PBS_21.1-2.1.2 Study Guide

Medical history

A record of information of the history of a patient's health, past illnesses, diseases, or conditions and their life in terms of health

Diagnosis

The process of identifying a condition, illness, or disease by testing and identifying symptoms.

Family History

The history of health within the patient’s family.

Chief complaint

The description of the patient's health problem.

Current History

History of illness that the patient currently has.

Demeanor

The behavior and tone that the doctor comes in with when facing a patient.

Physical signs

Symptoms that can be seen during a physical exam.

Previous History

Records before their current health issue(s).

Tact

Sensitivity when dealing with others.

Symptoms

Evidence of certain diseases or illnesses.

Social History

Record of patients' activities in their history or current life.

Empathy

Sharing and understanding emotions of another person.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal physiological conditions (like body temperature or the pH of blood).

Pulse

The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction.

Respiratory rate

The number of breaths an organism takes per minute.

Blood pressure

The pressure that blood exerts upon the walls of blood vessels, especially arteries, is usually measured with a sphygmomanometer and expressed in millimeters of mercury.

Triage

The sorting and prioritization of patients based on the urgency of their need for care.