Experience Overview:
FOCUSED EXAM: COUGH
Patient: Danny Rivera
Digital Clinical Experience Score
100%
Student Performance Index
34 out of 34
Subjective Data Collection
19 out of 19
Objective Data Collection
15 out of 15
Subjective Data Collection: 19 of 19 (100.0%)
A combination of open and closed questions will yield better patient data. The following details
are facts of the patient's case.
Chief Complaint
• Finding:
Established chief complaint
• Finding:
Reports cough
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient broadly about their chief complaint allows them to answer in their own
words and confirm information that you may have already received from another source.
Example Question:
Do you have a cough?
History of Presenting Illness
• Finding:
Asked about onset of cough
• Finding:
Reports cough started 3 days ago
(Found)
Pro Tip: Whenever you are assessing a symptom or a health condition, in this case the patient's
cough, inquiring about onset assesses the severity and the progression of the problem.
,Example Question:
How long have you had a cough?
• Finding:
Asked about characteristics of cough
• Finding:
Reports cough is wet
(Available)
Pro Tip: The characteristics of a cough, such as whether it is dry or wet, can indicate key
information about the type of illness the patient has.
Example Question:
Is your cough a wet cough?
• Finding:
Reports clear sputum with cough
(Found)
Pro Tip: The characteristics of a cough, such as whether it is productive, can indicate key
information about the type of illness the patient has.
Example Question:
Do you produce any phlegm or sputum with your cough?
• Finding:
Asked about frequency and duration of cough
• Finding:
Reports coughing every few minutes
(Found)
Pro Tip: Establishing how frequently Danny coughs will illustrate how long he has been
suffering these particular symptoms and might indicate possible triggers.
Example Question:
How frequently are you coughing?
• Finding:
Reports coughs last a few seconds
(Available)
Pro Tip: Establishing how long Danny's coughs last will illustrate how long he has been suffering
these particular symptoms and might indicate possible triggers.
Example Question:
How long do your coughs last?
• Finding:
Asked about aggravating factors for cough
• Finding:
Reports cough is worse at night
(Found)
Pro Tip: Establishing a timeline for Danny's coughing will illustrate how long he has been
suffering these particular symptoms and might indicate possible triggers.
Example Question:
Is the cough worse at night?
• Finding:
Denies smoking
(Available)
, Pro Tip: Tobacco use puts the patient at risk for many medical conditions. Asking even young
patients about whether they consume tobacco products helps you assess this risk factor.
Example Question:
Do you smoke?
• Finding:
Reports being exposed to secondhand smoke through father
(Available)
Pro Tip: Tobacco use puts the patient at risk for many medical conditions. Asking about
whether a patient is exposed to secondhand smoke allows you to assess this risk factor.
Example Question:
Are you ever around cigarette smoke?
• Finding:
Reports he doesn't know what triggers the cough
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking about aggravating factors of Danny's cough will allow you to determine
potential causes and educate the patient on what to avoid.
Example Question:
What makes your cough worse?
• Finding:
Asked about relieving factors for cough
• Finding:
Reports cough is temporarily relieved by cough medicine
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking about how the patient has been managing their pain assesses their current
condition and their approach to self-care. The results of their previous treatment may be helpful
in your diagnosis and the development of their new treatment plan, as well as a good opportunity
to educate the patient on effective self-care practices.
Example Question:
Have you done anything to treat your cough?
• Finding:
Followed up on cough medicine
• Finding:
Reports cough medicine was purple
(Available)
Pro Tip: The type of cough medicine a patient takes, and how they take it, can impact its
effectiveness. Following up on the cough medicine's color may help you identify the type of
medication it is.
Example Question:
What color was the cough medicine?
• Finding:
Reports taking one spoonful of cough medicine
(Available)
Pro Tip: The type of cough medicine a patient takes, and how they take it, can impact its
effectiveness. Following up on the dose of cough medicine allows you to determine whether it is
being taken correctly.
