Question

As the Chair of the Forms Committee at your hospital, you are helping to design a template for house staff members to use while collecting information for the history and physical. When asked to explain how "review of systems" differs from "physical exam," you explain that the review of systems is used to document:

A. objective symptoms observed by the physician.
B. past and current activities, such as smoking and drinking habits.
C. a chronological description of patient's present condition from time of onset to present.
D. subjective symptoms that the patient may have forgotten to mention or that may have seemed unimportant.

Answer 1

The review of systems is used to document subjective symptoms that the patient may have forgotten to mention or that may have seemed unimportant. The physical exam involves the healthcare provider conducting an assessment of the patient’s body using various techniques to collect objective symptoms or signs of a medical condition.

Step-by-step explanation:

The review of systems is used to document subjective symptoms that the patient may have forgotten to mention or that may have seemed unimportant. It is a way for the healthcare provider to gather information about a patient's symptoms or possible issues that may not have been brought up during the examination. On the other hand, the physical exam involves the healthcare provider conducting an assessment of the patient’s body using various techniques, such as observing, palpating, percussing, and auscultating. This is done to collect objective symptoms or signs of a medical condition.