This is important because social as well as physical factors can play a role in the health of a patient. If you ignore one or the other you could miss something that is contributing to the patients current condition and well being. All health care professionals need to treat patients as a whole and find out how it is best to treat and diagnose patients by asking them about their physical being and also what is going on in their lives externally. Environmental factors play a large role in the physical and mental health of people as well as biological factors.