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what is the importance of patient history

by Prof. Hudson Hansen Jr. Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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  • Determining whether more than one family member has developed the same condition or disorder over the years
  • Identifying how closely the affected individuals are related to each other
  • Identifying the ages of onset when that disorder or condition arose in each affected individual

Patient medical history is often a crucial step in evaluating patients. Information gathered by doing a thorough medical history can have life or death consequences. In less extreme cases medical history will often direct care.Sep 8, 2021

Full Answer

Why is it important to properly identify the patient?

why is it important to properly identify the patient? to avoid mistaking someone for someone else when filing or documenting information in the medical record. how can patient apprehension be reduced during a physical examination? by addressing the patient by first name, friendly attitude and speaking clearly ...

Why patient bedmaking is important in hospital?

techniques to prepare various types of bed for patients or clients to ensure comfort and useful position for a particular condition. The bed is especially important for patients who are sick. ensure comfort and cleanliness for ill patient. per patient’s need because they spend varying amount of the day in bed. Bed-making is a nursing art.

Why patient voices are important?

Why the patient's voice is important Good health care in hospitals and other healthcare services is not just about treating an illness. It is about making sure that the patient’s values, needs and concerns are valued at all stages of treatment and care.

Why is a hospital important to a community?

The community hospital plays a particular role in intermediate care, and is a focus for integration for many staff and services in both health and social care. Community hospitals vary considerably, as they have adapted to the needs of their local populations.

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How often should we update our health histories, you ask?

Robert Anderton, Dr. Mitchell Gardiner, Ms. Joy Jagol, and Mr. Ryan Donihue) leading the class were adamant that medical histories should be reviewed every time we see a patient. This is because we never know what can happen in a 24, 48, or 72-hour period, from appointment to appointment. We all know our training, and we all know we want to be the best, so let’s continue to follow through with the level professionalism we were taught! Once we have updated the health history form, it is then vital to have the current date and a new signature.

What does infection alone mean in dental?

The word infection alone alerts the patient to the importance of that phone call. One particular matter that has become a pet peeve within this topic is that dental hygienists are not the only healthcare provider in the office who should care whether there has been a change.

What to do if a patient carries a list of medications?

If your patient carries a list, take a copy to scan into or place in the chart. Make a big deal of patients carrying a list of medications; this makes life easier for you at each appointment and helps if a patient is in an emergency situation in everyday life.

What to do if you still use a paper chart?

If you still use a paper chart, a suggestion is to ask the patient to review their previous form and make any corrections with their initials next to the correction and be sure to sign and date near the prior signature. In the past when a paper chart was utilized, it got to the point of disaster after a number of visits; at that point, it would be wise to have the patient or caregiver update a new form. This point was made very clear in the simulated court case class at the RMDC, as the dentist on trial had not shown validity in the medical history update, and the prosecuting attorney proceeded to come back to the update of the medical history time and again. When all else fails, and you need that health history done yesterday, try helping your patient complete the form, or ask another team member to assist them after their appointment with a new update. Think outside the box to manage your appointment to efficiency.

Is a diagnosis a piece of the medical/dental puzzle?

New diagnoses are a huge piece of the medical/dental puzzle that we MUST pay attention to always. When I graduated dental hygiene school in 1996, we were not being taught much in regards to talking about the oral-systemic link. Hygienists, we are smart, and we have a plethora of information to share! It is our job to know EVERYTHING, right?! Or at least we like to think so. Knowing what is going on with our patient’s overall health lays out the roadmap for our hygiene appointment.

Can you work on radiographs?

Yes, this does, unfortunately. Perhaps you might train front desk personnel on the proper verbiage to use when contacting a medical office regarding something of this nature so that you can work on radiographs and get an exam while you await a response to the inquiry.

Why is it important to ask if a patient has allergies?

It is critical to always ask clearly if the patient has any medication allergies and if they do, clarify the reaction they had to the medication.

What is NCBI bookshelf?

NCBI Bookshelf. A service of the National Library of Medicine, National Institutes of Health.

Why is it important to ask a patient a thorough history?

Obtaining a thorough history is important, but the questioning should show empathy to the patient and their condition. [6]  Patients may feel rushed or that the provider lacks empathy if questions are asked robotically.

What does a medical history reveal?

Obtaining a medical history can reveal the relevant chronic illnesses and other prior disease states for which the patient may not be under treatment but may have had lasting effects on the patient's health. The medical history may also direct differential diagnoses. [1]

Why is it important to have a medical history?

Obtaining a medical history can reveal the relevant chronic illnesses and other prior disease states for which the patient may not be under treatment but may have had lasting effects on the patient's health. The medical history may also direct differential diagnoses.[1] When treating a patient, information gathered by any means can crucially guide ...

What is the importance of history in healthcare?

Often information from the history can direct treatment or may indicate a need for further workup of patient complaints. The history may also inform the provider of certain aspects of the patient's health which will direct care, especially avoidance of potential harm to the patient with regard to allergies or previous treatments limiting care at the time of the encounter.

What questions should a female patient ask about their last period?

Asking female patient's age-appropriate questions about their last menstrual period and their pregnancy history to include gravidity and parity should be common practice. According to the patient's age, further questions about menarche and menopause may be appropriate as part of the medical history.

How reliable is a physical exam?

