09-26-2007, 07:48 AM
You are asked to see a middle-aged male patient who is complaining of frequent chest pains. As you enter the examining room, the patient is sobbing and blurts out, "My father died just like this two years ago." Which of the following should be your next step?
A. Reassure him that his pain is not related to his father's illness
B. Get more information on how his father's pain manifested itself
C. Order an emergency electrocardiogram
D. Introduce yourself and inquire about family history of heart disease
E. Ask a sufficient number of direct medical questions to establish a tentative diagnosis and plan for workup
A. Reassure him that his pain is not related to his father's illness
B. Get more information on how his father's pain manifested itself
C. Order an emergency electrocardiogram
D. Introduce yourself and inquire about family history of heart disease
E. Ask a sufficient number of direct medical questions to establish a tentative diagnosis and plan for workup