Complaining about Chiefs
What is a "Chief Complaint"?
The reason a patient or family/bystanders called 911.
What does the "P" in OPQRST stand for?
Provocation/Palliation
What does "SAMPLE" stand for?
S-Signs and Symptoms
A-Allergies to Medications
M-Medications Prescribed/Taken
P-Pertinant Medical History
L-Last Oral Intake
E-Events Leading Up To....
What letter of SAMPLE would a patient's use of tobacco fall under?
P
What is a differential diagnosis?
Possible causes of the patient's symptoms and presentation.
What red fruit is often mistaken for a vegetable?
Tomato
Why do we document "patients' own words"?
Provides patient perspective and provides clarity.
What is a pertinent negative?
A pertinent negative is a sign or symptom that a medical professional would typically expect to find given the patient's primary complaint, but the patient denies experiencing it.
What class of medications should amplify your index of suspicion in trauma patients?
Anticoagulants/Blood Thinners
What is the CAGE questionnaire used to screen for?
Alcohol dependence
Why is pattern recognition important for providers?
Allows quick identification of critical conditions based on experience.
What crunchy "vegetable" comes in green, yellow, orange, or red and is a fruit?
Bell Peppers
When a patient is altered or unconscious at an MVC, what is a deciding factor for patient care?
The MOI.
What is "Onset"?
What the patient was doing when the complaint presented, and a specific time when the symptoms began.
What are two medications that may indicate a patient has a history of cardiac problems?
Beta Blockers/ACE Inhibitors/anti-hypertensives
If a patient is experiencing chest pain, what portion of the OPQRST acronym would have the patient describe their pain?
Q
What is an anchoring bias?
Focusing too early on a single diagnosis and ignoring other possibilities.
This green fruit is essential for tacos, but it is not a vegetable.
An avocado
Why do we ask for a chief complaint?
Prioritize questions, structure assessment, and aspect focus.
What is "Palliation"?
Anything that makes a patients symptoms subside/makes a patient feel better.
Why do we ask patients if they have any allergies to medications?
To avoid harmful risks and complications, and ensure quality of care.
What is the best assessment finding for quickly evaluating if a patient is in a state of hypoperfusion without having to even touch the patient?
Skin signs
What concurrent signs with abdominal pain should throw up a red flag for a provider treating a patient?
Sudden onset, rigidity, signs of bleeding or shock, unexplained bruising.
Another vegetable, like a fruit, that is typically either sliced and added to sandwiches.
Cucumber
What is an example of a "vague" chief complaint?
Just say something vague, like there are at least 200 answers I can think of.
What are "Associated Signs and Symptoms"?
Symptoms, separate from the chief complaint, that frequently accompany or are expected to present with certain complaints. (Nausea with chest pain/chest wall pain with a cough).
What are 2 locations you may find a patient's prescribed medications or a medication list?
Refrigerator, bathroom, bedside
What is a good question to ask a patient who is complaining of swollen legs, with one of their legs presenting as warm to the touch and painful?
Have you traveled recently?
Validates your clinincal reasoning and helps continuity of care.
This purple plant resembles a vegetable and is often found in stir-fries, but it is actually a berry.
Eggplant