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A medical history also contains as much information as you can get about any pain, discomfort or other
medical issues the patient may be experiencing.
Getting accurate medical histories is vitally important to a nurses ability to deliver proper care. A good
history can help speed the diagnosis of a current complaint. It can point the way to proper treatment. And it
can alert a doctor to avoid medications that may cause more harm than good (such as when a patient is
allergic to a family of drugs).
So how do you take a medical history? It is usually through a one-on-one private interview with the patient.
Here are the basic steps:
1. Introduction. Begin by introducing yourself and explaining you are helping the doctor by taking a
medical history. Be as friendly and open with the patient as you can to establish rapport and build trust. It is
important the patient feels comfortable with you because you need to get full, honest answers.
2. Basic Personal Information. Confirm the patients name, address, phone number and emergency
contact.
3. Current Complaint. Is the patient here today to address a specific complaint or just to get a periodic
physical examination? If the patient has a current complaint, you need to get a full description of the issue.
Questions to ask include:
4. Current/Past Illnesses and Conditions. Part of any medical history is a record of any major illnesses
or conditions from which the patient currently suffers, or which the patient has had previously. Ask about
any current conditions that have been diagnosed, including:
Diabetes
Epilepsy
Asthma
Arthritis
Depression
Cancer
Tuberculosis
HIV/AIDS
MeaslesChicken pox
Mumps
Also confirm all immunizations the patient has had, including vaccines for polio, tuberculosis and DTP
(diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), as well as the childhood diseases listed above.
5. Surgeries and Procedures. Get the whens and whys about any past surgeries or other major medical
procedures. Were they successful? Were there any complications? If the patient is over 50, did he/she ever
have a colonoscopy?
Were there any complications during pregnancy, such as hypertension, toxanemia (pre-eclampsia)
or diabetes?
Has the patient ever had an abortion? If so, was it elective or for medical reasons?
7. Current Symptoms. Although the patient may have a specific complaint -- or no complaint at all -- you
still want to look for signs of other conditions that may be contributing to the problem. Ask the patient if
he/she is experiencing:
Headaches
Shortness of breath
Chest pains
Dizziness
Blackouts
Loss of appetite
Swollen ankles
Coughing
Nausea/vomiting
Back pain
Joint pain
For men, you should ask about the presence of any penile discharge or problems with sexual functions.
For women, ask about the presence of any vaginal discharges and frequency of menstrual cycles. If the
patient is currently going through menopause, when did she experience her last period?
8. Prescription Medications. Ask the patient to list all prescription medications he/she is currently taking.
9. Lifestyle. Many of our lifestyle choices directly -- or indirectly -- contribute to our health. You therefore
want to ask your patient about:
Marital status
Diet
o Fried food
o Spicy food
o Red meat
o Dietary supplements
o Stress
10. Family History. Since many diseases and conditions run in families, ask the patient about:
Conclude by asking the patient if there are any other issues or concerns that you should note.
The order in which you ask these questions will likely be determined by the doctor for whom you work. You
will probably be given a form with these -- or similar -- questions in their preferred order.
Learning to take medical histories is just one of the areas you can study in the Medical Assistant career
training program offered at Everest. At Everest, you can get the knowledge, training and experience you
need to qualify for entry-level medical assistant positions in physicians offices and clinics throughout the
United States.
For more information on the Medical Assistant career training program, just fill out and submit the Request
More Information form on this page. A friendly Everest representative will get back to you immediately to
answer all your questions.