CCS diagnosis details

[IMdocT]

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i got a step 3 CCS question. for the primary diagnosis, is it ok to be really detailed? for example, one of the example cases i saw in UW is bacterial meningitis. i want to write pneumococcal bacterial meningitis with sepsis, because i have the CSF culture and blood culture results, and the patient met SIRS criteria. i understand that the meningitis is the primary problem, but would i get points off or not get points for adding the organism or the sepsis part?

 

[haresh]

i got a step 3 CCS question. for the primary diagnosis, is it ok to be really detailed? for example, one of the example cases i saw in UW is bacterial meningitis. i want to write pneumococcal bacterial meningitis with sepsis, because i have the CSF culture and blood culture results, and the patient met SIRS criteria. i understand that the meningitis is the primary problem, but would i get points off or not get points for adding the organism or the sepsis part?

What you write in "Diagnosis" and "Reason for consult" columns are not scored. Be as brief as possible and save time here. Please check the orientation on Primum software and it will tell you these facts. UW does not give any direction on what is scored and what is not.

 

[OveractiveBrain]

i got a step 3 CCS question. for the primary diagnosis, is it ok to be really detailed? for example, one of the example cases i saw in UW is bacterial meningitis. i want to write pneumococcal bacterial meningitis with sepsis, because i have the CSF culture and blood culture results, and the patient met SIRS criteria. i understand that the meningitis is the primary problem, but would i get points off or not get points for adding the organism or the sepsis part?

This is broad and sweeping. "Meningitis," "ectopic pregnancy," "cushings" are all you need.

 

[IMdocT]

well, i guess those discharge planners were getting to me, about putting in as many specific diagnoses as possible in the notes to bill the insurance

 

[OveractiveBrain]

well, i guess those discharge planners were getting to me, about putting in as many specific diagnoses as possible in the notes to bill the insurance

Yeah. I know what you mean. NO BILLING issues on CSS. Its just the medicine. Stay broad.

 

[hot sauce]

As haresh pointed out it doesn't matter what you put in the final diagnosis. You could put acute appy on your meningitis case and you wouldn't lose points. Final diagnosis does not contribute to your score; it is only for the NBME research at this time (unless needed to investigate unusual behavior whatever that means).

 

[haresh]

As haresh pointed out it doesn't matter what you put in the final diagnosis. You could put acute appy on your meningitis case and you wouldn't lose points. Final diagnosis does not contribute to your score; it is only for the NBME research at this time (unless needed to investigate unusual behavior whatever that means).

correct hot sauce. And Mr.Know it all "overactivebrain" does not comment on that and he thinks writing a diagnosis is needed in first place. That is why it is important to move beyond UW and understand the real exam software which is "Primum" at www.usmle.org.

 

[IMdocT]

well, i took the test and it wasn't bad at all, although i did study for it, when i didn't study much for the first 2. i downloaded the primum thing and saw the instructions the night before CCS. i saw that the diagnosis doesn't matter. UW CCS sim was a fair representation of what it was going to be like, except for the length of time needed for radiographic studies. i'll post my scores on the score thread in 3 weeks