Pulse Reference

We are thrilled to unveil the Pulse Reference relaunch, a unique resource that allows GPs to make sense of their patients’ symptoms and delve deeper into likely diagnoses.

Based on the best-selling Symptom Sorter book, co-authored by Pulse’s own clinical adviser, Dr Keith Hopcroft, Pulse Reference covers the vast majority of symptoms seen in general practice, from the most common to some of the more obscure.

Unlike any other tool or website on the market, Pulse reference is comprehensive, easy to access, practical and written from the real world of general practice. It will point the GP towards possible differentials, highlight useful tips and red flags along the way and help towards formulating a likely diagnosis.

The journey is then completed with a useful overview summarising all the key information the GP needs to know for that diagnosis, from epidemiology through assessment to treatment and prognosis.

How GPs can use Pulse Reference:

Step 1: Start your search: Type a symptom, keyword or illness into the search bar
Step 2: Select the link most relevant to your search
Step 3: Explore the full GP analysis of the symptom, which includes:
- Differential Diagnosis: the likely diagnoses, subdivided Common, Occasional and Rare
- Ready Reckoner: key distinguishing features of the most common diagnoses
- Possible Investigations: those tests most likely to assist you in making the diagnosis
- Top Tips: useful hints from the authors’ experience
- Red Flags: scenarios that should ring alarm bells – and why

Information is presented in a consistent, comprehensive, and digestible way. It is also a vital learning tool for those starting out in general practice.

The experts behind Pulse Reference are Dr Keith Hopcroft and Dr Poppy Freeman. Dr Keith Hopcroft is the co-author of Symptom Sorter and has been Pulse’s editorial advisor for more than 15 years. He is a GP in Basildon, Essex, a medical student trainer and medical writer and columnist. Dr Poppy Freeman is also a clinical advisor to Pulse and set up the Covid Toolkit on Pulse Today in 2020 to provide GPs with up-to-date guidance on all the clinical and organisational Covid updates. She is a GP in Camden.

Please contact us today to discuss details of our exclusive, high-profile sponsorship opportunity, providing access to HCPs actively engaging with Pulse Reference.

Pulse Today launches Pulse Reference, a new service for GPs that allows them to check symptoms and receive potential diagnoses while in consultations.

Pulse Reference is a free service based on the best-selling Symptom Sorter book, written by Pulse’s clinical adviser Dr Keith Hopcroft and Dr Vincent Forte.

The service has details on 140 symptoms and has been designed by GPs to be used within consultations, including easily searchable symptoms and categories.

It is free for all GPs to use and it will be constantly updated.

The Symptom Sorter book was released to redress the balance between symptoms and diagnoses.

It presents a multitude of symptoms commonly encountered in primary care, using the red flags, top tips and ready reckoner format for sorting symptoms – a format that has been replicated on Pulse Reference.

Pulse editor Jaimie Kaffash said: ‘We hope that this new service will be invaluable for GPs. This is for use within consultations, to enable GPs to refresh their knowledge on symptoms with suggested diagnoses.

‘We know how busy GPs are, and Pulse Reference has been written and designed by GPs who understand these pressures. So please, add the site to your favourites to support you in your practice.’

The experts behind Pulse Reference

Dr Keith Hopcroft is the co-author of Symptom Sorter and has been Pulse’s editorial advisor for more than 15 years. He is a GP in Basildon, Essex, an associate trainer and medical writer and columnist.

Dr Poppy Freeman is also a clinical advisor to Pulse and set up the Covid Toolkit on Pulse Today in 2020 to provide GPs with up-to-date guidance on all the clinical and organisational Covid updates. She is a GP in Camden.