SHIFT IN NUMBER & PERSON

Make the point of

view consistent in
number and person.
Many thanks for referring
this nice lady to my
office for consideration of
a wedge with the resection
on her right lower lobe
mass by thoracoscopy.
On examination, I found a
pleasant Caucasian lady who
was overtly overweight with
bilateral mastectomies. Her
heart sounds were within normal
limits and there were no
murmurs. Her chest was
clinically clear with faint wheeze
particularly on the right side and
mild crepitation.
Her abdomen was obese with
scars of the operation referred to
above. There were no masses
and there were no tenderness.
She had bad knees with the
previous operations and she
walked with a stick.
Spot the incorrect
pronouns in the next
paragraph. Make the
necessary changes to
correct the sentences.
EXERCISE
SOCIAL HISTORY:
The patient is a heavy smoker and
she used to smoke about three packs
a day for more than 25 years. He is
currently on one pack a day during
the last couple of years. They do not
drink alcohol. We do not drink
caffeine. She does not exercise
regularly. They have good family
support. She is retired.
SHIFT IN VERB TENSE
Maintain
consistent verb
tenses.
When a paragraph begins
in one tense and then
shifts without warning and
for no reason to another,
readers are distracted and
confused.
SOCIAL HISTORY:
The patient is a heavy smoker and she
used to smoke about three packs a day
for more than 25 years. She is currently
on one pack a day during the last
couples of years. She does not drink
alcohol. She does not drink caffeine.
She does not exercise regularly. She has
good family support. She is retired.
Peripheral vascular disease with stent
placement in right femoral artery. At
this time, the patient was advised that
she may continue with Plavix 75 mg. It
was explained to the patient that Plavix
is not FDA approved beyond 12
months after a stent placement and
that is why we should also not take it as
needed for the patient with coronary
artery disease alone.
Change the verbs in the
parentheses to make all
the sentences consistent
in tense.
EXERCISE
Diabetes mellitus. The patient will
continue on metformin 500 mg
twice a day. We (obtain) blood
work exam with hemoglobin A1c
test. We (check) for her lipid
panel. I will check CBC as well as
possible elevated hemoglobin and
hematocrit in this patient who is a
heavy smoker as well.
On examination, I found a pleasant Caucasian
lady who (be) overtly overweight with bilateral
mastectomies. Her heart sounds (be) within
normal limits and there (be) no murmurs. Her
chest was clinically clear with faint wheeze
particularly on the right side and mild
crepitation. Her abdomen (be) obese with scars
of the operation referred to above. There (be)
no masses and there (be) no tenderness. She
(have) bad knees with the previous operations
and she (walk) with a stick.
SHIFT IN VOICE
Make verbs
consistent in
voice.
Her past medical and surgical history
includes surgery for ischemic bowel,
hernia surgery, cardiomyopathy,
bilateral knee replacements. She
gained a recent admission to OSH
with pneumonia. She has also had
bilateral mastectomies for breast
cancer and has diabetes mellitus as
well as hypertension, COPD, and
heart failure.
She does not smoke nor drink.
She drinks one cup of coffee a
day. She exercises four times a
week. She has good family
support. She is retired and
under Medicare Insurance Plan.
She had normal Pap smear,
mammogram, and breast
exam in April 2006. EKG is
normal today. Eye exam was
done in 2006.
The next paragraph
must have verbs in the
active voice. Change the
sentences in the passive
to the active voice .
EXERCISE
Diabetes mellitus. The patient will
continue on metformin 500 mg
twice a day. Blood work exam with
hemoglobin A1c test will be obtained
by us. Her lipid panel will also be
checked by us. I will check CBC as
well as possible elevated hemoglobin
and hematocrit in this patient who is
a heavy smoker as well.
Health maintenance is not up-to-
date at all. Pap smears, pneumonia
vaccine, and colonoscopy are
declined by the patient. Obtaining a
mammogram is also insisted by the
patient mammogram.
Follow up visit will be in a week and
we will discuss with the patient the
result of treatment.