The CS note is a very important part of a successful CS exam performance…
Over the years I’ve seen students making similar simple mistakes…
Here are 3 common mistakes I see students making, that while seeming innocent, could actually severely hurt your CS note and thus your overall ICE score.
Mistake 1) Spelling mistakes: I’ve explained hundreds of times why spelling mistakes are unacceptable on the patient note… If you want your notes to be taken seriously, then you need to ensure there’s no silly spelling mistakes. You’re trying to become a doctor, and with that comes a requirement that you can spell correctly.
Mistake 2) Poor HPI structure: The HPI is the reader’s 1st impression of the case, and with that must come a logical sequence of information. Start by explaining the complaint, then going into the main characteristics of the complaint, then going into alleviating/aggravating factors, then discussing associated findings. Don’t start the HPI by saying the patient is fatigued and has cold intolerance… Go into the details of the fatigue first, then get into the add-on details after. By following a sequence that makes sense for the story, the reader will have an easier time absorbing the information and grading your note.
Mistake 3) Inadequate PE findings: You must list both positive and negative findings for the specific system being tested. It isn’t enough to list only positive findings… For the sake of completeness, be sure to include all of the details required for a thorough exam (for the system in question).
Keep these 3 mistakes in mind when writing your patient notes, and you’ll put yourself in better shape to succeed on the exam.
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