How doctors make their diagnosis

Ever wondered what a doctor is thinking when they’re trying to figure out what’s wrong with you? Well, they’re going through a check list.

Taking the medical history

Perhaps the most important part of arriving at a diagnosis is the patient’s own account of their illness – the medical history. Many doctors believe it provides the strongest basis for reaching a diagnosis.

Doing a physical examination

After the medical history your doctor has in mind a short list of probable diagnoses. A physical examination helps to shorten the list. The doctor is then left with a group of possible diseases that could account for your patterns of symptoms and signs.

Ordering special tests

Next the doctor may order a series of laboratory tests on the blood (and sometimes urine) and may also arrange for ultrasounds scanning, X-rays, CT scanning or MRI. The results of these tests either confirm the doctor’s provisional diagnosis or narrow the possibility so the doctor may be confident in making the correct diagnosis.

Using a computer

Doctors today also use computer systems and algorithms to help reach a diagnosis. The main purpose is to remind the doctor of the full range of possible diagnosis of a particular set of symptoms, thereby making it less likely that any possibility will be overlooked. It remains the task of the doctor to integrate the facts and decide upon diagnosis.