Internal Medicine a Case Study Approach

Preface

Our approach to patient care, teaching, and medical investigation are energized fundamentally by our clinical practice. In turn, our practice is informed, animated, and balanced by the information and environment arising around learning and research. Clinical excellence is founded on careful history-taking, physical examination, and laboratory testing. These data raise questions concerning the patient's disease mechanisms, upon which a complete, prioritized differential diagnosis is formulated and a treatment plan initiated. The reality, complexity, and limitations drive our search for a better understanding of the patient clinical condition, patho- physiology, and new, effective therapies. We hope this textbook reflects the interweaving and mutually supporting threads of Internal Medicinet practice, teaching, and research.

This textbook, Internal Medicine. A case study approach, in addition to the practicing Internal Medicine Physician and fellows in training, is designed to be a valuable resource for all healthcare providers, hospitalists, subs- pecialty physicians, residents, nurses, physician assistants, nurse practi- tioners, nutritionists, pharmacists, respiratory therapists, and medical students involved in the care of patients. We want to thank all the authors for their excellent contributions. We hope all the readers will have a good time reading the book.

JORGE HIDALGO, MD, MACP, MCCM 

CLAUDIA ARIAS, MD, FACP 

JAVIER PEREZ-FERNANDEZ, MD, FCCM