Is it better not to enter a diagnosis at the end of ccs?

[amilewide]

Looks like diagnosis isn't even graded in CCS (what one enters at the end of the case), so would it be OK to never even enter a diagnosis, and try and use that time for completing orders in the last 2 minutes?

Why even waste time on thinking about dx and typing it in?

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[alpinebrook]

I've heard the same thing but I know I'm not going to be able to help typing out the diagnosis anyway...

 

[Elixir6]

Bump... wondering about this myself.

I keep seeing that the final diagnosis is not graded, but does anyone know where this is actually stated in something more official than a random forum. Or anyone have experience where they got an awesome grade after never typing these?

EDIT:

N/M, I found it. If you go and look at the USMLE website, they have a PDF that describes the tests and states the diagnosis is not graded.

 

[ramzax]

am i the only one who never got a chance to enter a diagnosis during the exam?

 

[Ansuya]

Not sure what the point of it was, I just entered working diagnosis w/ few differentials, would be cool if that counted, but none of it does.

 

[ramzax]

When did you take it? I'm not sure if I did something wrong but with every case I was never prompted to enter a diagnosis?

 

[chemistryguy]

It says on the test description the final diagnosis is not ordered, so Im assuming you could write anything or just skip it. Not sure why they include it if its not graded.

 

[joeagnew86]

Can anybody confirm for sure? I didn't write a final diagnosis for any because I was putting in orders instead. I honestly think World messed me up because it always asked after the two minutes so I assumed that CCS would be the same. So, did I fail if I didn't write final diagnosis for any of them?

 

[Msadat11]

Can anybody confirm for sure? I didn't write a final diagnosis for any because I was putting in orders instead. I honestly think World messed me up because it always asked after the two minutes so I assumed that CCS would be the same. So, did I fail if I didn't write final diagnosis for any of them?

It's confirmed it's not graded

From page 21

1. Will I be penalized if my case ends before I enter the final diagnosis?
   
   No. Diagnoses entered are NOT used in scoring an examinee performance.
   

1. http://www.usmle.org/pdfs/step-3/2016content_Step3.pdf
   

 

[bpky]

Cost is accounted for indirectly based on the relative inappropriateness of patient management actions. If you order something that is unnecessary and excessive, your score will decrease. In considering various options including the location in which you manage the patient, you need to decide whether the additional cost is warranted for better patient care. Diagnoses and reasons for consultations that you provide in Primum CCS will not be used in evaluating your performance at this time, unless needed to investigate unusual test-taking behaviors or response patterns. The scoring process uses algorithms that represent codified expert physician policies. These policies allow for wide variations in care protocols among health care settings and systems. The policies are obtained from expert physicians who are experienced in training physicians and in caring for patients. For each patient case, the input of expert generalists and specialists is obtained to ensure that performance criteria are reasonable for any physician practicing medicine in an unsupervised setting
(this is on page 15 of the pdf link above)

 

[bpky]

Cost is accounted for indirectly based on the relative inappropriateness of patient management actions. If you order something that is unnecessary and excessive, your score will decrease. In considering various options including the location in which you manage the patient, you need to decide whether the additional cost is warranted for better patient care. Diagnoses and reasons for consultations that you provide in Primum CCS will not be used in evaluating your performance at this time, unless needed to investigate unusual test-taking behaviors or response patterns. The scoring process uses algorithms that represent codified expert physician policies. These policies allow for wide variations in care protocols among health care settings and systems. The policies are obtained from expert physicians who are experienced in training physicians and in caring for patients. For each patient case, the input of expert generalists and specialists is obtained to ensure that performance criteria are reasonable for any physician practicing medicine in an unsupervised setting
(this is on page 15 of the pdf link above)

After finalizing patient care, you must select Exit Case to enter the final diagnosis and exit the case. If you use the entire time allotted to review the chart and complete orders at case end, you will not be able to enter a final diagnosis. You will then see an "END OF CASE" message. NOTE: DIAGNOSES ENTERED ARE NOT USED IN SCORING YOUR PERFORMANCE. (page 21)