Patient interview

How to interview a patient with heat or cold intolerance

Other platforms explain it with text and video. In VMS you practice it on the patient.

MD / DOPA
Practice it in VR with Blocky

Feeling too hot or too cold all the time often points to the thyroid.

Step by step

  1. Introduce yourself and get consent

    Ask what feels different. [1]

  2. Heat intolerance

    Sweating, weight loss, palpitations, tremor, diarrhea, anxiety (overactive thyroid). [2]

  3. Cold intolerance

    Weight gain, tiredness, constipation, dry skin, slow thinking (underactive thyroid). [2]

  4. Neck and eyes

    Neck swelling, eye bulging or irritation. [2]

  5. Periods and pregnancy

    Cycle changes; recent pregnancy. [2]

  6. Medicines

    Thyroid pills, amiodarone, lithium, iodine. [2]

  7. Summarize and plan

    Explain thyroid blood tests. [1]

Common errors

Practice it in VMS

In VMS you do this on the patient, not on paper: every step goes on the checklist with a score, and in Teach mode Blocky tells you what comes next.

VMS cases that train this skill

10 VMS cases train this skill: open the case library

Sources

  1. AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs)
  2. NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint
  3. NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations

Facts and steps follow NBOME COMLEX-USA clinical presentations; NCCPA PANCE Content Blueprint; AAMC Core Entrustable Professional Activities (Core EPAs). VMS is not affiliated with these organizations. Updated: 2026-10-11.