Certified Medical Assistant (CMA AAMA)Clinical Workflow and Patient IntakeMedium
During intake, a patient reports that her mother has type 2 diabetes and her father has hypertension. Where should the medical assistant document this information?
- ASocial history
- BChief complaint
- CPast medical history
- DFamily history
Show answer & explanationAnswer & explanation
Correct answer: D. Family history
Family history records health conditions of blood relatives that may indicate genetic risk factors for the patient. This differs from past medical history, which documents the patient's own prior illnesses and surgeries.
Why the other options are wrong
- A. Incorrect; social history covers lifestyle factors like occupation, habits, and living situation.
- B. Incorrect; chief complaint is the patient's stated reason for the visit today.
- C. Incorrect; past medical history refers to the patient's own health events.
Family History vs. Past Medical History
Family history documents health conditions of blood relatives, while past medical history documents the patient's own prior diagnoses, surgeries, and hospitalizations.
- Family history identifies hereditary risk factors
- Past medical history covers patient's own past illnesses/surgeries
- Social history covers lifestyle, occupation, habits
Memory trick: Family tree, personal story