"Grossly nonfocal"

[Bill]

What does the phrase "grossly nonfocal" (under "neurological") signify
in a report on a physical exam?

Bill

[David Rind]

Post by Bill
What does the phrase "grossly nonfocal" (under "neurological") signify
in a report on a physical exam?
Bill

Depending on the context it could mean a couple of different things,
but most likely it means "Didn't do a careful neurologic exam
but there was nothing major that was abnormal." In someone
who was uncooperative with an exam (for instance intoxicated
or delirious from an illness) it might mean "No evidence that
whatever is wrong is due to a stroke." In any case it is
does not mean that some problem was found.

[anon]

Post by Bill
What does the phrase "grossly nonfocal" (under "neurological") signify
in a report on a physical exam?

It means the patient was walking, talking, and moving all extremities
in a normal fashion, without any obvious neurological impairment. A
detailed neurological exam was not done. You'll usually see this
notation when there is no reason to suspect a neurological problem (in
other words, when a detailed exam is clinically unnecessary).