Diagnosis depends on the the patient and clinician partnering to translate the patient’s complaints and concerns into medical concepts. This begins with the patient sharing their clinical history, and the physician conducting a physical examination. The patient’s report of symptoms (what they say) and signs (findings from a physical exam) comprise the two main elements…

The decision to engage in the healthcare systems is complicated and influenced by many factors beyond experiencing symptoms, some of those factors are related to access, cost and trust in the system. But, once a patient decides to seek health care, this will initiate the more formal process of arriving at a diagnosis, which will…

First, a patient experiences a health problem. Often, if we have a new symptom, we may try to diagnose the problem on our own, and if we are satisfied with the answer, that may be the end of the diagnostic process. Many patients will also share their health concerns with family and friends for their…