--Takes an organ systems approach to categorize human diseases and other health conditions, which allows the instructor to cover conditions in a logical and efficient manner (e.g., cardiovascular disorders, gastrointestinal disorders, or respiratory disorders).
--Patient Cases incorporate new medical terms and medical Abbreviations that are commonly used by health professionals as well as important clinical signs, symptoms, and laboratory data that are consistent with a specific health problem.
--Each case study is divided into a Disease Summary of a specific health condition and a relevant Patient Case.
--Disease Summaries, on the CD-ROM, assess the student's understanding or require the student to conduct more extensive research of the medical literature. Each Disease Summary includes a definition of the disease, prevalence and significance of the medical condition, causes and risk factors, pathophysiology, diagnosis, treatment, and complications and prognosis.
--Patient Cases, in the printed workbook, present detailed information that stimulates real-life patients. The structures of the cases vary so that students will understand that patient medical records vary significantly by individual healthcare providers. Each Patient Case includes the patient's chief complaints, history of present illness, past medical history, family history, social history, medications, allergies, review of systems, physical examination findings, laboratory blood test results, and specialized test results.
--Critical thinking and problem solving questions appear in the Disease Summaries and the Patient Cases.