Being a doctor or for that matter being any kind of health care worker is a daunting and utterly difficult task. But considering the enormity of the responsibility of being a doctor there are some simple principles and rules, which can be followed by doctors to become a successful and a popular clinician.

1. Analyze The Symptoms on History:

As a doctor your background knowledge should be enough to know, which symptoms from among a host of complaints by the patient are relevant and what leading questions you need to ask in order to extract the information that the patient might have forgotten to mention or might have been concealing intentionally.

2. Pick up all the positive and important negative signs on examination:

When examining the patient you should go through the complete protocol for physical examination of a particular system. While examining you should just not be doing the drill but be vigilant about any positive sign that comes along. Identification of all the positive signs is very important in reaching the correct diagnosis.

3. Record Vital Signs yourself and don’t leave it for other healthcare staff to be done:

Vital signs are important indicators of disease and effectiveness of treatment hence knowing how to record and interpret vital signs is essential for every doctor.

4. Ordering and Interpreting Appropriate Investigations:

At the end of history and examination a doctor should have a diagnosis in mind and should know the exact laboratory and radiological investigations that are required to confirm the diagnosis.

5. Formulating A treatment Plan:

After reaching a diagnosis every doctor should be able to formulate a treatment plan and then execute it.