What is a diagnosis based on?

Diagnosis is the endpoint of a complex process centered on a patient, collaborating with both the patient and other sources of clinical information to reason backward as to the potential health issue causing the patient's current condition. Typically prompted by symptoms, the patient first engages with the healthcare system.

What is a diagnostic process?

The committee's depiction of the diagnostic process draws on an adaptation of a decision-making model that describes the cyclical process of information gathering, information integration and interpretation, and forming a working diagnosis ( Parasuraman et al., 2000; Sarter, 2014 ). The committee's conceptualization of the diagnostic process.

What is a working diagnosis?

Finally, when one or at most two possibilities are left, the working diagnosis is verified. This refers to comparing the diagnosis with the various signs and symptoms, evaluating how well it fits the patient's risk factors and state of health, and the need for additional diagnoses to explain the clinical features.

What are the four types of information-gathering activities in the diagnostic process?

The committee identified four types of information-gathering activities in the diagnostic process: taking a clinical history and interview; performing a physical exam; obtaining diagnostic testing; and sending a patient for referrals or consultations.