title: [The art of medicine].
abstract: Not too long ago, obtaining a patient's history and performing a physical examination was the beginning of every doctor-patient interaction. Today, impressing technical methods--extending the human "diagnostic horizon" to an unbelievable level of astonishing perception--are easily available in most places. So the question comes up whether clinical findings still have relevance in common medical practice. This article critically discusses the value of apparently "established" clinical signs, but also points out why taking a precise patient's history and performing a skilled physical examination is still essential-today and tomorrow.
authors.affiliation: Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin I, Universitätsklinikum, Regensburg. michael.reng@medicdat.de
authors.forename: Carl-Michael
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Reng
authors.forename: Susanne
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konrad
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schölmerich
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001314:Auscultation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020407:Internet; D008297:Male; D008487:Medical History Taking; D010173:Palpation; D010808:Physical Examination; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011674:Pulse; D019114:Remote Consultation; D019023:Stethoscopes