Ms. Lopez is a widowed 68-year-old Nicaraguan woman and an immigrant who has lived in the United States for ten years. She lives in the second floor of a walk-up apartment with her daughter and son-in-law and their four children. Ms. Lopez is admitted to the hospital, is diagnosed with a stroke, and has weakness in her left side. She complains of coughing when she drinks and feels that food sometimes gets caught in her throat. She has diabetes and high blood pressure and is on several oral medications. She does not, however, check her blood sugar levels regularly because she does not feel comfortable pricking her finger. Her body mass index (BMI) is 33. Ms. Lopez is undocumented and uninsured.
-The dietitian recommends a soft food diet and requests the physician to order a swallowing study for Ms. Lopez. After 24 hours of the diet, the dietitian checks with the staff to determine if Ms. Lopez has been finishing her food and contacts the physician to determine the outcome of the swallowing study. This process of monitoring and following up best illustrates:

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The process described involves assessing the patient's symptoms (coughing when drinking and feeling that food gets caught in her throat), recommending a specific intervention (soft food diet), and ordering a diagnostic test (swallowing study) to further understand and address the patient's condition. This approach is characteristic of diagnostic reasoning, which involves gathering data and evidence to diagnose a problem and determine the best course of action.

Ms Lopez Is a Widowed 68-Year-Old Nicaraguan Woman and an Immigrant