Pediatric Resident Pocket Guide

This book is designed to introduce beginning medical students and pediatric residents to a systematic approach to clinical decision-making. Rather than providing exhaustive lists of diagnoses, it emphasizes the development of a structured framework for reasoning through patient encounters. Divided into three sections—history-taking, physical examination, and medical reasoning—it teaches learners how to gather relevant information, interpret findings, generate and test hypotheses, and refine diagnostic and treatment plans. The approach emphasizes critical thinking, judicious use of technology, and awareness of common diagnostic pitfalls, laying the foundation for sound, rational pediatric practice.

Key Features

• Step-by-step framework for clinical reasoning, from data gathering to diagnosis and management
• Three-part structure: history-taking, physical examination, and medical reasoning
• Focus on heuristics: practical strategies and shortcuts to interpret and narrow down data
• Illustrative cases: simple cases that guide learners through the reasoning process, preparing them for more complex scenarios
• Emphasis on critical thinking and reflective practice in pediatric care
• Integration of clinical “tricks of the trade” to improve accuracy in data collection
• Guidance on judicious use of laboratory and imaging tests
• Discussion of common pitfalls to cultivate awareness and enhance diagnostic accuracy