Dr. Cook records the following diagnosis at the time of an inpatient discharge: "Abdominal pain ruled out colitis or gastritis." The principal diagnosis is_____.
A) abdominal pain
B) colitis
C) gastritis
D) either gastritis or colitis

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The principal diagnosis should reflect the condition for which the patient was admitted and treated, not conditions that were ruled out or deemed unlikely. Therefore, the principal diagnosis should be abdominal pain, as this was the reason for the admission and the primary symptom that required treatment.

Dr Cook Records the Following Diagnosis at the Time of an Inpatient