatment Plan
Week 8 – Assignment 1 Discussion Assignment 1: SOAP Note Each week, you are required to enter your patient encounters into eMedley. Your faculty will be checking to ensure you are seeing the right number and mix of patients for a good learning experience. You will also need to include a minimum of one complete SOAP note using the SOAP Note template. SOAP Note: Choose one patient from an area of weakness identified from the Week 1 Pre-Predictor Exam and submit a SOAP note of this patient. Remember to remove all forms of patient identification from the SOAP note format. Provide a reference (s) for the differential diagnosis and treatment plan in APA format. The reference should be within a 3-5 year time frame and come from a textbook, guideline, or currently published peer reviewed journal article. Submission Details: By Wednesday, November 29, 2017, enter your patient encounters into eMedley and complete at least one SOAP note in the template provided. Include the reference number from eMedley in your document. Submit your SOAP note into the discussion area below by Sunday, November 26, 2017 along with clinical insights about your case. Respond to two peers with a substantial response that includes supportive references by Wednesday, November 29, 2017.
What is a differential diagnosis?
Not every health disorder can be diagnosed with a simple lab test. Many conditions cause similar symptoms. For example, many infections cause , , and . Many cause sadness, , and .
A differential diagnosis looks at the possible disorders that could be causing your symptoms. It often involves several tests. These tests can rule out conditions and/or determine if you need more testing.
How is it used?
A differential diagnosis is used to help diagnose physical or mental health disorders that cause similar symptoms.
How will my provider make a differential diagnosis?
Most differential diagnoses include a physical exam and a health history. During a health history, you’ll be asked about your symptoms, lifestyle, and previous health problems. You’ll also be asked about your family’s health problems. Your provider may also order lab tests for different diseases. Lab tests are often done on blood or .
If a mental health disorder is suspected, you may get a mental health screening. In a mental health screening, you will be asked questions about your feelings and mood.
The exact tests and procedures will depend on your symptoms.
For example, you may see your health care provider because you have a skin rash. Rashes can be caused by a wide variety of conditions. Causes can range from mild allergies to life-threatening infections. To make a differential diagnosis of a rash, your provider may:
- Do a thorough exam of your skin
- Ask you if you been exposed to any new foods, plants, or other substances that could cause an allergy
- Ask about recent infections or other diseases
- Consult medical text books to compare your how your rash looks to rashes in other conditions
- Perform blood and/or skin tests
These steps can help your provider narrow down the choices of what is causing your rash.
What do my results mean?
Your results may include information about conditions you don’t have. It’s important to learn this information to narrow down the possibilities of potential disorders. The results may also help your provider figure out which additional tests you need. It can also help determine which treatments might help you.
Is there anything else I need to know about a differential diagnosis?
A differential diagnosis can take a lot of time. But it can help make sure you get the right diagnosis and treatment.
The medical information provided is for informational purposes only, and is not to be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please contact your health care provider with questions you may have regarding medical conditions or the interpretation of test results.
