Final answer:
In a virtual appointment, the physical examination may be deferred due to the remote nature of the consultation, which does not allow for hands-on assessment.
Step-by-step explanation:
The part of the virtual appointment that may be deferred is A. History taking. During a virtual appointment, history taking involves gathering information about the patient's medical history, symptoms, and any previous treatments. While it is an important part of the diagnostic process, it can be deferred to a later time if the primary concern is urgent and requires immediate attention.
In a virtual appointment, the part that may likely be deferred is the Physical examination. This is due to the limitations inherent in virtual, or telehealth, appointments where the healthcare provider is not in the same location as the patient. Elements such as palpation, auscultation, and other hands-on components of a physical exam cannot be conducted remotely with the precision or comprehensiveness that they require.
However, history taking, medication review, and treatment planning can often be conducted effectively in a virtual setting. Detailed patient histories can be discussed verbally, medication review can be done by having patients provide a list of their current medications, and treatment plans may be established based on the information provided during the virtual visit and available medical records.