Med Student Secrets #2

Rock Your Lab Notes

When writing your patient notes it's a good idea to get familiar with "fishbone" diagrams.  This is an easy, shorthand visual way to list the important lab values in the patient note.   Remember that residency directors will expect you to be familiar with the U.S. system of writing patient notes.

Here's the classic Hematology "Fishbone":

Remember the location of each lab value.

 

 

Here's the classic Chemistry "Fishbone":

 

 

So here's how it might look in a patient's chart.  Can you tell me the abnormalities?

 

 

 

 

Answer:  Elevated sodium level, hyperglycemia, and anemia.

 

Thanks to Dr. Britte Lowther!

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