Reviewer: Susan M DeNisco, DNP, APRN, FNP-BC, FAANP (Sacred Heart University)
Description: This essential point-of-care resource is complete with up-to-date, evidence-based primary care screening and treatment guidelines. It is a comprehensive reference tool that incorporates succinct guidelines for ordering and interpretation of labs and diagnostic testing, differential diagnoses, clinical decision making, and treatment plans for the most common patient encounters in the primary care setting. It is unique in that it also includes complementary and alternative treatment modalities, which are essential in meeting the needs of diverse populations.
Purpose: The purpose of this clinical pocket guide is to provide a quick point-of-care reference tool to support immediate clinical decision making. The most common primary care screening and assessment strategies are clearly presented and followed with guidance for lab and diagnostic testing and a differential diagnoses section including treatment plans. A pharmacology section is included with prescribing guidelines for special populations including pregnancy and lactation, reproductive health, and geriatric considerations. Other medication categories include antibiotics, antihypertensive agents, and medications for hyperlipidemia and diabetes and other endocrine disorders. The authors also include essential information on vitamin supplements, herbal remedies, and alternative therapies that are commonly used in the general population.
Audience: This clinical pocket guide can serve as a valuable resource for both nurse practitioner and physician assistant students in the clinical setting. It offers a comprehensive approach to screening, assessment, diagnostic testing, diagnosing, and clinical decision making regarding evidence-based treatment plans for patients. The NP or PA student will also appreciate the information on billing and coding to inform their clinical documentation and understanding of federal billing guidelines. This reference should not be overlooked by the experienced primary care provider as a quick reference to refresh and fine-tune skills with the latest evidence-based practice assessment techniques.
Features: This point-of-care reference guide will fit into the clinician's lab coat pocket for easy access. It has eight tabs to easily flip to the following sections: Screening, Assessment, Labs, Differential Diagnoses, Billing and Coding, Medications, Complementary and Integrative Therapies, and Tools. The clinical tools section includes common, universally used medical abbreviations and physical signs and eponyms. Unique to this section are photographic representations of not-to-miss signs such as McBurney's Point, Phalen's test, and Murphy's sign among others. A chart with cranial nerve assessment is an essential refresher for students. Lastly, the authors include an English/Spanish medical translation for anatomical features.
Assessment: This point-of-care clinical reference guide is a succinct, easy-to-use resource for practitioners to use while providing direct patient care. It fits in a lab coat pocket, is water proof, and has easy tabs to open for quick clinical decisions. It offers enhancement and affirmation of the knowledge that the NP or PA student has already learned. A condensed version of a primary care textbook, this pocket guide offers readers a resource for the most common patient encounters found in a primary care setting. While there are many electronic reference tools on the market, this pocket guide offers complete, easy-to-use information that walks readers through pertinent history, physical exam findings for a specific differential diagnosis, diagnostic tests to order, medications, patient education, and follow-up plans.
