SAMPLE Past Medical Hx includes which item?

SAMPLE Past Medical Hx includes which item?

• A. Health Hx
• B. Fam Hx
• C. Significant Underlying Medical Conditions
• D. Past Surgeries

Answer: (C)

Past Medical History in the SAMPLE history is about the patient's significant illnesses that have affected them over time. It focuses on ongoing or past medical conditions that can influence current assessment and treatment, such as chronic diseases (for example, diabetes, hypertension, heart or lung diseases, kidney problems, or neurological conditions). These conditions help you understand risks, potential drug interactions, and what to monitor during care. Family history isn’t part of the Past Medical History because it looks at genetic or familial risk rather than the patient’s own disease burden. A broad “health history” phrase is too vague for PMH, since PMH specifically targets meaningful medical conditions rather than overall health status. Past surgeries are typically documented under Surgical History rather than PMH, though some forms may include them elsewhere. So the item that belongs in Past Medical History is significant underlying medical conditions.

Past Medical History in the SAMPLE history is about the patient's significant illnesses that have affected them over time. It focuses on ongoing or past medical conditions that can influence current assessment and treatment, such as chronic diseases (for example, diabetes, hypertension, heart or lung diseases, kidney problems, or neurological conditions). These conditions help you understand risks, potential drug interactions, and what to monitor during care.

Family history isn’t part of the Past Medical History because it looks at genetic or familial risk rather than the patient’s own disease burden. A broad “health history” phrase is too vague for PMH, since PMH specifically targets meaningful medical conditions rather than overall health status. Past surgeries are typically documented under Surgical History rather than PMH, though some forms may include them elsewhere.

So the item that belongs in Past Medical History is significant underlying medical conditions.