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Differential Diagnoses in the Setting of Advanced Age and Multiple Conditions

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Geriatric Practice

Abstract

Formulating a differential diagnosis is a dynamic process based on information received and is a key skill learned and perfected by medical professionals. As the population demographics in the United States (US) and the world change, clinicians everywhere are seeing greater numbers of older adults and those with multiple and chronic conditions in all care settings. Clinicians would benefit from developing and utilizing a systematic approach to differential diagnoses with geriatric patients and those with multiple conditions, who often present with what are known as atypical presentations. This chapter will elucidate physiological concepts like homeostenosis and practical considerations like challenges with history taking and emphasize the impact of the biopsychosocial framework in geriatric patients. The geriatric ROS (review of systems) and the Geriatric 5Ms© (mood, mobility, medications, multi-complexity, matters most) are key tools when evaluating an older adult to ensure accuracy and standardization of the process of differential diagnosis. Having a systematic approach to presenting symptoms and signs can aide medical decision-making, lead to fewer missed diagnoses, and enhance provider and patient satisfaction.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Brookdale Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Ayla Pelleg & Ravishankar Ramaswamy

Authors
  1. Ayla Pelleg
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  2. Ravishankar Ramaswamy
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Correspondence to Ayla Pelleg .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Geriatrics and Palliative Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA

    Audrey Chun

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Pelleg, A., Ramaswamy, R. (2020). Differential Diagnoses in the Setting of Advanced Age and Multiple Conditions. In: Chun, A. (eds) Geriatric Practice. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19625-7_7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-19625-7_7

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-19624-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-19625-7

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