Basing the choice of diagnostic studies on the results of a solid history and physical is a reliable way to limit unnecessary testing. In a recent study, researchers determined that the physical exam doubled the diagnostic power of the history by 19.5% to 39%, while the addition of basic diagnostic studies increased diagnostic accuracy by another 33%. 11 In this particular study, 90% of accurate diagnoses were determined through the history, physical exam, and selective studies either alone or in combination. 11 Therefore, by basing the diagnostic workup on the specific information generated through the history and physical exam, clinicians can choose the studies most likely to support or refute a potential diagnosis, and thereby determine the real problem in an efficient and cost-effective manner. 5,9,11

Why is it important to take a history and physical exam?

As patient volume increases and encounter times become shorter, it is critical for clinicians to establish a working diagnosis in a timely manner. With the advent of advanced technological equipment and rising healthcare costs, it is even more important to be selective about the use of these tools and to base testing decisions on the specific findings noted in the patient's clinical evaluation. Therefore, the clinical history and physical exam are critical to the diagnostic process and often provide more information than can be gained by broad testing strategies. An old adage claims that if you listen to patients, they will eventually tell you what is wrong. However, most patients come in for appointments with multiple concerns, which can make it even more challenging to focus the encounter without losing important information regarding the patient's healthcare issues. For instance, a recent study showed that 40% of patients bring more than one concern to primary care urgent visits, and most patients will address an average of three complaints per visit. 1 If the key to the patient's diagnosis lies within the history, which will in turn determine the type of physical exam, then refining the art of history taking is the first step to an accurate diagnosis.

Why is a physical exam important?

9 Furthermore, in almost half of these patients, the diagnosis would not have been determined through common diagnostic practices. 9 Therefore, the physical exam findings were critical to making and confirming an accurate diagnosis quickly.

Why are NPs important?

Clearly, NPs will continue to play an important role in refining and promoting the history and physical as a basis for the judicious selection of testing procedures, which will ultimately improve the diagnostic process.

Why is it important to use patient history and physical?

This article supports the importance of using the patient history and physical as a basis for selecting relevant diagnostic testing, which leads to a timely and accurate diagnosis. This process protects patients from the risks of unnecessary testing and is cost-effective.

Why is it important for clinicians to establish a working diagnosis in a timely manner?

As patient volume increases and encounter times become shorter, it is critical for clinicians to establish a working diagnosis in a timely manner.

What is the Choosing Wisely initiative?

While the Choosing Wisely initiative primarily deals with the Top 5 lists of procedures to avoid, they also support the selection of tests or procedures that are evidence-based, and free from harm. 17,19 They recommend choosing tests that are truly necessary based on each individual's specific health profile and, finally, tests that do not replicate other procedures. 19 In addition, as healthcare reform promotes more patient-centered care, they highly recommend engaging patients in the process of evaluating the relative risks and benefits of healthcare interventions through sharing information with patients during patient encounters. 19 Consumer Reports, an independent nonprofit consumer organization, is also collaborating with these professional organizations to provide information directly to patients. 19

Why is medical history important?

Medical history is important because when GPs have more information about a patient’s medical history, health professionals can deliver the most appropriate and effective treatment or support for their concerns. It can also help diagnose possible illnesses, understand hereditary and likely diseases in your family, as well as allergies, your past and current medication, and vaccination records.

What makes a family susceptible to certain diseases?

Changes or mutations in genes might make families susceptible to certain diseases and illnesses.

How does biological inheritance affect health?

How biological inheritance affects your health. Your traits and properties that make you as a person are taken from your parents and ancestors, including health. Just as you might inherit eye colour and body shape, you inherit health. Changes or mutations in genes might make families susceptible to certain diseases and illnesses.

What is family history?

Family medical history is a record of health information about a person’s family, usually including three generations of relatives. Families share genetic makeups, environments, and lifestyle — these factors can provide insight into medical conditions that may run in your family. Noticing concerns in a patient’s health as well as having an ...

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1.The Importance of Knowing a Patient's Health History …

Url:https://www.todaysrdh.com/importance-knowing-patients-health-history-simplify-process/

9 hours ago  · Clara Chan, MD, Cornea editor, shared an experience that emphasizes the value patient history can have on a diagnosis, in this case recurrent subconjunctival hemorrhages …

2.Taking a patient history: the role of the nurse - PubMed

Url:https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22443012/

18 hours ago  · History taking is a key component of patient assessment, enabling the delivery of high-quality care. Understanding the complexity and processes involved in history taking …

3.The Equal Importance of Patient History and the History …

Url:https://opmed.doximity.com/articles/the-equal-importance-of-patient-history-and-the-history-of-medicine

24 hours ago  · The Equal Importance of Patient History and the History of Medicine. Op-Med is a collection of original articles contributed by Doximity members. The current era of medicine is …

4.Medical History - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf

Url:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK534249/

29 hours ago  · Abstract. This article supports the importance of using the patient history and physical as a basis for selecting relevant diagnostic testing, which leads to a timely and …

5.The importance of the history and physical in diagnosis

Url:https://journals.lww.com/tnpj/Fulltext/2014/04000/The_importance_of_the_history_and_physical_in.6.aspx

19 hours ago Medical history is important because when GPs have more information about a patient’s medical history, health professionals can deliver the most appropriate and effective treatment or …

6.Why is Medical history Important? - myGP

Url:https://www.mygp.com/why-is-medical-history-important/

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