Offering quick access to the pathological conditions most commonly seen in the physician’s office, this portable text/reference is ideal for administrative and clinical medical assistants who have a wide range of responsibilities ― including billing, coding, telephone screening, taking patient examinations, understanding diagnostic and treatment procedures, and putting together patient education programs. Thoroughly revised and updated to reflect the changes in the field, this third edition features an enhanced format with a description of over 500 conditions and disorders, their ICD-9-CM codes, signs and symptoms, patient screening, etiology, diagnostic assessment and clinical tests, treatment options, prognosis, prevention, and patient teaching. A companion website provides multiple weblinks for all diseases and conditions profiled in the book.
This is a broad-spectrum panologic overview of human diseases, barely scratching each of their pathogenic surfaces seemingly written for medical receptionists and coders. That's not to say I found the use of this textbook for my class unrewarding; I did as I became better acquainted with the diseases a medical practitioner must know. However, one should not expect to get her hands dirty from digging through this work.
I read it. I read all of it. My brain is filled with the terrible knowledge that all of natures most terrifying disorders, diseases and hereditary whatnot start with flu-like symptoms.