Older Patients
"I fell yesterday and have a big bump on my head."
Potential intracranial bleeding.
"I need a refill on my inhaler."
Asthma flare up/ respiratory distress
"Worst headache of my life"
potential brain bleed
"I'm starting to have panic attacks."
PE, arrythmia, or MI masquerading as anxiety
My child is screaming with belly pain
appendicitis
Cat bite, patient over 60
Rapidly progressing infection.
Shortness of breath after surgery
PE
"One side of my face feels funny."
stroke
"I need medications to help me sleep."
Mental health risk
"My newborn baby won't wake up to feed."
Sepsis/serious illness
Older patient, unable to move due to pain
serious underlying condition
Persistent Cough and chest/lung pain
pneumonia/PE
My leg feels heavy
stroke
"I have indigestion"
cardiac event presenting atypically
"My four-year-old has a sore throat and is drooling."
Airway compromise or croup
"I've been nauseous for three days." (70 years old)
risk for dehydration, weakness, and poor oral intake
Shortness of breath while lying down
Heart failure/ Fluid overload
"I felt like passing out yesterday."
cardiac arrhythmia or other cardiac event
pain between shoulder blades and fatigue (woman)
atypical presentation of a serious cardiac condition (aortic dissection, MI)
My kid has been coughing non-stop all night.
Asthma, new or previous diagnosis.
altered mental status, over 60
possible medical emergency causing mental status changes. (sepsis)
"My chest feels tight."
Respiratory infection OR Cardiac cause of symptoms
BP 170/78 and headache
stroke, hypertensive emergency
Ear pain without respiratory issues
Possible jaw pain -- ACS (atypical presentation)
My child was staring off and wouldn't answer me for about 30 seconds.
Seizure activity/Absence seizure