Date of clinic: 01/11/2024
Patient particulars:
Sarah Jenkins (15/03/1978)
NHS No. 987 654 3210
Hospital No. SJ7890123
Address: 123 Elm Street, Anytown, AB1 2CD
Insurer: Bupa
Letter to Dr. Eleanor Vance
Copy to Dr. Marcus Chen (GP), Ms. Emily White (Physiotherapist)
Dear Dr. Vance
I reviewed Sarah in my clinic today for a follow-up consultation.
Review:
Sarah Jenkins, a 46-year-old female, presented for a follow-up regarding her chronic lower back pain, which has been ongoing for approximately 5 years. She was initially referred by her GP, Dr. Chen, due to persistent pain despite conservative management including physiotherapy and oral analgesics. Her primary complaint remains a dull, aching pain in her lumbar spine, radiating occasionally down her left leg to the knee, consistent with a radicular pattern. She describes the pain as 6/10 at its worst, often exacerbated by prolonged sitting or standing, and partially relieved by rest and heat packs. Since her last review three months ago, she reports a slight improvement in her pain intensity and frequency, attributing this to adherence to her prescribed duloxetine and regular home exercises. She expresses ongoing concerns about the impact of the pain on her work as an accountant and her ability to engage in recreational activities with her children. Shared decision-making focused on exploring further interventional options and reinforcing the importance of continued exercise and pain coping strategies. I explained the potential benefits and risks of a lumbar epidural steroid injection. Her past medical history includes essential hypertension, well-controlled with ramipril, and no significant surgical history relevant to her pain. She lives with her husband and two children, and works full-time. She denies smoking and drinks alcohol occasionally.
Examination: On observation, Ms. Jenkins exhibited a comfortable posture without obvious antalgic gait. Vital signs were stable: BP 130/80 mmHg, HR 72 bpm, RR 16 bpm. Palpation revealed mild tenderness over the L4-L5 paraspinal muscles. Lumbar spine range of motion was mildly restricted in flexion and extension, but rotation and lateral flexion were within normal limits. Neurological examination of the lower extremities showed intact motor power (5/5) in bilateral hip flexion, knee extension, ankle dorsiflexion, and plantarflexion. Sensation to light touch was intact in L2-S1 dermatomes. Deep tendon reflexes (patellar and Achilles) were 2+ bilaterally. Straight leg raise test was positive on the left at 70 degrees, reproducing her typical leg pain.
Summary:
- 46-year-old female with chronic lower back pain and left leg radiculopathy for 5 years, partially improved with duloxetine and exercise.
- Mild tenderness in L4-L5 paraspinal region and mildly restricted lumbar flexion/extension.
- Left-sided straight leg raise positive at 70 degrees; otherwise, neurological exam is unremarkable.
- Clinical impression is chronic lumbar radiculopathy, likely secondary to discogenic pathology at L4/L5, with an improving trend but ongoing functional impact.
- Currently on duloxetine 60mg daily, paracetamol PRN; no medication-related issues reported.
- No relevant surgical history.
- MRI lumbar spine from 6 months ago showed L4/L5 disc bulge with mild left-sided neural foraminal narrowing.
The patient's presentation is consistent with chronic lumbar radiculopathy, with an ongoing neuropathic component.
Diagnosis:
1. Chronic Lumbar Radiculopathy (Left L5)
2. Lumbar Disc Degeneration L4/L5
3. Essential Hypertension
Management Plan:
1. Discussed and consented for a left-sided L5 transforaminal epidural steroid injection. Patient understands potential risks and benefits.
2. Continue current duloxetine 60mg daily. Review efficacy in 6 weeks post-injection.
3. Refer back to physiotherapy for targeted core strengthening and mobility exercises post-injection.
4. Advised on pacing activities and applying heat/ice as needed for symptom flares.
5. Follow-up appointment scheduled for 8 weeks to assess injection efficacy and overall pain management.
Many thanks
Yours sincerely
Dr. Thomas Kelly (Consultant in Pain Management)
Consultant in Pain Management
Tasks:
For Admin Team:
- Book left-sided L5 transforaminal epidural steroid injection for Ms. Jenkins.
- Send referral to physiotherapy for post-injection rehabilitation.
- Schedule follow-up appointment for 8 weeks.
- Distribute letter to Dr. Eleanor Vance, Dr. Marcus Chen, and Ms. Emily White.
For Self:
- Review pre-procedure imaging before injection.
- Prepare patient information leaflet for epidural injection.
Other Tasks:
- None.
"Date of clinic:" [Date of clinic appointment] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Use format DD/MM/YYYY.)
Patient particulars:
[Patient's full name] ([Patient's date of birth] (Use format DD/MM/YYYY.))
"NHS No." [Patient's NHS number] (Format as 000 000 0000. Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Hospital No." [Patient's hospital number] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Address:" [Patient's full address] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Insurer:" [Patient's insurer name or self-pay status] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Letter to" [Recipient's title and full name] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Copy to" [Names and roles of copy recipients] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Dear" [Recipient's title and surname] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"I reviewed" [Patient's first name] "in my clinic today" [Consultation type] (Only include consultation type if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit. If patient name not mentioned, use "the patient".)
Review:
[Narrative summary covering patient presentation, referral details, reason for visit, current condition, symptoms, progress since last review, discussion points, patient concerns, shared decision-making, explanations provided regarding diagnosis or management, relevant past medical history, and social history] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write as a professional narrative in paragraphs of full sentences. Do not include examination findings in this section.)
Examination: [Summary of physical examination findings including observations, vital signs, palpation findings, range of motion assessments, neurological tests, special tests, and other relevant examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Present as a single paragraph without line break after the heading.)
Summary:
- [Summary of relevant past and present history] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in concise sentences.)
- [Summary of key examination findings] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in concise sentences.)
- [Summary of clinical impression] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in concise sentences.)
- [Summary of current medications and any medication-related issues] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in concise sentences.)
- [Summary of relevant surgical or procedural history] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in concise sentences.)
- [Summary of investigation findings including imaging, blood tests, or other diagnostic results] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in concise sentences.)
[Clinical impression or overall summary of findings as stated by the clinician] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Write in full sentences.)
Diagnosis:
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2. [Secondary diagnosis] (Only include diagnoses if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
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4. [Additional diagnosis] (Only include diagnoses if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely. Do not invent or infer a diagnosis.)
Management Plan:
1. [First management plan item including medications, interventions, lifestyle advice, or referrals] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
2. [Second management plan item] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
3. [Third management plan item] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
4. [Fourth management plan item] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
5. [Additional management plan items] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
"Many thanks"
"Yours sincerely"
[Clinician name and credentials] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else use clinician information from patient details.)
[Clinician job title] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
Tasks: (Only include this entire section if tasks are explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit section entirely.)
For Admin Team: [Tasks for administrative team including appointment bookings, letter distribution, scan requests, or other administrative actions] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit this subsection entirely. List as bullet points.)
For Self: [Personal tasks or reminders for the clinician including follow-up actions, reviews, or clinical tasks] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit this subsection entirely. List as bullet points.)
Other Tasks: [Any other tasks not categorised above] (Only include if explicitly mentioned in transcript, contextual notes, or clinical note, else omit this subsection entirely. List as bullet points.)