Diagnostics and Treatment

HS20-DT1 Explore the tools and procedures used to diagnose and monitor medical conditions.

HS20-DT2 Assess the importance of interpreting diagnostic findings to support treatment options for specific pathologies.

Key Terms and Ideas

Diagnostics (and Vital Signs)

• ____________ is “the process of determining (by examination) the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition and the subsequent decision reached.”�
• Diagnostics are important because they provide ___________________ (_____) with clarity regarding a health condition.
• Also can make healthcare ________________.
• Also (potentially) improves ____________ for a patient.��
• Leads to an _________________________ given the data collected!

Diagnostics (and Vital Signs)

• Diagnostics is “the process of determining (by examination) the nature and circumstances of a diseased condition and the subsequent decision reached.”�
• Diagnostics are important because they provide medical care providers (MCPs) with clarity regarding a health condition.
• Also can make healthcare more economical.
• Also (potentially) improves quality of life for a patient.��
• Leads to an evidence-based treatment given the data collected!

Triage and Patient Assessment of Pain

• _____ - the assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties.�
• ______________________ helps guide urgency of care - it is empowering for the patient as well.

Triage and Patient Assessment of Pain

• Triage - the assignment of degrees of urgency to wounds or illnesses to decide the order of treatment of a large number of patients or casualties.�
• Patient assessment of pain helps guide urgency of care - it is empowering for the patient as well.

Factors Influencing Use of Diagnostic Tools

• ____________ - Healthcare is a publicly-funded process in Saskatchewan guaranteeing everyone access to healthcare.�
• __________ - Some locations may be too isolated for the immediate use of specific diagnostic tools. �
• ________________�
• _____________ - May vary in amount based on combination of other factors.

Factors Influencing Use of Diagnostic Tools

• Money/Cost - Healthcare is a publicly-funded process in Saskatchewan guaranteeing everyone access to healthcare.�
• Availability - Some locations may be too isolated for the immediate use of specific diagnostic tools. �
• Severity of Illness�
• Dose Received - May vary in amount based on combination of other factors.

Patient

Using Multiple Diagnostic Tools

• Offer clarity on determining the health condition affecting the individual and determine treatment.�
• Previous __________________ may need to be considered.�
• Can take _____.

Using Multiple Diagnostic Tools

• Offer clarity on determining the health condition affecting the individual and determine treatment.�
• Previous factors (and urgency) may need to be considered.�
• Can take time.

Implications of Being Incorrect

• Operating on evidence from medical community to provide a best guess and determine treatment.�
• If wrong, patient could get incorrect treatment which can make symptoms worse or allow disease to progress untreated.�
• Certainty and consensus among MCPs is a necessity.�
• Can eliminate potential diseases to improve treatment for a patient.

Invasive (INV), Non-invasive (NIV), and Lab Tests

• _____________________ - A procedure in which access to the body is gained (skin may be “broke”). Can be via incision or needle.¹�
• ________________ - A procedure in which no skin or body cavity (beyond a “natural orifice” is entered.²�
• ___________ - Application of test strips or comparison to normal ranges from samples taken from a patient.³

Invasive (INV), Non-invasive (NIV), and Lab Tests

• Invasive Procedures (INV) - A procedure in which access to the body is gained (skin may be “broke”). Can be via incision or needle.¹�
• Non-invasive (NIV) - A procedure in which no skin or body cavity (beyond a “natural orifice” is entered.²�
• Lab tests - Application of test strips or comparison to normal ranges from samples taken from a patient.³

Patient Responsibility and Expectations

• Certain tests require responsibilities from the patient to improve the effectiveness of the procedure.
• ________
• ____________
• ________
• ________________�
• Sometimes patients fail to meet expectations then get frustrated with MCPs.

Patient Responsibility and Expectations

• Certain tests require responsibilities from the patient to improve the effectiveness of the procedure.
• Fasting
• Drinking water
• Eating
• Dye Consumption�
• Sometimes patients fail to meet expectations then get frustrated with MCPs.

Self-Assessments & Sex-Specific Diagnostics

• There are many self-assessments of your health you can (and should) regularly perform!�
• Biological Females: Breast Self-Exam�
• Biological Males: Testicular Exams�
• Biological sex-specific Diagnostic Tests: Mammograms, “Pap Smear”, Prostate Exams

Non-invasive Tools

Medical Imaging Tools

MRI

CT

PET

Lab Tests

Online Tools

Sask EHealth Registering - Link

Availability of Medical Records online!

