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- Case Notes Overview
- Treatment Record and Management
- Writing Task
OCCUPATIONAL ENGLISH TEST
WRITING SUB-TEST: MEDICINE
TIME ALLOWED: READING TIME: 5 MINUTES
WRITING TIME: 40 MINUTES
Read the case notes below and complete the writing task which follows,
Mr James Seymour is a 60-year-old man presenting in your general practice with a swollen left large toe.
Patient detail
Name: James Seymour
Residence: 4 Powlet Drive, Clayfield
DOB: 19/09/83 (Age 60)
Social history: Retired academic (computer science)
Divoread, no children, lives alone
Non-smoker since 1994
Heavy drinker 5-6 beers and 8 wines/day
Observations: BP 115/70mmHg, HR 68, RR 18, 37.4"
Allergies: Nil known
Fx: Father ~ rheumatoid arthritis (RA) ~ 28 yrs old. Died 75yrs.
Mother — smoker, died.chest infection aged 71 yrs.
Grandparents’ history unknown, died when ald,
PMHx: Appendicectomy 1963
Childhood ~ recurrent bronchitis
Annual influenza vaccine
Regular episodes of inflammation (gout 1st toa) since 2010 ~ consulted
several doctors
Medication: Colchicine (Lengout) ~ 500meg 2 tabs (stat on attack) then 1 tab each 2/24 until
relief. Total dose = 6mg in 4 days.
Indomethacin (Indocid) - 25mg 2 tabs, twice/tay.
On allopurinol after last acute attack - after several mths w/o symptoms ceased
meds (a couple of mths before current episode). ‘Treatment record:
25/04/14 ~ 4 wks into current bout of gout.
Colchicine started 2 wks into bout, only taken at sub-therapeutic levels.
Indocid taken erratically.
3rd bout in 8 mths.
No allopurinol for a couple of mths.
Modifies diet to 4purines. Sometimes wakes at night.
Given father’s Hx Pt wants referral to rheumatologist to exclude RA.
Pt thinks gout meds not working (unlikely)
On examination: Moderately inflamed, red first Ltoe. V painful ~ Ptiritated. No evidence of
involvement of other joint.
PLV insistent on possibilty of RA; poor compliance with gout management much
more likely,
‘Treatment: + Encouraged to comply with gout meds:
+ resume full dose colchicine.
~ resume full dose indomethacin. Cease either it gastrointestinal (Gi) side
effects (diarrhoea from colchicine; upper GI upset from indomethacin).
+ Regular paracetamol (Ag/day for 3 days, then pr).
+ Take oxycodone Smg bedtime only if sore and can't sleep; try to cease ASAP.
*+ Improve dietary compliance and + alcohol intake.
+ X-ray L foot, FBE, ESR, LFT, UE, SUA, CAP.
+ Rev. 1/52 to discuss results & referral
03/05/14 X-ray — minor degenerative changes of L first metatarsophalangeal joint.
FBE: “MCH 82.3pq (Ref Range: 27.0 ~ 92.0). All other NAD.
“Urate 0.48mmol/L (Ref Range: 0.18 — 0.47mmollL).
*CRP 6.0mg/L (Ref Range: < 3.0)
Gout episode subsising.
No drug side effects apart from brief diarrhoea.
Only neaded night time oxycodone 8 nights.
Provisional Diagnosis:
Gout.
Treatment: + Discussed 2synovia! fluid sample stat next episode.
+ Start allopurinol now, long term: reinforce messages re: diet & alcohol.
+ Referral to Rneumatologist on patient's insistence with copy of pathology results.
Using the information given in the case notes, write a letter to Dr Malcolm Stil, Rheumnatologist at 5 Grant
St, Fairmont, for further treatment or investigations.
In your answer:
* Expand the relevant notes into complete sentences
* Do notuse note form
© Use letter format
‘The body of the letter should be approximately 180-200 words.
