1. Give adequate time and undivided attention to your patient. Be alert and absorb all that is being told by the patient.

2. Be a good listener.

3. Write down the diagnosis on your prescription — this in itself makes one think before ordering tests or medications.

4. While interviewing the patient, examining and coming back to history if required, and while reviewing all previous laboratory results, keep your mind open as every patient is different [2]. Verify for yourself. Once the patient is with you, it is your responsibility to confirm all the findings and collate them.

5. If the patient is not fitting into a common diagnosis or responding to therapy as expected, think out-of-the box and consider various possibilities again. Keep a checklist if required [3].

6. If you are not sure of the diagnosis, go back to the history again and re-examine your patient head-to-toe. Review the case with your colleague or senior, if required. In the modern era of networking, various platforms allow rapid dissemination of clinical queries and feedback while maintaining patient confidentiality.

7. Ensuring follow-up is very important, particularly when there is non-resolution of symptoms and signs.

8. Do not treat laboratory reports without correlating with the patients’ condition. In other words, the clinical picture is paramount.

9. One important way to learn is to get feedback about a patient who was lost to follow-up with you and went to another colleague. In that case, you need to also give feedback to the doctor from whom the patient came to you — this is critical in learning from one another as well as from patients.

10. The continuous training of teachers and a feedback mechanism must be developed.