The value of the Post-Take Ward Round
In my medicolegal work, I have analysed many cases involving the patient being admitted to hospital as an emergency, and an important diagnosis being missed. All too often, the case review shows that the Consultant Post-Take Ward Round has been too superficial and not properly documented. The most common omission is not preparing a full differential diagnosis, missing the true diagnosis, and just following up a single diagnosis that turns out to be erroneous. The clinical value of full Consultant review at that stage of admission, with a very broad look at the facts of the case, cannot be underestimated. This particularly applies to diagnoses which have serious effects if missed, but which have a safe treatment that is worth giving even on a low level of suspicion.