Healthline - Call 811

Applying Diagnostic Tools for Treatment

HS20-DT2 Assess the importance of interpreting diagnostic findings to support treatment options for specific pathologies.

Medical Community�& the Importance of Having Baseline Images/Stats

• Regular self-assessments provide patients with a baseline for what is normal for them.�
• MCPs make comparisons to “normal” anatomical or physiological examples.�
• Medical journals from around the world offer diverse records and potential clues/references for diagnoses. �(Note: most medical shows lean heavily into this as a plot foundation).

Medical Imaging Report

• What all does this tell you?�
• What do you conclude from the report?
• Treatment?
• Explanation of the event?
• Any unfamiliar words you have to google?

Vitals Assessment

Patient’s Vitals are as follows:

• 110/70 mmHg
• 60 Bpm
• 99%
• 12 breaths/min
• 37℃

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Are they good?

Patient’s Vitals are as follows:

• 135/95 mmHg
• 105 Bpm
• 93%
• 18 breaths/min
• 38℃

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Are they good?

Patient’s Vitals are as follows:

• 90/60 mmHg
• 55 Bpm
• 80%
• 16 breaths/min
• 36.6℃

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Are they good?

X-Ray Assessment�There is a stress fracture in the 4th metatarsal of the patient’s right foot. �Can you see it?

X-Ray Assessment�Why would saying “a broken foot” be problematic?�Why use this medical imaging tool?�What other questions might be asked about the injury (before or after imaging)?�What is a proposed treatment?

Ultrasound Assessment

Some key distinguishable features at 20-week ultrasound:

• Genitalia
• Urine flow
• Sagittal Sign: Caudal notch at end of spine <10° downward = female, >30° upward = male.

Is it a boy?

Is it a girl?

Does it matter to you?

Can make a variety of measurements and comparisons to other babies!¹

Ultrasound Cases:

Hematoma - blood “pooling”.

Cure the Patient: Story Time

Story Time: Assessment 1/3�Why Diagnosis is important/difficult

• Bob reported into the hospital and complained of not being able to keep food or liquids down for the past 24 hours.
• Upon arrival at hospital individual MCP did blood work and noticed high levels of amylase and lipase. Characteristic of pancreatitis.
• Typical causes of this are heavy alcohol drinking or gallstones, patient (male, age 23) stated they had two drinks two nights before symptoms began.
• Males between age 30-40 typically get pancreatitis.
• Symptoms of pancreatitis include, nausea and vomiting, fever, mild abdominal pain, increased heart rate. Patient had all of these except reported minimal abdominal pain.

Story Time: Patience w/ Patients 2/3�Why Diagnosis is important/difficult

• HCP opted to keep patient in hospital overnight.
• 12 hours into the next day, no official diagnosis had been provided yet. Patient then started complaining of sharp abdominal pain. HCP provided the patient with medicinal morphine.
• Bob researched online and self-diagnosed symptoms as appendicitis.
• HCP did a quick test, diagnosis was accurate, emergency surgery followed.
• Patient made full recovery. Doctor commented stating it was the worst he’d seen without bursting or perforation.

Story Time: Reflection 3/3�Why Diagnosis is important/difficult

• Appendicitis happens to individuals between ages 10-30.
• Symptoms include mild abdominal pain (not reported) and swelling (mildly observed). Nausea and vomiting (confirmed), loss of appetite (unconfirmed).
• Sharp pains, usually starting point, was not observed until ~48 hours after symptoms began.
• For friends/family, it was frustrating not to know what was wrong. They are still people trying to perform a service “as best as they can” – but so many other factors may be at work.

Activity – Cure Petlak

• Mr. Petlak (male, age 28) is suffering from the following symptoms:��- blood in stool (bright red)�- cramping and severe abdominal pain�- diarrhea and urge to have bowel movements��Upon looking at family history, on record it mentions his father having issues with “ulcers”.��A blood test provided indicators of inflammation.�
• Analyzing this data, what does he most likely have (diagnosis)?

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• What is your proposed treatment? Provide a “Western” form of treatment, a complimentary treatment and an alternative form of treatment.

Activity – Cure Petlak

• Using experiences or online resources like WebMD, Medicine.net, or MayoClinic (none of which is perfect, FYI).
• HELP ME GET BETTER!

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• Diagnosis:�
• Treatment:�
• CAM Treatment: