Medical tests consume considerable resources and yet making requests is often left to the most junior members of the team. Medical schools often under prepare junior doctors for these tasks so they tend to request large numbers of tests to make sure 'all bases are covered' by the time a more senior colleague attends to the patient. Beginning with naïve questions such as 'what is a medical test?' and 'why do we perform tests?', the book also covers the evaluation of tests from a public health perspective and helps the readers to determine whether a test should be introduced into clinical care. By describing the basics of medical decision making based on probability thresholds, students will learn how to avoid unnecessary testing when results are unlikely to influence patient relevant decisions, and the pros and cons of using metrics such as sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values. Illustrated throughout with real life examples from multiple medical and surgical specialties, it concludes with a novel checklist for doctors to consider every time they think of requesting a test. Written by a clinician for clinicians, this book is ideal for medical students and junior doctors. It provides everything they need to know to become experts at requesting tests. It will support them in requesting the most appropriate and effective tests, and inform them on how to interpret results, improving patients' outcomes.

"Overall, this is an excellent guide to the use and administration of psychological tests. It provides straightforward directions and instructions on how to utilize testing in such a way as to better inform clinical practice. I could see this book as a mainstay on any counselorís bookshelf, especially those who are seeking a way to utilize standardized testing in their practice."--The Professional Counselor Journal ìFinally, a detailed and crystal clear guide to psychological assessment that effectively integrates 'best practices' with the realities of negotiating the mental health care system and insurance providers. I plan to draw on this practical guide in my private practice and to incorporate it as a required text in my advanced counseling assessment classes at both the masterís and doctoral level. This book is a treasure for any mental health professional involved in psychological assessment.î Joseph G. Ponterotto, PhD Professor of Counseling Psychology, Fordham University Standardized psychological testing is often essential for reliably determining the presence of a wide range of psychiatric and personality disorders, along with effectively addressing related issues that may require a psychological referral. This nuts-and-bolts guide to conducting efficient and accurate psychological testing in clinical settings provides mental health professionals with experienced guidance in the entire process, and includes a complete set of forms and templates for all aspects of assessment and testing, from the initial referral and diagnostic interview to the final report. Based on the authorís experience with over two thousand psychological and neuropsychological testing cases, this highly practical book presents a standardized process of assessment, testing, interpretation, report-writing, and presenting feedback to patients, family members, and other professionals. Actual case examples of patients from a wide age range illustrate the assessment and testing process in action. The text provides printed and electronic versions of referral and related forms, initial psychological assessment report templates that include critical areas of coverage for obtaining insurance approval, and interpretation tables for an exceptional inventory of key standardized psychological tests. Integral to the book is a review of psychological tests in seven key categories that most effectively address differential diagnostic dilemmas and related referral questions that clinicians are likely to encounter in practice. It also provides effective strategies for selecting the appropriate tests based on the particular diagnostic questions, guidance for successfully obtaining insurance approval for a targeted yet feasible number of testing hours, and an efficient system for simultaneous test interpretation and report writing. Key Features: Includes an overview of the assessment process, from the initial referral to completion of the final report Features effective reviews of commonly used tests, including neuropsychological, intelligence, personality, and behavioral inventories Includes print and digital templates and forms for all phases of assessment and testing Aids clinicians in both private practice and other health care settings to work within managed care and be effectively reimbursed for services Includes information on conducting forensic competency to stand trial assessments, including the authorís new measure of assessing a defendantís understanding of the legal system

"[the authors] did a masterful job of creating and editing this gold standard book that should be used by all clinicians and incorporated into all nursing and health sciences curriculums." -Bernadette Mazurek Melnyk, PhD, APRN-CNP, FNAP, FAANP, FAAN Vice President for Health Promotion University Chief Wellness Officer Dean and Helene Fuld Health Trust Professor of Evidence-Based Practice, College of Nursing Professor of Pediatrics & Psychiatry, College of Medicine Executive Director, the Helene Fuld Health Trust National Institute for EBP The Ohio State University This is the only book to explicitly guide clinicians through an evidence-based approach to ordering and interpreting laboratory tests. With over 160 commonly ordered tests, this book is designed to foster more accurate clinical decision-making to attain the highest level of patient care. This book summarizes more than 3000 pieces of evidence and incorporates clinical expertise and decision-making on the ordering and interpretation of tests. To promote ease of use, a convenient table maps labs and their corresponding chapter numbers to the relevant body system to promote ease of use. Each laboratory test is presented in a consistent format with information on physiology, indications (screening, diagnosis, and monitoring), algorithms, test interpretation and follow-up testing, patient education, and related diagnoses. Additional valuable features include clinical pearls that highlight common pitfalls and gaps in reasoning, and a cost-benefit analysis. This book also includes CPT and ICD-10 codes, charts and tables for clarification, and references for further study. Key Features: Delivers a strong, evidence-based approach to ordering and interpreting over 160 laboratory tests Promotes accurate clinical decision-making toward achieving the Triple Aim Includes abundant clinical pearls highlighting common pitfalls and gaps in reasoning Provides cost-benefit analysis and discussion of laboratory testing within a high-value healthcare culture Includes 175 supplemental case examples and 200 self-assessment questions to facilitate instruction and learning Includes more than 3000 pieces of evidence from interprofessional resources

Getting the right diagnosis is a key aspect of health care - it provides an explanation of a patient's health problem and informs subsequent health care decisions. The diagnostic process is a complex, collaborative activity that involves clinical reasoning and information gathering to determine a patient's health problem. According to Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, diagnostic errors-inaccurate or delayed diagnoses-persist throughout all settings of care and continue to harm an unacceptable number of patients. It is likely that most people will experience at least one diagnostic error in their lifetime, sometimes with devastating consequences. Diagnostic errors may cause harm to patients by preventing or delaying appropriate treatment, providing unnecessary or harmful treatment, or resulting in psychological or financial repercussions. The committee concluded that improving the diagnostic process is not only possible, but also represents a moral, professional, and public health imperative. Improving Diagnosis in Health Care, a continuation of the landmark Institute of Medicine reports To Err Is Human (2000) and Crossing the Quality Chasm (2001), finds that diagnosis-and, in particular, the occurrence of diagnostic errorsâ€"has been largely unappreciated in efforts to improve the quality and safety of health care. Without a dedicated focus on improving diagnosis, diagnostic errors will likely worsen as the delivery of health care and the diagnostic process continue to increase in complexity. Just as the diagnostic process is a collaborative activity, improving diagnosis will require collaboration and a widespread commitment to change among health care professionals, health care organizations, patients and their families, researchers, and policy makers. The recommendations of Improving Diagnosis in Health Care contribute to the growing momentum for change in this crucial area of health care quality and safety.

Expanding upon and updating the first edition, this comprehensive guide instructs readers on how to effectively conduct psychological assessment and testing in their practice, efficiently advancing a case from the initial referral and clinical interview, through the testing process, and leading to informed diagnosis and treatment recommendations. This second edition incorporates updated editions of all major tests, pertinent revisions from the DSM-5, more in-depth analysis of testing topics, and coverage of new constructs that are the targets of psychological testing relevant to outpatient mental health practice. Readers will learn about the fundamentals of assessment, testing, and psychological measurement, the complete process of psychological testing using a broad range of major tests, supplemented by interpretive flowcharts and case examples.. Downloadable practice and report forms, along with data tables with pre-drafted interpretive excerpts for all tests are also available for immediate use in clinical practice. Psychologists in both practice and training will come away with the tools and knowledge needed to successfully conduct psychological assessment and testing within the contemporary mental health field.

This book is a practical guide to the diagnosis of respiratory disorders, helping clinicians recognise signs and symptoms, decide on the most appropriate diagnostic tests, and to interpret the results. Divided into four sections, the book covers respiratory system assessment, evaluation of respiratory function, diagnostic imaging, and invasive diagnostic techniques. The imaging section includes radiograph, computed tomography, angiography, and ultrasonography. The invasive diagnostic procedures section covers bronchoscopy, lung biopsy, transbronchial needle aspiration and more. Video-assisted thoracic surgery as a diagnostic tool is also discussed. Authored by recognised expert Professor Claudio Sorino from University of Palermo, this useful manual is enhanced by clinical images and figures. Key Points Practical guide to diagnosis of respiratory disorders Helps clinicians recognise signs and symptoms, choose appropriate diagnostic tests and interpret results Includes chapter on video-assisted thoracic surgery as a diagnostic tool Authored by recognised expert from University of Palermo