Thinking Inside the Box

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At The Allergy Clinic, we love seeing a straightforward patient with a routine problem. Probably because that’s an unusual event. Most patients don’t read the textbook before coming, so they don’t present as a “textbook case” of allergies or asthma. Getting an accurate diagnosis is key to getting the proper treatment. Before a doctor comes up with your diagnosis, he or she forms a differential diagnosis. A differential diagnosis is basically a list of the possibilities. It is best to look at things with a broad-angle lens before deciding what to zero in on.

Many patients come to see us because their doctor said we embrace alternative medicine, or that we think outside of the box. Yes, we have made referrals for our patients to start Pilates, acupuncture, probiotics and to see nutritionists. But before you think “outside of the box”, you have to know how to think “inside the box.” It’s exciting to come up with some ingenious or innovative solution to a problem, but many routine approaches work better.

As long as your doctor knows what the routine approaches are.

Over the past 10-15 years, Practice Parameters have been developed to improve patient care. Some call this “cookbook medicine”. If you actually read the parameters, they’re enlightening and educating. If that treatment doesn't work, we document it, then proceed to think outside the box. When you trust us with your allergies, we will think outside of the box. Right after we finish thinking inside the box.

David B. Engler, MD

Note: Information contained in this article should not be considered a substitute for consultation with a board-certified allergist to address individual medical needs.