Diagnostic Uncertainty & Undiagnosed Illness

08/15/23 • 20 min

Host: Darryl S. Chutka M.D. [@chutkaMD]

Guest: Liz A. Gilman, M.D.

Guest: Chris R. Stephenson, M.D., M.H.P.E.

As clinicians, we’re used to obtaining health information from our patients through a medical history, performing a physical exam and ordering a variety of lab tests or imaging studies. We then formulate a differential diagnosis and eventually a diagnosis to explain the patient’s health problem. But what happens when a diagnosis isn’t obvious or we’re uncertain what may be causing the patient’s problems. What if a patient asks us a question and we don’t know the answer? How do we express our uncertainty to our patients and how do our patients react to our uncertainty? In this podcast, we’ll discuss diagnostic uncertainty and how to approach our patients when we can’t find a specific diagnosis to explain their symptoms. Our guests include Liz A. Gilman, M.D., and Chris R. Stephenson, M.D., M.H.P.E., both from the Division of General Internal Medicine at the Mayo Clinic.

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Host: Darryl S. Chutka M.D. [@chutkaMD]

Guest: Liz A. Gilman, M.D.

Guest: Chris R. Stephenson, M.D., M.H.P.E.

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Previous Episode

Psychiatric Issues Stemming From COVID-19

Host: Darryl S. Chutka M.D. [@chutkaMD]

Guest: Teresa A. Rummans, M.D.

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused innumerable health complications. One complication which hasn’t received a lot of attention has been the effect seen on mental health. Since the pandemic, the incidence of mental illness has increased dramatically, both in patients who have been infected as well as those suffering the social consequences of the pandemic. This has led to mental health disorders representing a major cause of disability. What can we learn from a historical perspective as a result of previous pandemics? How does the COVID-19 virus produce the variety of neuropsychiatric disorders commonly seen? And most importantly, how can we help our patients with their mental health disorders associated with the pandemic? This podcast will review “Psychiatric Issues Stemming From COVID-19” with our guest, Teresa A. Rummans, M.D., a psychiatrist from the Department of Psychiatry and Psychology at the Mayo Clinic.

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.

Next Episode

The Role of Nutrition in Lowering the Risk of Chronic Disease

Host: Darryl S. Chutka, M.D. [@chutkaMD]

Guest: Katherine A. Zeratsky, R.D.N., L.D.

Chronic disease is creating a tremendous financial impact on our healthcare system. Cardiovascular disease alone accounts for approximately 18 million deaths globally, annually. Most often, we think of pharmacologic therapy in managing chronic disease, yet there’s good evidence that shows adults who eat a healthy diet have a lower risk of suffering from a variety of chronic diseases. Diet can play an extremely important role in preventing and managing such conditions as hypertension, hyperlipidemia, osteoporosis, and malignancy. Today’s podcast will review the role of nutrition in lowering the risk of chronic disease and our guest is registered dietician and nutritionist, Katherine A. Zeratsky, R.D.N., L.D., from the Division of Endocrinology at the Mayo Clinic.

https://www.usdairy.com/about-us/national-dairy-council

Connect with the Mayo Clinic’s School of Continuous Professional Development online at https://ce.mayo.edu/ or on Twitter @MayoMedEd.