Thursday, July 28, 2016

VisualDx Minute--Tutorial, Diagnosis Challenge, and more!





IN A KEYNOTE address last month, American Medical Association CEO James Madara, MD, likened many of the digital health products saturating the medical landscape to "snake oil," earning a host of comments and reactions in the medical tech world. Dr. Madara in particular focused his wrath on direct-to-consumer health apps and ineffective electronic health records (EHRs). But does hucksterism and hype end with digital health information in medicine? What about expensive new "miracle drugs" that almost bankrupt patients and are later proved to have minimal benefit? Or research breakthroughs that are news headlines and never pan out? The fact is that we are enamored with the latest and greatest - what's hot, what everyone is talking about. So let's add to the list of buzzwords: "analytics," "big data," "proteomics," "biomics" and "precision medicine" are just a few new words promising the transformation of your health. What fascinates me about the current health technology landscape is how the quest for new is diverting technology development away from the essential challenges of practicing clinical medicine today. I think this is what Dr. Madara is speaking to.

READ MORE of Dr. Art Papier's blog to learn how productive technology can "bring back the joy of practicing medicine."

 



UPDATED TUTORIAL VIDEOS for the web-based version of VisualDx are now available. See the latest features included in VisualDx such as the DDx strength indicator, how to filter your images within a diagnosis, the refreshed diagnosis pages with expert clinical content, and updated homepage. Or refresh your skills on the differential builder, smart search, patient engagement, sort and filter on the differential results page, medication adverse events, and editing your findings.


AS A THIRD-YEAR medical student, my daily routine revolved around clinical duties, outside study with reference materials, and daily clinical image quizzes with VisualDx. The first two I certainly expected to improve my clinical acumen but I never anticipated the latter would intersect with patient care. The quizzes were simply meant to improve my pattern recognition skills, matching physical exam findings with specific disease processes.

That interpretation, however, was quickly dispelled during my surgery clerkship. On that clerkship, I had the opportunity to work one-on-one with my attending - the advantage of rotating at a branch campus. My attending gave me "first crack" at admitted patients and in clinic, testing my clinical skills and filling in my (admittedly large) blind spots.

No patient challenged me (and my attending) more than James*. This was his third admission to the hospital in the past few months or so. Our 24-year-old had a chronic wound on his leg that wouldn't heal. Despite several rounds of IV antibiotics and debridement, his course continued to worsen. My attending, as always, let me see him first.

READ MORE of the story to learn how the VisualDx quiz led to the diagnosis of the patient.

*Patient's personal details have been changed for confidentiality.

 


Tell us how VisualDx has helped you to make a diagnosis, and be entered for a chance to WIN AN IPAD! Entries must be received by August 31, 2016.


A 28-YEAR-OLD man visited the doctor with a fever and complaints of tiredness, myalgia, and sore throat. He has pink scaly papules on his palms and soles and has noticed patchy alopecia developing on his scalp recently.

Can you diagnose the patient? Use the Differential Builder in VisualDx to help you.

Look for the answer on our Facebook page on Tuesday, August 2. Follow us on Facebook for a new quiz every Monday!



        

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