Mea sententia

The Grand Rounds presentation that week was in the form of a Clinical Pathological Conference (CPC), a medical tradition where a case is presented to an expert or panel of experts in front of an audience of clinicians. The presentation is usually done in the order the information became available during the patient’s hospital course and the experts ask questions, discuss what they think is going on and why, are given more data based on the questions they ask, and ultimately try to come to the diagnosis that was proved at surgery or autopsy.

Well, I had a post about this subject in notes and outline form in my pile. But Dr V handles it so well, it seems silly for me not to simply give him credit and send you to his site.

You surely know the difference between a chisel and a screwdriver, but have you thought about what happens if you ignore the difference?

The simplest toy, one which even the youngest child can operate, is called a grandparent.  (Sam Levenson)

A few weeks ago a patient asked me with a hint of irritation in his voice, why I always typed during our visits together.

"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the universe trying to build bigger and better idiots. So far, the universe is winning."

Robert Cringley (columnist, author, host of "Triumph of the Nerds")

There are five requirements for successful shared decision making (SDM) between patients and their clinicians.

I found this on a scrap of paper tucked inside an old version of the Appalachian Mountain Guide. I suspect I copied it from a Hut register, though I do not remember. My note indicates it was written by Poetry Man in 1993.

At morning work rounds the attending suggested we start with a patient I had seen and admitted through the Emergency Room the night before.

Long ago, in a distant land, in circumstances seeming dire, a dear friend penned this for me. It surfaced this week while I sorted papers. Like all truths and most good literature, it is timeless. I offer it, with thanks to Jill, for those in need.

Ode to the Grumps

Many a time it hath been stated

to the grumps we oft are fated

tho' such condition is rare to find