As clinicians and as teachers we are asked to be efficient and effective. In pediatric outpatient departments, this sometimes seems like a tall order, especially when trainees are lined up to present cases. They expect excellent teaching and families expect excellent care for their children.
Tradition has given us the Socratic method: the trainee performs a complete medical history and physical examination and presents the case with all details to a preceptor. The trainee then lists the diagnostic possibilities and the 2 engage in a discussion of the pros and cons of each diagnosis. Facets of the history and examination are discussed and there is a process of elimination until the most likely diagnosis is chosen. The method is thorough but time consuming. In the past, the preceptor may not actually have seen the patient.