A diagnostic index of clinical practice

C. Cassel

In this method of accural of medical data by clinicians, entry and retrieval of information is facilitated by directly recording patient data in diagnostic categories according to the familiar anatomical organ system classification instead of a numerical code. The diagnostic index is kept in looseleaf form, with tabulation of the patient's name, chart number, diagnosis, and other conditions present. Certain diagnoses are frequent enough to warrant insertion in a separate column of the page or on a separate page under the appropriate organ system. Special pages are used for diagnostic procedures, deaths, perplexing problems, and complaints, making it possible to assemble all pertinent data derived from ambulatory or hospital practice. This system allows any physician access to his own clinical experiences with minimal effort.