A physical examination, medical examination, or clinical examination (more popularly known as a check-up or medical) is the process by which a doctor investigates the body of a patient for signs of disease. It generally follows the taking of the medical history — an account of the symptoms as experienced by the patient. Together with the medical history, the physical examination aids in determining the correct diagnosis and devising the treatment plan. This data then becomes part of the medical record.
Routine annual physicals—a physical examination given to an apparently healthy person for no particular purpose, rather than an examination done to discover the cause of the patient's chief complaint—generally do not provide any health benefits.
Read more about Physical Examination: Medical Uses, Format and Interpretation, Vital Signs
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