Example Question:
FOCUSED EXAM: COUGH
Patient: Danny Rivera
Digital Clinical Experience Score
100%
Student Performance Index
34 out of 34
Subjective Data Collection
19 out of 19
Objective Data Collection
15 out of 15
Subjective Data Collection: 19 of 19 (100.0%)
A combination of open and closed questions will yield better patient data. The following details
are facts of the patient's case.
Chief Complaint
• Finding:
Established chief complaint
• Finding:
Reports cough
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking a patient broadly about their chief complaint allows them to answer in their own
words and confirm information that you may have already received from another source.
Example Question:
Do you have a cough?
History of Presenting Illness
• Finding:
Asked about onset of cough
• Finding:
Reports cough started 3 days ago
(Found)
Pro Tip: Whenever you are assessing a symptom or a health condition, in this case the patient's
cough, inquiring about onset assesses the severity and the progression of the problem.
,Example Question:
How long have you had a cough?
• Finding:
Asked about characteristics of cough
• Finding:
Reports cough is wet
(Available)
Pro Tip: The characteristics of a cough, such as whether it is dry or wet, can indicate key
information about the type of illness the patient has.
Example Question:
Is your cough a wet cough?
• Finding:
Reports clear sputum with cough
(Found)
Pro Tip: The characteristics of a cough, such as whether it is productive, can indicate key
information about the type of illness the patient has.
Example Question:
Do you produce any phlegm or sputum with your cough?
• Finding:
Asked about frequency and duration of cough
• Finding:
Reports coughing every few minutes
(Found)
Pro Tip: Establishing how frequently Danny coughs will illustrate how long he has been
suffering these particular symptoms and might indicate possible triggers.
Example Question:
How frequently are you coughing?
• Finding:
Reports coughs last a few seconds
(Available)
Pro Tip: Establishing how long Danny's coughs last will illustrate how long he has been suffering
these particular symptoms and might indicate possible triggers.
Example Question:
How long do your coughs last?
• Finding:
Asked about aggravating factors for cough
• Finding:
Reports cough is worse at night
(Found)
Pro Tip: Establishing a timeline for Danny's coughing will illustrate how long he has been
suffering these particular symptoms and might indicate possible triggers.
Example Question:
Is the cough worse at night?
• Finding:
Denies smoking
(Available)
, Pro Tip: Tobacco use puts the patient at risk for many medical conditions. Asking even young
patients about whether they consume tobacco products helps you assess this risk factor.
Example Question:
Do you smoke?
• Finding:
Reports being exposed to secondhand smoke through father
(Available)
Pro Tip: Tobacco use puts the patient at risk for many medical conditions. Asking about
whether a patient is exposed to secondhand smoke allows you to assess this risk factor.
Example Question:
Are you ever around cigarette smoke?
• Finding:
Reports he doesn't know what triggers the cough
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking about aggravating factors of Danny's cough will allow you to determine
potential causes and educate the patient on what to avoid.
Example Question:
What makes your cough worse?
• Finding:
Asked about relieving factors for cough
• Finding:
Reports cough is temporarily relieved by cough medicine
(Found)
Pro Tip: Asking about how the patient has been managing their pain assesses their current
condition and their approach to self-care. The results of their previous treatment may be helpful
in your diagnosis and the development of their new treatment plan, as well as a good opportunity
to educate the patient on effective self-care practices.
Example Question:
Have you done anything to treat your cough?
• Finding:
Followed up on cough medicine
• Finding:
Reports cough medicine was purple
(Available)
Pro Tip: The type of cough medicine a patient takes, and how they take it, can impact its
effectiveness. Following up on the cough medicine's color may help you identify the type of
medication it is.
Example Question:
What color was the cough medicine?
• Finding:
Reports taking one spoonful of cough medicine
(Available)
Pro Tip: The type of cough medicine a patient takes, and how they take it, can impact its
effectiveness. Following up on the dose of cough medicine allows you to determine whether it is
being taken correctly.
Example Question:
