The Science Behind the Art – The Rational Clinical Exam

This episode aired on Sunday April 10, and the free podcast download is now available on our iTunes page!

In this episode, we investiage the application of a patient’s history and physical exam in the diagnosis of illness and the importance of using evidence-based medicine in practice.

Featured Guest: Dr. David Simel, faculty member in the Dept. of Internal Medicine at Duke University and Editor of the Rational Clinical Examination series published by JAMA Evidence — Learn more at JamaEvidence.com

As editor for this series, Dr. Simel has expanded his knowledge in the realm of evidence-based medicine. Hosts Avash Kalra and Lakshman Swamy discuss with Dr. Simel how the history and physical exam can be invaluable diagnostic tools when used as such. They also discuss the importance of practicing the simple tests and understanding the science behind them.  In this way, physicians can make definite decisions to better care for patients.

Dr. Simel also provides specific examples of situations where simple observations have prevented complications in his patients, emphasizing again the importance of basic physical signs that provide important information regarding the science behind symptoms.

Again, remember that, as always, the free-to-download podcast of this episode (and all past episodes) can be found on our iTunes page!

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