Mierau Medical Diagnostic and Coding Method
The Eighteen Foundational Postulates
Postulate 11 MMDCM Delta Logic
Statement
Diagnostic reasoning SHALL consider changes between relevant states of medical information, findings, or assessment over time.
Definition
Delta describes the clinically relevant difference between two or more states of medical knowledge, findings, or assessment.
The Delta may represent
- a newly detected finding,
- a change in an existing finding,
- a change in symptoms,
- a change in diagnostic assessment,
- a newly available investigation,
- or a change in the overall diagnostic understanding.
Delta is therefore concerned not merely with what is present, but with
What has changed.
Principle
A change in medical information SHALL be considered in relation to the previous state from which it emerged.
A new finding should therefore not be evaluated solely as an isolated piece of information.
The diagnostic relevance of a Delta depends on
- the previous state,
- the new state,
- the time between them,
- and the circumstances under which the change became apparent.
Rationale
Practical Example
Database Requirements
Implications
Related Postulates
Key Message
Do not look only at what is — look at what has changed.
Mierau Medical Diagnostic and Coding Method
The Eighteen Foundational Postulates
Postulate 11 MMDCM Delta Logic
Statement
Diagnostic reasoning SHALL consider changes between relevant states of medical information, findings, or assessment over time.
Definition
Delta describes the clinically relevant difference between two or more states of medical knowledge, findings, or assessment.
The Delta may represent
- a newly detected finding,
- a change in an existing finding,
- a change in symptoms,
- a change in diagnostic assessment,
- a newly available investigation,
- or a change in the overall diagnostic understanding.
Delta is therefore concerned not merely with what is present, but with
What has changed.
Principle
A change in medical information SHALL be considered in relation to the previous state from which it emerged.
A new finding should therefore not be evaluated solely as an isolated piece of information.
The diagnostic relevance of a Delta depends on
- the previous state,
- the new state,
- the time between them,
- and the circumstances under which the change became apparent.
Rationale
Practical Example
Database Requirements
Implications
Related Postulates
Key Message
Do not look only at what is — look at what has changed.
Mierau Medical Diagnostic and Coding Method
The Eighteen Foundational Postulates
Postulate 11 MMDCM Delta Logic
Statement
Diagnostic reasoning SHALL consider changes between relevant states of medical information, findings, or assessment over time.
Definition
Delta describes the clinically relevant difference between two or more states of medical knowledge, findings, or assessment.
The Delta may represent
- a newly detected finding,
- a change in an existing finding,
- a change in symptoms,
- a change in diagnostic assessment,
- a newly available investigation,
- or a change in the overall diagnostic understanding.
Delta is therefore concerned not merely with what is present, but with
What has changed.
Principle
A change in medical information SHALL be considered in relation to the previous state from which it emerged.
A new finding should therefore not be evaluated solely as an isolated piece of information.
The diagnostic relevance of a Delta depends on
- the previous state,
- the new state,
- the time between them,
- and the circumstances under which the change became apparent.
Rationale
Practical Example
Database Requirements
Implications
Related Postulates
Key Message
Do not look only at what is — look at what has changed.
Mierau Medical Diagnostic and Coding Method
The Eighteen Foundational Postulates
Postulate 11 MMDCM Delta Logic
Statement
Diagnostic reasoning SHALL consider changes between relevant states of medical information, findings, or assessment over time.
Definition
Delta describes the clinically relevant difference between two or more states of medical knowledge, findings, or assessment.
The Delta may represent
- a newly detected finding,
- a change in an existing finding,
- a change in symptoms,
- a change in diagnostic assessment,
- a newly available investigation,
- or a change in the overall diagnostic understanding.
Delta is therefore concerned not merely with what is present, but with
What has changed.
Principle
A change in medical information SHALL be considered in relation to the previous state from which it emerged.
A new finding should therefore not be evaluated solely as an isolated piece of information.
The diagnostic relevance of a Delta depends on
- the previous state,
- the new state,
- the time between them,
- and the circumstances under which the change became apparent.
Rationale
Practical Example
Database Requirements
Implications
Related Postulates
Key Message
Do not look only at what is — look at what has changed.
Mierau Medical Diagnostic and Coding Method
The Eighteen Foundational Postulates
Postulate 11 MMDCM Delta Logic
Statement
Diagnostic reasoning SHALL consider changes between relevant states of medical information, findings, or assessment over time.
Definition
Delta describes the clinically relevant difference between two or more states of medical knowledge, findings, or assessment.
The Delta may represent
- a newly detected finding,
- a change in an existing finding,
- a change in symptoms,
- a change in diagnostic assessment,
- a newly available investigation,
- or a change in the overall diagnostic understanding.
Delta is therefore concerned not merely with what is present, but with
What has changed.
Principle
A change in medical information SHALL be considered in relation to the previous state from which it emerged.
A new finding should therefore not be evaluated solely as an isolated piece of information.
The diagnostic relevance of a Delta depends on
- the previous state,
- the new state,
- the time between them,
- and the circumstances under which the change became apparent.
Rationale
Practical Example
Database Requirements
Implications
Related Postulates
Key Message
Do not look only at what is — look at what has changed.
Mierau Medical Diagnostic and Coding Method
The Eighteen Foundational Postulates
Postulate 11 MMDCM Delta Logic
Statement
Diagnostic reasoning SHALL consider changes between relevant states of medical information, findings, or assessment over time.
Definition
Delta describes the clinically relevant difference between two or more states of medical knowledge, findings, or assessment.
The Delta may represent
- a newly detected finding,
- a change in an existing finding,
- a change in symptoms,
- a change in diagnostic assessment,
- a newly available investigation,
- or a change in the overall diagnostic understanding.
Delta is therefore concerned not merely with what is present, but with
What has changed.
Principle
A change in medical information SHALL be considered in relation to the previous state from which it emerged.
A new finding should therefore not be evaluated solely as an isolated piece of information.
The diagnostic relevance of a Delta depends on
- the previous state,
- the new state,
- the time between them,
- and the circumstances under which the change became apparent.
Rationale
Practical Example
Database Requirements
Implications
Related Postulates
Key Message
Do not look only at what is — look at what has changed.