Signs and symptoms	Evaluation
Cardiovascular: chest pain, shortness of breath, diaphoresis	Electrocardiography; measurement of serum troponin and myoglobin levels; d-dimer test
Endocrine: unintentional weight gain/loss, temperature intolerance, anxiety/depression, unexplained diaphoresis, dysphagia, palpitations, signs and symptoms of hypo- or hyperglycemia	Measurement of thyroid-stimulating hormone and serum glucose levels; measurement of serum cortisol level or adrenocorticotropic hormone stimulation test
Environmental exposure: shivering, hypo- or hypertension, brady- or tachycardia, low or high respiratory rate, vasoconstriction	Measurement of patient's core temperature
Gastrointestinal: abdominal pain, abdominal distention, history of cirrhosis	Liver function tests; measurement of lipase level and ammonia levels
Infection suspected	Blood cultures, complete blood count, chest radiography, computed tomography, lumbar puncture, urinalysis with culture, skin examination
Malnutrition, social isolation	Measurement of vitamin B12, folate, albumin, and prealbumin levels
Neurologic: focal neurologic deficits, seizure	Neurologic examination, computed tomography of the head, electroencephalography
Pain, recent trauma or surgery	Pain assessment scale
Pharmacologic: addition or change to medication regimen, patient or caregiver unable to convey medication administration details	Medication reconciliation
Renal: history suggestive of impaired kidney function or electrolyte disturbance	Serum chemistries, blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio
Respiratory distress, hypoxia	Pulse oximetry, arterial blood gas measurement
Rheumatologic: fatigue, intermittent fevers, myalgias, arthralgias	Erythrocyte sedimentation rate, measurement of C-reactive protein level
Substance abuse, suicidal, report of empty pill bottles found at home	Review of social history and occupational or other exposures; urine drug screen; measurement of serum alcohol, salicylate, and acetaminophen levels
Volume depletion (dehydration or blood loss): fatigue, lightheadedness, falls, syncope, pallor, melena/hematochezia, decreased intake, nausea/vomiting, diarrhea, decreased skin turgor, dry mucous membranes, orthostasis, tachycardia	Complete blood count, urine-specific gravity test, serum osmolarity measurement, blood urea nitrogen/creatinine ratio