Cardiac Diagnosis for Acute Care

Helps clinicians to systematically look beyond the obvious to arrive at a correct diagnosis

Written specifically for both novice and experienced cardiovascular clinicians in acute care settings, this is the only resource to focus on the art of conducting an in-depth patient history. Too often, patients will tell their first provider one thing and their second provider another. Even when asked the exact same question, patients’ stories can inexplicably change. Clinicians can save time, effort, and cost by parsing out conflicting patient histories with a specific and detailed line of questioning. If recorded accurately and interpreted correctly, a comprehensive history alone may obtain a correct diagnosis without exhaustive and expensive evaluations.

This book includes two clinical scenarios for chief complaints that cardiovascular clinicians may see in their practice. Unpacking these scenarios challenges clinicians to look beyond the obvious and recognize atypical presentations. Each scenario dissects then discusses the history and other pertinent patient information to illuminate subtle differences in the process of information gathering. With this breakdown, the clinician can then identify if the patient has an acute cardiovascular issue. Each chapter ends with a sample of “how to present the patient” to an MD or peer and describes common pitfalls and assumptions to avoid.