Physicians treat patients, not numbers.
Investigations are illuminating when there is clinical uncertainty, and they can track health measures over time. Yet in all cases, investigations require the context from which they arise.
So for my patients, I will try to relate whether ordering a test is helpful to their specific health situation. I'm advising against chasing a number that might not have applied to them in the first place.
And as for my learners, we will often interpret results alongside the patient's history. We must guard against casting quick judgement when numbers are out of range.
Physicians are responsible for knowing the current evidence and seeing whether that applies to the patient sitting across of them. And as each person is different, the variety keeps my job interesting!
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