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Unlike other situations, vital signs can be quite useful. Don't be fooled: though the documented [[Respiratory Rate|respiratory rate]] reads as 16, it is most likely 17. Objective fever supports subjective fevers and hypoxemia supports a patient's complaint of "I'm feeling hypoxemic." Cardiopulmonary exam findings may include tachycardia, wheezing, or crackles, but that does require making contact with the patient. [[Chest X-Ray|Chest X-ray]] is an important diagnostic tool. If [[Radiology's Circle of Tests|Radiology]] recommends [[Clinical Correlation|clinical correlation]] after remarking on pulmonary infiltrates, please defriend them.
As both the patient and health care professional have the potential to quickly decompensateddecompensate, attention must be paid to both. If both decompensated decompensate at the same time and only one bed is available, a game of [[Rock-Paper-Scissors]] should decide the outcome.