Health assessment
Health Assessment
A Health Assessment (pronunciation: /hɛlθ əˈsɛsmənt/) is a systematic method used in healthcare to collect information about a patient's physical, mental, and social health. It is a critical step in the process of providing individualized care.
Etymology
The term "Health Assessment" is derived from the English words "health", meaning the state of being free from illness or injury, and "assessment", meaning the evaluation or estimation of the nature, quality, or ability of someone or something.
Definition
A Health Assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of a person's health status. It includes a thorough medical history, a physical examination, and sometimes, diagnostic tests. The purpose of a health assessment is to identify any existing health issues, risk factors for future health problems, and to establish a baseline for future comparisons.
Components of a Health Assessment
A Health Assessment typically includes the following components:
- Medical History: This includes information about the patient's past and present health, including illnesses, surgeries, allergies, and medications.
- Physical Examination: This involves a systematic examination of the patient's body to detect signs of disease.
- Diagnostic Tests: These may be ordered based on the findings of the medical history and physical examination.
- Risk Assessment: This involves identifying the patient's risk factors for disease, such as lifestyle habits, family history, and environmental exposures.
- Health Promotion: This includes providing education and counseling to promote health and prevent disease.
Related Terms
- Primary Care: This is the first point of contact for patients in the healthcare system and often includes health assessments.
- Preventive Care: This involves interventions to prevent disease before it occurs, often including health assessments.
- Patient History: This is a record of a patient's past health, often collected during a health assessment.
- Physical Examination: This is a hands-on examination of a patient's body, often part of a health assessment.
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Health assessment
- Wikipedia's article - Health assessment
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